Kran: From Patagonia to the World with Its Nanobubble Solution

Kran was born as a dream from the heart of Puerto Varas, in southern Chile. Its founder, Jaime De La Cruz, wanted to honor with the name of the god of the Selknam culture, a people who managed to inhabit and adapt to the most extreme areas of Patagonia in perfect harmony with nature.

Under this premise, he initiated this undertaking that was a reflection of his commitment to the environment, and that, at the same time, had such a level of innovation that it left an important mark, positioning Chile – with the nobility of its origins – at the forefront worldwide.

Its growth has been exponential. They started this project from Chilean Patagonia, passing through the capital and managing to settle in Silicon Valley together with the most successful companies of recent years. Just a few months ago, the company was named as one of the 10 “Top Innovators” by the World Economic Forum, and in March, he received the Siemens Water Innovation Challenge at ACADES Congress 2024, thanks to its technology that Offers nanobubble-based solutions to optimize the use of water in production processes.

Its CEO, Jaime de la Cruz, explains the inspiration of this project that has managed to create equipment adapted to the needs of each client in industrial, agriculture and aquaculture sectors, promoting water efficiency and sustainability.

What has been the main driver behind innovation at Kran and how is this reflected in the solutions you currently offer?

“Kran was born from a dream, a dream that had to do with developing a company that had three fundamental pillars: ‘to be at the frontier of science’, ‘to be high tech’ and ‘to be 100% green’. These pillars have remained the driving force of the entire Kran team.”

Regarding the award they won this year, the Siemens Water Innovation Challenge of the ACADES Congress, he mentions that “This kind of recognition confirms that the path traced is the right one. It’s a wonderful encouragement.”

He adds that this award helps to be a global benchmark in the nanobubble industry, “Mainly as a generator of solutions to the different pains of industries, as varied as aquaculture, agriculture, mining, food and beverage processing, wastewater treatment, water reuse and drinking water production, among many others.”

What do you see as the biggest positive environmental impact that Kran’s solutions can offer in the long term?

“Our technology is reflected in three main impacts: water efficiency, energy savings and chemicals. This results in increased food production, lower carbon footprint, and higher industrial productivity. This approach demonstrates that environmental commitment is an integral part of Kran’s mission, which seeks not only to deliver advanced technological solutions, but also to contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Among their many benefits, nanobubbles include irrigation efficiency that can result in water savings of more than 50%. They also improve washing efficiency in food factories, reducing chemical and water consumption; and allow energy savings in wastewater treatment, facilitating the reuse of water from industrial processes for irrigation.

“Innovation is a founding pillar of Kran, and we are convinced that to create a better world you need innovation that allows you to unleash your imagination, break your fears and move forward. That requires prepared, brave and resilient people, since to innovate is to take the risk of failure, and in Kran there are those people,” explains De la Cruz.

Taking this principle of innovation, Kran’s work does not stop at the immense contribution they already make, but aims to continue increasing agricultural productivity, reducing the use of drinking water for the same processes in which they are used today, regenerating and/or recovering polluted environments, and generating solutions that reduce the consumption of chemicals harmful to nature through nanobubble technology.

Read the original article on Entreprenerd.