In the dynamic and global filtration industry, news and information is breaking on a daily basis. International Filtration News is tracking stories relevant to our industry from air and gas filtration to liquid filtration and the various end-uses for filtration technology. Here we will post news stories relevant to filtration and its downstream applications on an ongoing basis. Please check back for regular updates. If you have news that you feel should be added to this summary report, please email it to Ken Norberg: ken@filtnews.com
Most recent update: July 21, 2026
Hillwood Invests in Dallas-Based Hexivon to Destroy “Forever Chemicals” in Water
Hexivon, a Dallas, Texas-based water technology company, announced a new investment from Hillwood, a Perot company. Hexivon eliminates polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” from water rather than just filtering them out. The investment expands Hillwood’s infrastructure portfolio into advanced water technologies as utilities, industry and government agencies seek long-term solutions to the PFAS problem.
Most methods move PFAS around. Carbon filters, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis pull PFAS out of water, but leave waste that must be hauled off and stored. Hexivon works at any ambient temperature and destroys PFAS at the molecular level on site. It breaks the chemicals apart and leaves nothing harmful behind.
In a 2025 pilot in Cary, North Carolina, drinking water tested at 40 parts per trillion of PFAS. After Hexivon treatment, the level was non-detectable. The system cleaned 150,000 gallons per day and made zero waste. Independent, EPA-certified labs checked the results.
Veralto Acquires Alfaa UV to Expand Ultraviolet Water Treatment Portfolio
Veralto Corporation, headqauartered in Waltham, Massachusetts and a global leader in essential water and product quality solutions dedicated to Safeguarding the World’s Most Vital Resources™, has expanded its ultraviolet (UV) water treatment capability with the acquisition of Alfaa UV.
Headquartered in India, Alfaa UV is a leading provider of ultraviolet water treatment solutions with more than 20 years of experience supporting industrial and commercial applications, particularly in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and building services sectors.
Alfaa UV will be integrated into the Company’s Trojan Technologies business, adding a strong portfolio of competitive, fit-for-purpose solutions and an established commercial presence in India. Together, these capabilities are expected to support continued growth in India and create opportunities to expand further across the Asia-Pacific region.
Aquatech Announces Agreement to Acquire METICHEM
Aquatech announced that it will acquire Metito Chemical Solutions (METICHEM), a UAE-based leader in advanced water treatment chemicals and operations & maintenance (O&M) services across industrial, municipal, and institutional markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. METICHEM will continue to operate as a standalone business within Aquatech’s global services division.
Drawing on seven decades of technical and operational experience built up by Metito’s operations and maintenance business, METICHEM’s seasoned workforce and outstanding customer service have seen it rapidly emerge as a regional leader in water services for industrial, commercial, and municipal clients. METICHEM offers a comprehensive portfolio of performance chemicals and full-scope O&M expertise, with 700 employees and service contracts executed across 46 countries.
The acquisition expands Aquatech’s ability to deliver complete water lifecycle solutions, spanning chemicals, digital optimization, and long-term plant performance to industrial customers worldwide. Integrating METICHEM’s specialty chemical programs and O&M capabilities allows us to deliver more complete, data-driven solutions that enhance uptime and reduce total water cost.
Aston University Unveils New £6 Million Membrane Research Facility
Aston University in Birmingham, UK has officially opened a new research facility focused on developing and studying membranes, for applications such as water purification and drug discovery. Officials hope that the lab’s open-plan design will help foster collaboration between scientists and accelerate scientific discovery.
In 2024, the university received £10 million in funding from Research England to establish the new facility, known as the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (Aime). After two years of construction, the UK’s minister for science, Patrick Vallance, has now officially opened the £6.1 million laboratory.
The new laboratory houses 60 researchers, including eight research leads, nine independent AIME Fellows, their PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, technicians and visiting researchers. The laboratory has step-free access, height-adjustable workstations and fully integrated accessibility features. The different disciplines are zoned, with bioscience-focussed research at one end and chemical-related research at the other. Major equipment is positioned to ensure openness is maintained.
Research will focus on designing and studying the properties of biological and synthetic membranes, including those involved in disease, waste remediation and purifying water. For example, biochemist Alice Rothnie is developing techniques to extract cell membrane proteins without damaging their structure, which could help scientists better understand how drugs work.
