Xeros ships 'waterless washing machines' to drought-stricken South Africa

British technology business Xeros has sent a shipment of its near-waterless washing machines to the drought-ravaged Cape Province region of South Africa, which it said would be the first of many.

Xeros has seen increased demand for its sustainability credentials in places like Cape Town - just one of many geographic markets unable to ignore issues around water scarcity any longer after drought forced authorities to make permanent changes to water consumption legislation.

In response, Xeros' commercial laundry division, recently-renamed Hydrofinity, has offered up what it calls a "revolutionary leap forward in sustainability", replacing water with its reusable and recyclable polymer XOrb technology.

Xeros claims XOrbs deliver as much as an 80% reduction in water use and material reductions in both energy and detergent, whilst delivering "a superior cleaning result" by absorbing stains and stray dye.

The AIM-quoted firm said the order of 16 machines was "the first of several large shipments" expected to be sent to countries with high water stress and cost in the next two months.

Managing director Mike Ferrand said, "We are now starting to make significant shipments of Xeros machines around the world. As businesses struggle with stringent restrictions on water use, our award-winning solution offers a sustainable alternative with significant competitive advantages."

"Around the world, governments and utility companies are beginning to use water pricing and taxes to reflect the need to reduce water consumption and we are ideally placed to help commercial customers minimise their water usage and cost," Ferrand added.

As of 1000 BST, Xeros shares had picked 1.05% to 71.49p.