Technology >> CEO Interviews >> August 3, 1998
D.DEAN SPATZ is the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Osmonics, Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota, 1969 to present. B.E. and Liberal
Arts degree from Dartmouth College, 1966; Master of Engineering from
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 1968. Native of
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Spatz is a Registered Professional Chemical
Engineer and member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers,
American Chemical Society, American Water Works Association, Water
Quality Association, and American Society for Testing and Materials and
is listed in 'Who's Who in Engineering.' He is also a member of the
Board of Directors of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company,
and SI Technologies, Inc., both NASDAQ listed companies, the Minnesota
High technology Council, and the Freshwater Foundation, and is active in
the World Presidents' Organization. He is a periodic lecturer at
Dartmouth College and at other institutions. Active in membrane
technology since 1964, Mr. Spatz initially worked under contract with
the Office of Saline Water, U.S. Department of the Interior to develop
low pressure reverse osmosis membranes and equipment. In 1968, he was
manager of engineering for Aqua Technology, Inc., an ion exchange and
filter equipment manufacturer, and in 1969, founded Osmonics, Inc. to
pioneer the commercial use of reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration
(UF). Mr. Spatz has been awarded four U.S. patents and their related
foreign patents in the reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration field. He is
the author of 21 technical papers on heavy metal reclamation, industrial
waste water treatment and food processing using membranes, as well as
water purification for medical and industrial applications. In 1975, he
received the Putnam Food Award for 'Sugar Reclamation System Using
Reverse Osmosis;' and Mr. Spatz and Osmonics received the Chemical
Equipment Energy Award, 1982, for a unique two-pass reverse osmosis
system; and the Chemical Processing 'Vaaler Award,' 1984, for the
development of a unique industrial diafiltration system. In 1991, Spatz
was voted 'Minnesota's Entrepreneur of the Year' in high
technology/medical field. Osmonics has been selected as one of 'Forbes'
magazine's '200 Best Small Companies in America.' Mr. Spatz is a strong
proponent of the use of membranes for industrial processing and water
reuse. He has led the development of numerous different membranes for RO
and UF and their application to waste treatment and water purification.
He presently spends his time in marketing, general administration and
development. In the last few years, Mr. Spatz has guided Osmonics in the
acquisition of products and companies to further expand its business in
fluid separation, fluid handling and fluid purification. Profile
background sketch on Osmonics and then bring us up to date, what do you
see over the next two to three years as the challenges and
