Weftec 2025, a leading event for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) technologies, took place September 29 to October 1, 2025 at Chicago's McCormick Place. The objective of this article is to provide readers with a sampling of aeration blower, motor and drive technologies on display.
Aeration Blower Technology
Kaeser’s Stephen Horne and Peter Werhahn showed me their GBS rotary screw blower. It was launched two years ago it’s been well received. They also displayed a cutaway core of their 200 horsepower Turbo Core blower line. Other products on display were an AirCenter rotary screw air compressor, a DBC Lobe Blower (part of the Kaeser Omega blower package) and an interesting active plant simulation of a blower station. The simulation demonstrated how Kaeser blowers are IOT enabled with a sensor suite and Sigma Air Manager (SAM) able to perform dynamic variable pressure control and minimize movement of DO control valves and blower reactions. Lastly I’d like to personally congratulate Peter Werhahn (Global Product Manager for Blowers) on his upcoming retirement from Kaeser at the end of the year. Peter has been essential to the evolution and advancement of the Kaeser blower product line and organization throughout his career.
Peter Werhahn and Stephen Horne next to the Kaeser GBS rotary screw blower.
Travis McGarrah and Lee Ann Hellums welcomed me to the Atlas Copco booth telling me they are updating all their magnetic bearing turbo blower models. The ZS6 is their latest model, which goes up to 500 horsepower. A major announcement is their introduction of a new rental program of ZS oil-free rotary screw blowers with integrated VFD able to “plug and play” at a WWTPs and industrial plants.
Travis McGarrah and Lee Ann Hellums next to the new Atlas Copco ZS Series Rental Blower.
Aerzen continues to expand into helping WWTPs with the entire aeration process from blower stations to diffuser systems. We spent reviewing the AERProcess master control system featuring machine learning algorithms managing blower sequencing, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Sensors, DO Control and air flow metering. Aerzen now also does system startups and commissioning, working together with partner engineering firms, mechanical contractors and Rep firms. They also offer a BABA (the Build America Buy America Act) compliant system out of their U.S. headquarters in eastern Pennsylvania.
Jonas Kolb and Greg Duffy next to the Aerzen AERProcess Control Panel.
Roger Blanton at the EURUS booth was talking about their new EBox Blower Package with a standard sound enclosure. This PD (positive displacement) blower packaged unit makes it easy to install and maintain. It provides pressures to 15 psig and airflows to 1,571 CFM.
Roger Blanton next to the EURUS EBox Blower Package.
David Sperber and Ken Jones reported significant growth for Inovair blowers. Built 100% in Kansas City, they say increased demand for BABA compliance by wastewater treatment plants, plus repeat buyers is driving demand. Jones said the manufacturing campus is growing in Kansas City and they now have 72 different proprietary centrifugal impeller designs they can custom cut and build for a WWTPs unique load profile. They also said the durability-first philosophy of their integrally geared turbo blower design is a main reason WWTPs are purchasing more repeat units.
David Sperber and Ken Jones next to an Inovair IM-50 600hp turbo blower.
Tanya Hammoud and Adam Hammoud said sales continue to grow at APG-Neuros in both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment applications. They said they sell more active magnetic bearing blowers (than airfoil) and recent industrial applications have included yeast fermentation systems. Read our recent interview with CEO Omar Hammoud on APG-Neuros’ extensive work providing turbo blowers for industrial wastewater treatment applications.
Adam Hammoud and Tanya Hammoud at the APG-Neuros booth.
Hoffman & Lamson is part of the Nash Division and manufactured by Ingersoll Rand. George Hubbard and Ashley Swingel showed me the HOFFMAN Defender™ PD lobe (capacity up to 6,121 cfm) and the rotary screw product line (capacity up to 6,180 cfm). They also displayed a HOFFMAN REVOLUTION PLUS turbo blower and their time-tested multistage centrifugal blowers offering oil-free and pulse-free airflow with models from 10 to 2,000 horsepower. I was amazed to hear they have an installed base of over 100,000 multistage centrifugal blowers!
Howden, a Chart Industries Company, is a turbomachinery manufacturer with brands like Turblex™, HV-Turbo®, Spencer®, and Donkin. Jim Trace presented the CubusTurbo by Howden “plug and play” turbo blower. The unit features active magnetic bearing motor technology and high efficiency, with 30% maximum turndown, with a dual point control system. There are four models from 100 hp to 300 hp offering flows up to 7,000 ACFM at differential pressures between 5 and 17 psig.
George Hubbard and Ashley Swingel next to a Hoffman & Lamson multistage centrifugal blower.
Howden, a Chart Industries Company, is a turbomachinery manufacturer with brands like Turblex™, HV-Turbo®, Spencer®, and Donkin. Jim Trace presented the CubusTurbo by Howden “plug and play” turbo blower. The unit features active magnetic bearing motor technology and high efficiency, with 30% maximum turndown, with a dual point control system. There are four models from 100 hp to 300 hp offering flows up to 7,000 ACFM at differential pressures between 5 and 17 psig.
Jim Trace presented the CubusTurbo by Howden turbo blower.
NexTurbo was displaying their GTB-T10XZ turbo blower available in a compact enclosure. Matt Mosier and Kevin Grant explained their units have a ball bearing gear box and dual point control with guide vanes and VFD.
Matt Mosier and Kevin Grant at the NexTurbo booth.
Kawasaki was present introducing their new MACTurbo™ magnetic bearing turbo blower product line. The booth staff said their active magnetic bearing (AMB Control) is a key feature. The blowers are controlled by Dual Flow Control: Inlet Guide Vane (IGV) Control and Variable Rotor Speed Control.
Kawasaki introduced their new MACTurbo™ magnetic bearing turbo blower.
Motor and Drive Technology for Aeration Blowers
Motor and drive technologies, used in wastewater treatment plants, were well represented. They are key components, of course, in the performance and reliability of an aeration blower.
Nidec was displaying their U.S. Motors brand Inverter Duty CCP 1-50 hp Motors. Booth staff told me it’s important to buy motors designed to withstand inverter driven applications with insulation systems able to withstand spike and transient voltages induced by VFDs. Their TEFC Hostile Duty® units also include an Aegis shaft grounding ring to eliminate issues caused by shaft voltage, ensuring long bearing life.
Nidec’s Brendan Kelly and Chris Cook showing their U.S. Motor technology.
ABB’s Marshall Trigona showed us the ACS880 High-Speed Drive system designed for 10,000 to 55,000 rpm turbo blower manufacturers. With a smaller footprint, these are < 120 Hz and high-frequencies up to 600 Hz. The big news is ABB’s decision to move air-cooled drive manufacturing from Finland to their New Berlin (Wisconsin) manufacturing campus. Triguna said OEM interest in BABA Compliance is one of the reasons for this decision.
ABB’s Marshall Trigona next to the ACS880 drive.
Danfoss Drives has their headquarters in the Chicago area. Jacob Jungbluth and Felipe Galera explained almost all their sales to aeration blowers are VFD drives. Their main product is the IC7-Aqua ULH ultra low-harmonic drive bringing near-zero distortion to the electrical network, even at the typically partial motor loads.
Jacob Jungbluth and Felipe Galera next to the Danfoss Drives iC7-Aqua ULH.
We regret not being able to include all exhibitors or visits made due to article length considerations.
For similar articles on Aeration Blowers please visit https://www.blowervacuumbestpractices.com/technology/aeration-blowers.
Visit our Webinar Archives to listen to expert presentations on Aeration Blower Technology at https://www.blowervacuumbestpractices.com/magazine/webinars.
