CEO Interview: Slava Libman of FTD Solutions

Slava Libman, Ph.D. is the CEO of FTD solutions, the provider of facility management solutions that improve sustainability and enhance efficiency in industrial facilities. With more than 25 years of experience in water technology, Dr. Libman is a sought-after speaker and an active leader in the water and semiconductor industries. His contributions include more than 60 publications, conference organization, and presentations. He is actively involved in policy and climate technology related to ultra pure water, water and wastewater treatment, desalination, filtration, reverse osmosis, biological wastewater treatment, and semiconductor water technology roadmap and standards.
Tell us about your company

FTD solutions is the leading provider of digital twin technology supporting semiconductor industry sustainability. We deliver advanced, sustainable solutions for industries with complex water use demands. We optimize water efficiency, reuse, and recycling to help companies achieve significant resource savings and enhance their sustainability practices.

FTD solutions addresses environmental goals through digital transformation in industrial water management with a solution called the Water Management Application (WMA). With our Facility Management Application (FMA), in industrial facilities where the environmental footprint is significant, where water and energy conservation are valuable, and where greenhouse emission control is mission critical, we unlock sustainable processes that save money, energy, and more. Recently, we closed our Series A funding round with an investment from Ecolab.

What problems are you solving?

Many industrial processes require high water utilization, generate wastewater, and consume energy – the supply and costs for which are not sustainable in the long term. At the same time, complexity of the semiconductor facilities makes it difficult to optimize their performance without advanced information management tools and top level expertise. FTD solutions is solving these problems for industrial clients by saving water and energy while reducing carbon and greenhouse gasses – all with a strong return on investment. The FTD platform transforms water system data into actionable insights, enabling enterprises to standardize and enhance water conservation efforts, even across sites. The solution is supported by a patented algorithm and expert guidance. The WMA and FMA ensure compliance, optimize infrastructure, and significantly reduce water usage. These solutions deliver substantial cost savings.

What application areas are your strongest?

We have strong expertise in the semiconductor industry, but many other industries also benefit from FTD solutions. We serve the refinery, manufacturing, water, chemical, food and beverage, machining, and pharmaceutical industries as well.

Our strongest application areas include industrial water management, ultrapure water technology, closed-loop water systems, and advanced water recycling and reuse strategies. We are particularly adept in supporting manufacturing and industrial sectors that require precise water balancing and resource recovery, making water systems more resilient and cost-effective.

What keeps your customers up at night?

Our customers have persistent concerns regarding water, the availability of it, the processing of it before, during, and after their industrial processes. They are awake at night worrying about sustainable design and operation of their facilities, while supporting uninterrupted high yield manufacturing, meeting water use regulations, and managing costs associated with water treatment and disposal. Many also worry about operational risks from water scarcity and want to ensure they are using resources as efficiently as possible. Our solutions provide peace of mind by helping them address these concerns head-on.

What does the competitive landscape look like, and how do you differentiate?

FTD has a patented solution that is unlike any other in the marketplace. While the competitive landscape includes traditional water consultants, technology providers, and sustainability firms, none of these firms can provide the intelligence and clear opportunities for saving resources and money within their processes. The uniqueness of the FTD role is in integration of its capabilities into the customer processes, providing an extension to the internal expertise and enhancement to information management systems. FTD maintains an independent and objective view on defining best solutions for the site-specific customer needs, while FTD systems and processes are designed to be non-disruptive to the customer operation. As such, FTD solutions is differentiated because it combines deep industry expertise with a focus on sustainable, data-driven solutions that align with each client’s unique water demands and regulatory challenges. Our customized approach ensures clients receive practical, scalable strategies tailored to their specific goals.

What new features/technology are you working on?

With the investment from Ecolab, FTD solutions is accelerating the development of its software and support systems. This includes the enhancement of our digital twin technology which will enable greater optimization of operations and the reduction of facilities’ environmental footprint. These are designed to empower industries to achieve their sustainability goals more effectively. FTD works to drive significant impact within the industrial sector, helping to foster environmentally responsible practices and enhance operational efficiency.

How do customers normally engage with your company?

Customers initially engage with us through consultations, water audits, and system evaluations. We dissect the customer needs and proposed optimized solution strategies within business boundaries and priorities. We partner closely to understand customer processes, identify pain points, and deliver tailored recommendations which allow them to meet their goals. Our engagements often involve both hands-on support and continuous monitoring, ensuring customers can adapt to new challenges and achieve their long-term water sustainability objectives. Customers can also check out our website or follow us on LinkedIn!

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