2021.05.11
Varim becomes the Water Industry
Varim is changing its name to Vattenindustrin as a natural step towards becoming a stronger industry organization. Read more about what the board and our members think about the name change.
Why are we changing the name?
We want a name that describes who we are: a trade association for everyone active in the water industry. Varim was an abbreviation for Vattenreningsindustris meetsplats and has been around for over 50 years. It was time for a renewal.
What do we want to signal with the new name?
We want to signal that we are a trade association for the entire water industry. Membership with us should feel like a given for everyone who works with water and wastewater supply. We also want decision-makers to see us as a given party to consult and to be a reference body on issues related to the water industry. Several of our members are also international and conduct their own research and technology development, which is knowledge and experience we want more people to be able to share.
What do we hope the name change and other changes will mean?
We hope that more companies will open their eyes to us and thereby realize that a strong industry association that can interact with Swedish Water and decision-makers is needed. We also want it to be clear that we are a source of knowledge and a meeting place for the entire water industry. Hopefully, in the long term, this will generate more members, which will give us more muscle to do good things, for technological development, for the business climate and for our water.
What issues are important for the Water Treatment Industry to pursue?
We are fully focused on growing as an organization with the goal that membership with us should be a given for everyone in the water and wastewater industry. There is a lot happening in the industry and we want to make it easier for our members to adapt to the market. As an industry organization, we want to act as a spokesperson for our members and a reference body for political decisions. Decision-makers need input from contractors and suppliers, and several of our members operate internationally and conduct both research and technology development.
We are facing enormous investments driven partly by trends, partly by research and new legislation. This means new issues in which we believe our members can contribute and facilitate. This can be everything from good examples of procurement of water supply projects to us creating a digital library with web-based training in subjects such as pharmaceutical purification.
In addition, our industry is experiencing a huge skills shortage – we need more of them – and we believe we can contribute by engaging younger talent and showing what a fantastically exciting industry we operate in with a full focus on sustainability and resilience. Here, digitalization, automation, AI and machine learning will also transform the industry.
Why should you be a member of the Water Industry?
It is difficult to influence an industry as an individual company, but together we can make a difference. The members of the Water Industry create a forum for influence but also a meeting place for the exchange of experiences and knowledge. Our industry is developing rapidly, new findings, new requirements and new ways of working. Therefore, we also arrange training and webinars to broaden and develop our members.
How do we view the role of the water treatment industry in VA-Sweden?
We have an important role in VA-Sverige even though we are currently a relatively small industry organization. The goal is to grow in order to be able to influence even more, but already today we have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience that we want to benefit the entire industry. We are both a meeting place for networking and exchanging experiences, but also a forum for skills development and advocacy. As we gain more members, we can influence even more and continue to develop the industry for the best future.
”"Through the name change, we want to clarify who we are and what we stand for. There is a great need for a strong industry organization and it will be easier to find us."”
Anette Seger – Chairman of the Water Industry
”"Now we have a name that speaks for itself. The water industry needs no further explanation and it feels very good."”