De Nora Completes Acquisition of BW Water
Industrie De Nora S.p.A.– an Italian multinational listed on Euronext Milan, specialized in electrochemistry, water treatment systems and sustainable solutions – announced that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of BW Water Pte. Ltd., a fast-growing global player in the water treatment solutions segment.
The transaction, announced on 26 May 2026, became effective July 1., 2026 following the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set out in the Share Purchase Agreement. The consideration paid at closing amounted to USD 60.8 million. As already indicated in the press release in May 2026, the final consideration and the EV (Enterprise Value) will be determined in the third quarter, following adjustments related to the completion of the financial statements as of the closing date. The EV will, in any case, not exceed USD 66.5 million.
The acquisition will enable De Nora to create a solution-driven platform to address global water challenges related to scarcity and security, strengthening its position along the value chain and enhancing proximity to customers. By combining De Nora’s technological expertise with BW Water’s engineering and system integration capabilities, the Group will be able to improve the execution of large-scale projects, offer comprehensive turnkey solutions, access new high-growth markets, including semiconductors, mining, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage and desalination. The transaction will also enable De Nora to strengthen its presence in key geographic areas, including Southeast Asia, and to develop commercial and operational synergies, including cross-selling opportunities and access to projects and tenders requiring end-to-end solutions.
DuPont Launches Multi-Technology Water Treatment Design Tool
DuPont announced the latest advancement of Water Application Value Engine (WAVE PRO), its advanced online water treatment modeling tool, now enabling integrated multi-technology design across ultrafiltration (UF), ion exchange resins (IER), reverse osmosis (RO), and nanofiltration (NF) in one comprehensive platform. The enhanced solution supports water treatment applications including drinking water, industrial utility water, wastewater, and seawater desalination.
The integrated modeling approach in WAVE PRO helps solve several of the most common challenges in water treatment design. It reduces time spent running separate simulations and minimizes manual data-entry errors. It captures the interdependencies between technologies that can materially affect system performance, enabling more realistic projections and more cost-effective designs. For example, an integrated simulation can show how upstream UF can improve downstream RO performance and reduce design constraints.
WAVE PRO also expands design flexibility for more complex systems. Integrated UF and RO modeling supports better pretreatment and high-performance salt removal decisions early in the design phase, while more advanced multi-process configurations can account for recycle streams and closed-loop conditions that single-technology tools cannot accurately model. This helps users design more versatile and reliable systems from the start.
WAVE PRO seamlessly integrates DuPont Water Solutions technologies, including DuPont™ IntegraTec™ and DuPont™ Inge™ ultrafiltration modules, DuPont™ AmberLite™ ion exchange resins, and FilmTec™ reverse osmosis and nanofiltration elements—bringing industry-leading filtration and separation technologies together in a single, powerful design environment. With access to this broader portfolio in a single platform, users can design with greater confidence across a wider range of municipal and industrial applications.
EDANA to Host FILTREX India 2026 in New Delhi
EDANA, the global association for the nonwovens industry, in partnership with the Business Coordination House (BCH), will welcome filtration professionals from across the world to FILTREX™ India 2026, taking place on 7–8 October 2026 at the Eros Hotel, New Delhi.
Recognized as one of the leading meeting points for the filtration industry in the region, FILTREX™ India brings together decision-makers, technical experts, researchers and innovators from across the entire filtration value chain. The two-day conference and tabletop exhibition will provide a platform to explore technological advances, market developments and the evolving regulatory landscape shaping the future of filtration.
Building on the success of previous editions, the 2026 conference will feature a comprehensive programme covering some of the industry’s most pressing topics, including filtration standards and regulations in India, automotive filtration, industrial filtration, clean water and clean air. The event will also provide extensive networking opportunities, enabling participants to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships and discover new business opportunities.
The program includes keynote presentations and technical sessions delivered by internationally recognised experts from leading organisations, including MANN+HUMMEL, Ahlstrom, Camfil, Hollingsworth & Vose, UY Trienviro and Schlegel und Partner. Topics will range from next-generation filtration materials and air quality solutions to wastewater recycling technologies and the implications of evolving European chemical compliance requirements for international markets.
