Dean Spatz

Founded Osmonics in his garage in 1969; sold it to GE for $250 million in 2003.

Dean Spatz. – Dean Spatz

Dean entered desalination developing low pressure RO equipment for the Office of Saline Water, moving to Aqua Technology in 1968. In 1969, he founded Osmonics to pioneer commercial reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and ultrafiltration, remaining CEO until 2003.

In that time, Osmonics became a company of 1,400 employees worth a quarter of a billion dollars. Dean secured five US patents, pioneered numerous membrane types and received various industry awards. From 1983 onwards, he guided Osmonics to acquire other companies in the same field, becoming manufacturers of the full range from membranes and filtration media to complete fluid treatment systems.