Heron Innovators

Heron Innovators, established in 1998 and based in California's Central Valley, is the manufacturer of Suspended Air Flotation (SAF) technology—a proprietary flotation process that uses electrically charged microbubbles called aphrons instead of dissolved air, making it fundamentally different from conventional DAF, IAF, and IGF systems. Operating under the Komline-Heron brand as part of the Komline family of companies, Heron designs SAF systems that function at atmospheric pressure without recycle pumps, delivering rapid rise rates, immediate response to flow and load variations, and significantly lower horsepower requirements than traditional flotation. SAF achieves effluent quality below 1 NTU across diverse algal profiles and can perform clarification and thickening in a single unit. The product range includes the CF50 and F25 SAF generator units, the ClearMixer pre-contact system that injects SAF microbubble froth into influent, and SAF Conversions for retrofitting existing DAF installations. Komline-group offerings complement the SAF platform: Komline-Harn reverse osmosis systems leverage over 40 years of membrane treatment experience, the Komline-FluidQuip Phazer Decanter provides continuous centrifuge dewatering at up to 2,000 G, the Komline-Sanderson Paddle Dryer produces Class A biosolids at 90 percent or greater dryness, and the Komline-Sanderson MS Screw Press achieves up to 98 percent solids capture without a pre-thickener. Applications span municipal drinking water, algae removal, surface water treatment, wastewater reclamation, biosolids thickening, dairy, food and beverage, fruit processing, protein and meat packing, rendering, and oil-water separation. Heron provides bench-scale and pilot testing through a 25–300 GPM fleet, plus installation, training, and ongoing support.