Dr. Marcus Höfken, founder and CEO of INVENT Umwelt- und Verfahrenstechnik AG, stands at the helm of a company that has transformed from a university research project into a global leader in water and wastewater treatment in just three decades. As INVENT celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, the company’s journey offers a compelling narrative for the water sector, highlighting the power of innovation, strategic resilience, and a commitment to responsible water management.
INVENT’s success story began in 1995 at the Chair of Fluid Mechanics at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. The company’s growth trajectory, marked by a highly specialized, energy-saving product range and innovative process technology, has positioned it among the top five players in the industry worldwide. This achievement is not just a milestone but a catalyst for future advancements in biological wastewater treatment.
In 2024, INVENT bucked industry trends, maintaining stable incoming orders and matching the previous year’s record pre-tax profit despite a 7% drop in turnover for the German mechanical engineering sector. This financial resilience underscores the company’s strategic agility and commitment to innovation.
INVENT’s dedication to Germany as a business location is evident in its ongoing expansion of production facilities. The company’s modern plant in Erlangen-Dechsendorf produces the iFILT®-Diamond Filter, an innovative product in tertiary wastewater treatment that sets new standards in performance and efficiency, particularly in combating microplastics and trace substances. Additionally, construction of a new production hall in Erlangen-Eltersdorf in 2025 will further enhance production capacity and secure the company’s long-term presence in Central Franconia.
International expansion remains a cornerstone of INVENT’s strategy. In 2024, the company established subsidiaries in Argentina and Uruguay to tap into South America’s growth markets. Looking ahead, INVENT plans to open a production site in South Carolina in 2025, reinforcing its commitment to the North American market and ensuring local operational flexibility.
Dr. Marcus Höfken emphasizes the importance of these international ventures: “North and South America are becoming increasingly important for us. The current developments confirm our decisions to expand our local sites. They allow us to act faster, more flexibly and with a greater focus on our customers.”
INVENT’s mission to provide innovative solutions for global water challenges remains steadfast. Dr. Höfken states, “Our goal remains to be a technological leader – and at the same time to be perceived as a powerful partner in the water industry worldwide. We want to contribute to solving water problems all over the world with high-quality future technologies – and we are ready to be present wherever our solutions are needed.”
As the water sector faces growing demands for sustainable and efficient water management, INVENT’s approach offers valuable insights. The company’s focus on innovation, strategic resilience, and global engagement sets a benchmark for the industry. By maintaining a commitment to technological leadership and responsible water management, INVENT is poised to shape the future of the water and wastewater treatment sector, driving progress and inspiring others to follow suit.