JIPL and McConnell Dowell Partner to Deliver Te Puke Upgrade
JIPL is proud to announce a major milestone for wastewater treatment in New Zealand: the
Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Te Puke Gordon Street Wastewater Treatment Plant
upgrade – a landmark project introducing the country’s first installation of INVENT’s iSBR®
(Intelligent Sequencing Batch Reactor) technology.
McConnell Dowell Constructors, supported by INVENT AG and JIPL, have been awarded the
project and this win represents a significant cost savings, advancement in treatment
performance, operational efficiency, and long-term environmental outcomes for the region.
A Partnership Built on Innovation
In early 2024, JIPL approached McConnell Dowell to explore opportunities to introduce
INVENT’s advanced iSBR® process into the New Zealand market. Recognising the global
success of INVENT’s technology, McConnell Dowell saw strong potential for its local
application.
Two senior McConnell Dowell managers later joined JIPL at IFAT 2024 in Munich to meet
INVENT’s engineering and process teams. This visit helped strengthen relationships and
confirmed the capability of the technology, leading to a seven-year exclusive partnership
agreement between INVENT and McConnell Dowell covering the supply of INVENT’s iSBR®
and iGSR® process technologies and associated equipment throughout New Zealand and the
Pacific Islands.
Under this agreement, JIPL remains the exclusive supplier of all INVENT specialist equipment
in New Zealand, if not linked to a design and built of an iSBR® or iGSR® scheme, including
mixers, aeration systems, blowers, decanters, CFD modelling, off-gas analysers, and specialist
engineering support.
Winning the Te Puke Upgrade
The partnership between McConnell Dowell and INVENT was central to the successful award
of the Te Puke upgrade. JIPL supports the team with offshore procurement logistics, design
reviews and commissioning. The iSBR® process offered Western Bay of Plenty District Council
a modern, cost-efficient, and low-complexity solution with multiple operational benefits:
- No clarifiers required
- No return activated sludge (RAS) system required
- 15-20% lower capital costs than alternative bioreactor designs
- Reduced plant complexity, maintenance, and operating costs
- No chemicals required
- Excellent sludge settling and process stability
- Designed to meet all performance and consent requirements
To support their evaluation, WBoP and McConnell Dowell personnel visited operating iSBR®
facilities in the United States with INVENT’s US team. These site visits demonstrated the
robustness, simplicity, and consistent compliance results achieved by iSBR® systems
internationally.
A Tier-One Delivery Team for New Zealand’s Future
McConnell Dowell, one of New Zealand’s leading Tier-One infrastructure contractors, will
deliver the Te Puke upgrade. INVENT AG will provide the process technology, associated
mechanical equipment, commissioning, and performance support.
JIPL will contribute specialist process engineering, equipment delivery, and integration
expertise from design through commissioning. Together, McConnell Dowell and JIPL will
support the introduction of INVENT’s iSBR® and iGSR® technology across municipal and
industrial sectors in New Zealand.
The combined approach provides a comprehensive delivery package — from process design
and equipment supply to project management, commissioning, operator training, and verified
after sales support.
This partnership complements JIPL’s broader wastewater solutions, which include:
- INVENT aeration, mixing, and decanting systems
- High efficiency iTURBO® blowers
- INVENT CFD modelling
- KWI DAF and thickening systems
- Dewatering technologies including filter presses, belt presses, and centrifuges
- Site-trial filter presses and pilot systems
- Specialist technologies such as Alphameter Off-Gas Monitoring, SS tertiary filters,
dosing systems, and polyclays
Driving Next-Generation Wastewater Treatment in NZ
The Te Puke upgrade marks the beginning of a new era for wastewater treatment in New
Zealand. Through the collaboration between INVENT, McConnell Dowell, and JIPL, councils
and industries can now access world-leading, energy-efficient, and cost-effective treatment
solutions backed by international experience and track record.
Since the early 1990s, INVENT AG has developed and implemented innovative systems for the
efficient purification and treatment of wastewater worldwide. Bringing the iSBR® process to
New Zealand marks an important step forward — one made possible through strong
partnerships and a shared commitment to sustainable, high-performance infrastructure.
This project demonstrates what collaboration can achieve: smarter treatment processes,
reduced lifecycle costs, and improved outcomes for communities and the environment.