WaterSurplus Joins Kaukauna Utilities Groundbreaking for New ImpactRO Water Treatment System
WaterSurplus, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hawkins, Inc., recently joined Kaukauna Utilities and other project partners to celebrate the groundbreaking for the first of two new 1,650 gallon/minute (gpm) treatment systems that will be built at each of two new treatment sites in Wisconsin.
Held at the site of Kaukauna’s Water Treatment Plant No. 1, the ceremony marked the official start of construction on the utility’s long-term Water Treatment System Improvement Project, which will replace aging infrastructure and improve water quality for the community.
The project follows a multi-year planning process that began with a 2022 water system study commissioned by the city evaluating supply capacity, storage, treatment assets, current and future demand, alternatives, water sources, and long-term asset management needs. The process concluded with WaterSurplus’ completion of a pilot study in the spring of 2025 and the Public Commission of Wisconsin’s issuance of a Certificate of Authority.
The system’s primary treatment technology is WaterSurplus’s steady-state, high-recovery ImpactRO reverse osmosis platform. Reverse osmosis uses advanced membrane technology to reduce hardness and other dissolved substances, helping Kaukauna Utilities produce more consistent water quality while making efficient use of its water supply. Because RO can also reduce many emerging contaminants, this system gives the utility added flexibility to address future water quality needs that may not be a concern today.
The system also includes WaterPlus pre-engineered filtration systems with OxiPlus75 catalytic media to treat iron and manganese, which can affect water’s taste, color, and appearance. Together, the filtration and RO technologies are expected to reduce iron and manganese levels to below 0.3 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L, respectively, and lower water hardness from current levels near 40 grains to a target of approximately 5.5 grains. The combined approach is designed to provide dependable treatment in a compact, efficient system that produces more potable water and uses less water for backwash.
Construction is beginning in summer 2026, with project completion anticipated in summer 2028.
John Brooks Recognized with 2026 Canadian Business Excellence Award
John Brooks, a leader in fluid handling technology for 88 years, announced that it has been named a recipient of the 2026 Canadian Business Excellence Award for Private Businesses, presented by Excellence Canada.
The Canadian Business Excellence Awards recognize private organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership, organizational performance, and a commitment to building strong workplace cultures. John Brooks was selected through a rigorous evaluation process that assessed its business practices, leadership, and long-term commitment to excellence.
John Brooks has been solving fluid handling challenges for customers since 1938. The company is an independently owned, fourth-generation business. The portfolio includes pumps, spraying equipment, filtration products, valves, and custom – engineered systems for the simplest and most complicated industrial and municipal applications.
Farm Fresh Selects NX Filtration Microfiltration Membranes for Tea Beverage Production in Malaysia
Farm Fresh, one of Malaysia’s leading dairy and tea beverage producers, has selected NX Filtration’s hollow fiber microfiltration (MF) membranes for its new premium tea beverage production line. The installation was delivered by OEM partner Suzhou Mopu Environment, integrating NX Filtration’s advanced membrane technology into its T-CLEAR tea clarification system.
As consumer demand continues to shift towards premium, natural beverages, manufacturers are increasingly looking for filtration technologies that combine exceptional product quality with efficient and reliable production. NX Filtration’s hollow fiber membranes provide a highly effective clarification solution by removing haze-forming compounds such as pectin, colloids and proteins, while preserving valuable tea polyphenols, color and natural aroma.
The result is a crystal-clear tea beverage with consistent quality, extended shelf life and an authentic flavor profile.
The project represents another successful application of NX Filtration’s microfiltration technology within the global food and beverage industry, where the company’s membranes are increasingly used for beverage clarification and gentle product separation.
“We are proud that Farm Fresh has selected our hollow fiber membrane technology for its new production line,” said Rob Slater, Sales Director F&B of NX Filtration. “This project demonstrates how advanced membrane filtration can help beverage producers improve product quality while preserving the natural characteristics that consumers value most. Together with our OEM partner Mopu Environment, we are pleased to support Farm Fresh with a reliable and sustainable filtration solution that contributes to premium beverage production.”
The project also marks an important milestone in the growing adoption of membrane-based clarification technologies within Asia’s rapidly expanding tea beverage market and further strengthens NX Filtration’s position in specialty food and beverage applications.
