Pâques Says Innovation and Identification of Market Needs Key to Entrepreneurial Success in Water Sector
The story of the multi-million euro company, Paques Holdings, has its humble beginnings as a one-man start-up in the 1970s. Jos Pâques began Paques Holdings 40 years ago, as a young 23-year old working in storage silos for farmers. By 1975, Pâques found success in his venture, with a turnover of 500,000 Dutch guilders into 8 million only 3 years later. But when his business slowed down, and silo sales gradually disappeared, Pâques was faced with a dilemma: What should he do next?
This predicament forced Pâques to be innovative. He took advantage of new technology in developing market areas, and in 1980, he started development of technology to harness energy from waste and manure in biogas plants. By 1983, Pâques added Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (USAB) technology to his company’s portfolio. This was the beginning of his current company, Paques Holding.
Today, Paques Holding has developed and produced high-quality, cost-effective anaerobic water purification systems that produce energy from wastewater, while purifying the water and facilitating water reuse.
For entrepreneurs looking for success in the water industry, Pâques advises, “Listen to the market and look at the developments in technology. With one eye, look at research institutes and with the other, the market. Make a link between the two. Too often I see a technology push without a strong amount of pull. Developing technology for a market that does not exist is not economically sound.”
Now, Jos Pâques serves as the major shareholder and member of the supervisory board for Paques Holding, retiring after almost 30 years in his position as President in 2001. In his experience in the water industry, Pâques cites the development of anaerobic treatment for wastewater in the past 50 years as one of the biggest revolutions in the industry. New legislation from the Netherlands’ government in the 1970s required industries to treat wastewater. This created the climate for new technologies and new companies, like Paques Holding.
On May 14th at the 4th Annual BlueTech Forum in Amsterdam, Jos Pâques will be presenting attendees with a glimpse into his story as a visionary entrepreneur and a successful businessman. To register and get more information on the BlueTech Forum, visit www.bluetechforum.com.
