2026-08-31
Sandberg Development Increases Its Investment in Water Innovation Company Drupps
Drupps is a water technology company that uses the atmosphere as a source of water. Sandberg Development's increased investment follows the successful installation of Drupps' first large-scale water recovery system at a ceramic tile manufacturing plant in northern Mexico. The next step is to scale the technology and bring it to a wider market.
Drupps has developed a technology that captures and enables the reuse of water vapour from industrial processes, vapour that would otherwise be lost through factory chimneys. By purifying and recovering the vapour, manufacturers can reuse the water in their production processes. This reduces both water consumption and dependence on external water sources such as groundwater or trucked water supplies.
- Access to water is a matter of survival for both people and businesses. Developing innovations that can help address the global water crisis is therefore crucial. With Drupps' technology, companies can reduce their reliance on groundwater extraction while securing a self-sufficient water supply for their own operations, says Lina Røbekk Olsen, Board Member of Drupps representing Sandberg Development.
During 2025 and 2026, Drupps delivered its first large-scale system to a ceramic tile manufacturing plant in northern Mexico. The region is facing severe water stress, and industrial access to groundwater is increasingly under pressure. Using Drupps' technology, the plant now produces 2.5 m³ of water per hour, equivalent to approximately 60 m³ per day, at a cost lower than the price of municipal water in Sweden.
- In Mexico, we have clearly demonstrated that we can contribute to solving water-related challenges. With our first large-scale reference project successfully implemented, we now aim to expand into industrial clusters and regions facing similar conditions and needs, says Fredrik Edström, CEO of Drupps.
The ceramic tile and brick manufacturing industry represents an attractive market for the technology. In addition to northern Mexico, a similar industrial cluster exists in Gujarat, northwestern India. Drupps is also engaged in discussions with companies in other industries that face comparable challenges related to water losses in their production processes.
- Our ambition is to establish Drupps as a provider of a new water source, with the long-term goal of unlocking the atmosphere as a viable source of water for more industries and communities, says Fredrik Edström.
Sandberg Development invests in critical sectors of society, with water being one of its three strategic focus areas. The Group primarily invests in solutions that promote more sustainable water use by reducing consumption, enabling reuse, improving water treatment efficiency, and strengthening the monitoring of water quality and infrastructure.
Sandberg Development made its first investment in Drupps in 2022 and has since gradually increased its ownership. Following the latest investment, Sandberg Development is now the largest shareholder in Drupps.
About Drupps
Drupps is a Swedish water technology company headquartered in Uppsala. The company specialises in recovering evaporated water and helps process industries improve both water and energy efficiency through its patented technology, which captures and condenses industrial water vapour emissions without the need for external water sources.