Sandmaster honoured with the ZIM Cooperation Project of the Year 2025 award
Innovation in track cleaning: How Sandmaster is setting new standards with its mobile water filtration system
Awarded at the BMWE Innovation Day: ‘ZIM Cooperation Project of the Year 2025’
At the Innovation Day for SMEs organised by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), Sandmaster was awarded the prize for the ‘ZIM Cooperation Project of the Year’. The reason: a unique, innovative project for the sustainable purification of process water used in the cleaning of plastic tracks – Sandmaster’s mobile water filter system.
But what exactly is behind this innovation? Why is it so important? And how does it work in detail?
The challenge: water consumption and environmental risks associated with track cleaning
Professional cleaning of plastic running tracks is essential to maintain their durability, slip resistance and functionality. High-pressure water cleaning systems are generally used for this purpose. The problem is that this process produces large quantities of contaminated wastewater containing microplastics, fine dust, moss, algae, suspended solids and, in some cases, environmental residues that are washed out of the coarse-pored soil.
For Sandmaster, as an environmentally conscious company with high standards of innovation, this was reason enough to look for a solution.
The solution: a mobile water filtration system for immediate use on site
In close cooperation with a specialist environmental technology partner, we have developed a mobile water treatment system that can be integrated directly into the cleaning process. The highlight: the waste water produced during the cleaning process is filtered, purified and reused on site – without the need for external disposal.
Key technical data:
- Multi-stage filter system: The water passes through several filter stages until it reaches the final microfiltration stage. What remains is a solid mass, which is disposed of properly.
- Retention of microparticles: Microplastics and fine solids are reliably removed down to the µ range – an important contribution to environmental protection.
- Real-time water recycling: The purified water can be fed directly back into the cleaning cycle.
- Compact, mobile design: The entire system is housed on a trailer and can be used flexibly on any sports field.
- Sensors and monitoring: Integrated sensors continuously monitor the degree of contamination and filter performance to ensure maximum efficiency.
You receive detailed documentation: comprehensive wastewater management with information on the amount of cleaning, degree of contamination, pH values and volume of the remaining solid matter for disposal.
Sustainability with measurable impact 
Thanks to this technology, fresh water consumption can be reduced by up to 80% – a significant ecological and economic advantage for operators of sports facilities. In addition, external wastewater treatment is no longer necessary.
A cooperation that sets an example
The project is a prime example of how genuine innovation can arise from cooperation between medium-sized companies and technology partners. The BMWE recognised this achievement with the ‘Cooperation Project of the Year’ award, thereby setting an example for sustainable technology development in medium-sized businesses.
Outlook: More than just sports facilities
Sandmaster plans to expand these and other technologies currently under development in the future – the aim is to continuously improve the environmental performance of cleaning technology and significantly reduce the CO₂ and water footprint.
Conclusion: Technology that connects the environment and the economy
With its mobile water filtration system, Sandmaster demonstrates how modern technology, environmental responsibility and operational efficiency can be successfully combined. The award from the BMWE is not only recognition of the company’s innovative achievements, but also an incentive to continue along this path. Conclusion: technology that combines the environment and the economy.
“Sustainability must not be an add-on – it must be an integral part of our solutions.”
Christoph Mayer-Klenk, CEO Sandmaster GmbH
We are keeping our fingers crossed for Malaika and wish her every success in Paris. There was also a small gift, which was presented by our CEO Mr Christoph Mayer-Klenk.
In order to conduct interviews, take photos and shoot films, there was the third Media Day yesterday on the premises of Sandmaster GmbH in Wendlingen.
Malaika won the gold medal in the final of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo after a thrilling game of nerves. She had previously come third and thus brought the long jump gold to Germany 21 years after Heike Drechsler.
