Reverse Osmosis Systems — Factory Guide
RO principles, the differences between residential / tankless / commercial RO systems, how to spec the right model, and why distributors source directly from our Ningbo OEM factory.
What is reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) is a membrane filtration process that pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure. The membrane's pores are around 0.0001 μm — small enough to reject dissolved salts, heavy metals, bacteria and viruses while passing water molecules through.
A typical residential RO system has 4 to 5 stages: sediment pre-filter (PP), carbon block (CTO), the RO membrane itself (50–100 GPD), and one or two post-filters (T33 / mineraliser). Salt rejection is typically ≥ 95%.
What an RO membrane removes
- ✓ Dissolved salts (Na, Cl, Ca, Mg)
- ✓ Heavy metals (Pb, As, Cr, Cd)
- ✓ Nitrates, fluoride, sulfates
- ✓ Bacteria and viruses
- ✓ Pesticide and pharma residues
The three main RO system types
Residential RO splits into two main configurations — pressure-tank classic and tankless direct-flow. Commercial / industrial RO is a separate category for high-volume use. Choice depends on daily volume, flow-rate requirements and install space.
Tank-based (residential classic)
Classic 5- to 7-stage under-sink unit. An 8–12 L pressure tank buffers the slow 50–100 GPD membrane output. The highest-volume segment in the market.
- ✓ Retail price: USD 90–300
- ✓ Output flow: 0.1–0.3 L/min
- ✓ Under-sink footprint: 35 × 40 cm
Tankless / direct-flow RO
Direct Water Membrane (DWM) approach. A 400–600 GPD high-flow membrane with an integrated booster pump delivers water on demand — no storage tank needed.
- ✓ Retail price: USD 280–700
- ✓ Output flow: 1.0–1.5 L/min
- ✓ Compact body, no tank
2026 new flagship ↓
Commercial / industrial
DSS, CHS, AHS series — production from 250 L/h up to 10 m³/h. For food processing, restaurants, medical, building water treatment.
- ✓ FOB starts: USD 120/unit
- ✓ Output: 250 L/h – 10 m³/h
- ✓ Floor or frame mount, dedicated room needed
| Parameter | Tank-based | Tankless | Commercial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Membrane flow | 50–100 GPD | 400–600 GPD | 1500 GPD+ |
| Storage tank | Yes, 8–12 L | None | Optional |
| Booster pump | Optional | Built-in | Required |
| Time to fill 1 L | 5–10 s (from tank) | 40–60 s | 3–8 s |
| Market positioning | Entry / mid | Residential high-end | B2B |
Tankless reverse osmosis — our new flagship
Tankless RO represents where premium residential water filtration is heading. Compared with classic tank-based units, tankless systems use a Direct Water Membrane (DWM) approach: a 400–600 GPD high-flow membrane plus an integrated booster pump deliver water on demand, no storage.
Going into volume production in 2026. Spec-equivalent to popular Russian-market tankless units (e.g. Aquaphor Morion DWM-101S), available at FOB USD 85/unit (MOQ 100) so distributors can build a differentiated premium retail line.
- ✓ No pressure tank — maximum under-sink space
- ✓ No standing water — every glass is fresh
- ✓ Output flow 1.0–1.5 L/min
- ✓ TDS display and cartridge life indicator
- ✓ Full OEM customisation: colour, logo, packaging
RO system OEM manufacturing
Ningbo XZH specialises in customer-branded RO system production. Housing injection moulding, full system assembly, and retail-ready packaging with your logo — all under one roof. The right fit for distributors, retail chains running private labels, and brands looking for a long-term stable RO supplier.
RO OEM terms
- • MOQ: 50 units for tank-based, 100 for tankless
- • FOB Ningbo: from USD 35 (tank) / USD 85 (tankless)
- • Lead time: 30–40 days after sample sign-off
- • Customisation: housing, colour, membrane brand, packaging, multi-language manuals
- • Compliance: Made-in-China Verified (since 2010), NSF raw-material certs, EAC documentation support
Customisation scope
- • Anti-scale media tuning for hard-water regions (e.g. Russia)
- • Membrane choice: Vontron / DOW / in-house
- • Optional smart features: TDS display, leak sensor, app control
- • Retail boxes, multi-language manuals, certificate kits
- • Tooling reuse: pick from our existing housing library or invest in a private mould
Ready to spec an RO project?
Send your inquiry — sales replies within 2 working hours with a formal FOB Ningbo quote, including MOQ and lead time.
