Q&A: Jean-Michel Balmelle on the past, present & future of AQUA4D

As the year draws to a close, we sat down with Jean-Michel Balmelle at the AQUA4D head office in Switzerland, for a look back and ahead to what’s to come in 2026 and beyond.

Q: Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Balmelle: My name is Jean-Michel Balmelle, and I am the President of Planet Horizons Technologies, the company behind the AQUA4D® technology. I am also President of the Abaque Group, which includes NGL and AQUA4D.

Q: Your interest in water and cleantech started well before AQUA4D. Can you explain?

Balmelle: Yes, well NGL is a Swiss company specializing in cleaning technologies, based in the canton of Vaud. For more than 25 years, we have been manufacturing detergents and water-treatment solutions for industrial customers. Working so closely with water naturally brought us into the broader world of water technologies long before AQUA4D entered the group.

Q: What first attracted you to AQUA4D?

Balmelle: We were looking for a technology we could integrate into the group – one that would differentiate us and provide highly efficient, innovative water solutions. AQUA4D immediately impressed us because of the capabilities it brings to industry. But as we discovered later, that was only the beginning of its potential.

Q: How did your interest evolve once AQUA4D became part of NGL?

Balmelle: After acquiring AQUA4D, we realized that beyond its strong applications in buildings and industry – what we call “indoor markets” – it also offers enormous value outdoors, especially in turf management and agriculture. The range of possibilities became even wider than we initially expected.

Q: Was there a particular “wow moment” when the technology really struck you?

Balmelle: Yes. My first real “wow moment” was during a visit to customers in California. One grower was ready to remove all the trees in his 40-acre orchard because during extreme heat, above 100°F, the trees were turning black from the top. He had tried everything. After installing AQUA4D, the trees gradually became green and healthy again. His enthusiasm was striking, and it made a deep impression on me.

Q: Where do you see the biggest potential today?

Balmelle: The potential is enormous. Indoors, the technology is extremely effective for preventing limescale, biofilm, and corrosion in building and industrial piping systems. For NGL customers, for example, this means avoiding crystallisation and contamination in their processes. But the largest development area is clearly agriculture. With AQUA4D we can significantly reduce water consumption, fertilizer use, and biofilm development in irrigation lines, while improving crop yields and soil health. This is by far the biggest potential.

Q: And what about long-term or other opportunities?

Balmelle: There are many! But I think one area with strong untapped potential is geothermal systems. AQUA4D can remove biofilm and iron-bacteria deposits from heat exchangers and prevent new fouling without requiring maintenance. This is a real breakthrough for the sector.

Q: How does AQUA4D complement the rest of the Abaque Group, especially NGL?

Balmelle: AQUA4D brings strong synergies. NGL can offer AQUA4D to its customers to prevent limescale and biofilm in ultrasonic cleaning lines and industrial processes. Combining NGL’s detergents with AQUA4D’s physical water treatment enhances cleanliness, reduces contamination, and lowers maintenance needs. It is a very natural connection between the two technologies.

Q: Sustainability seems central to your strategy. How do you see AQUA4D contributing?

Balmelle: Sustainability is a key priority for us. I am personally committed to guiding the group toward regenerative solutions. AQUA4D fits perfectly into this vision: it restores soils, reduces chemical and fertilizer use, and protects natural resources by improving water efficiency. Even though our group manufactures water-based cleaning chemicals, we strongly believe in reducing chemical use wherever possible – whether in agriculture, turf management, or industrial processes.

Q: What do you see ahead for AQUA4D in the coming years?

Balmelle: AQUA4D should evolve from a niche technology to a mainstream solution used in many countries. To achieve this, we need strong local partners and solid distribution networks in key markets. Our approach is to expand country by country, collaborating with experts who understand water quality challenges – whether in agriculture, buildings, or industry. With the right partnerships, the potential for growth is immense.

Q: Anything else you’d like to add?

Balmelle: Our focus is clear: grow responsibly, expand globally through strong partnerships, and keep putting sustainability and resource protection at the heart of everything we do.

Jean-Michel, thanks for your time!

Balmelle on a recent field visit to a landmark water-saving project in Salquenen, Switzerland.