De Nora Selected to Support Landmark Chesapeake Bay Region Groundwater Restoration
Industrie De Nora, a global leader in electrochemical processes and water treatment technologies headquartered in Italy, has been selected by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) to provide its SORB FX Ion Exchange (IX) PFAS removal system for the SWIFT advanced water treatment facility at HRSD’s Nansemond Treatment Plant, a centerpiece of HRSD’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) program. The Nansemond facility is central to HRSD’s indirect potable reuse program, treating municipal wastewater to drinking water standards before recharging it into the Potomac Aquifer, the primary underground water supply for eastern Virginia. The SWIFT program is designed to reverse declining groundwater levels and combat saltwater intrusion, two critical threats to the region’s long-term drinking water supply.
The project, designed by Tetra-Tech and Carollo Engineers and constructed by renowned water and wastewater contractor Garney adds to De Nora’s growing portfolio of deployed PFAS treatment systems, further establishing the company as a proven provider of contaminant removal solutions for municipal water systems with ten PFAS project awards in recent months.
De Nora’s SORB FX PFAS removal system is designed to treat up to 34 million gallons of water per day (MGD) and consists of eleven 14-foot-diameter IX vessels operating in parallel, with one additional vessel on standby. The vessels are also designed to be easily modifiable for different media, allowing the system to accept future improved media.
The system incorporates a patent-pending inlet distributor and SORB OTTO underdrain with a custom over-drain/under-drain configuration, enabling maximum media bed exhaustion prior to changeout. The result is longer system life, reduced media replacement frequency, lower long-term operating costs, and a fully externally serviceable design that eliminates confined space requirements.
The SORB FX system selection builds on nearly 20 years of partnership between De Nora and HRSD, reinforcing confidence in De Nora’s ability to deliver high-performance treatment systems. HRSD currently operates nine DE NORA TETRA® Denite® biological filters, including a unique operating mode developed by HRSD that has further enhanced nutrient removal for the community and the environment.
The Nansemond installation is expected to become a flagship reference as utilities nationwide face increasing regulatory and public health pressure to address PFAS contamination. Awarded in December 2025, delivery of De Nora’s SORB FX System is expected by the end of 2027.
EDANA Announces Five New Board Members
EDANA announced five new board members at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Board Meeting in June. AGM elected five new Board members, who will join the existing Board for a three-year term running from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2029.
The five are:
- Giulia Antonioli will serve as Executive Officer on the EDANA Board. With over 20 years of experience shaping Brand Communication, Reputation, and Advocacy at P&G, Giulia Antonioli brings a rare blend of EU institutional insight (European Commission, Italian Chamber of Commerce in Belgium) and deep consumer industry experience. Since 2019, she has led Europe’s Brand Communications, Reputation, and Advocacy for Baby Care.
- Carles Moix leads Finance for EMEA and Asia at Magnera. A dynamic international executive with a strong track record in manufacturing, packaging, and industrial sectors, he brings deep expertise in P&L leadership, global operations, financial transformation, large-scale restructuring, and cross-border M&A.
- Robert A. Friedline, Ph.D., leads EMEA Product Development at Kenvue across Women’s Health, Skin Health, Oral Care, and more. With over 20 years in global consumer health, he joined Kenvue in February 2022 and has led R&D organisations across the full innovation lifecycle, stewarding brands including o.b®, Carefree®, Neutrogena®, and Listerine®.
- Brian Udengaard brings over 20 years of nonwovens industry experience, primarily in the hygiene field. Recently joined Nitto Advanced Film Solutions to lead strategic R&D initiatives, where Nitto combines in-house nonwoven production with external technology partnerships.
- Thomas Peter Schiele is a senior executive and economist (Dr. rer. pol., University of Mannheim) with extensive international leadership across the chemical and materials industry. His career at BASF SE spans VP roles in polymers, energy procurement, paper coating chemicals, and adhesives across Europe, South America, and Asia.
Ahlstrom Expands Lignin-Containing Filtration Media Production to Europe
Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, announces the expansion of its Ahlstrom ECOTM filtration media production capacity to Europe, strengthening its ability to support automotive OEM and aftermarket customers in their transition toward more sustainable filtration solutions. After a first generation developed in our Louveira (Brazil) plant, production is now available at Ahlstrom’s Turin (Italy) plant.
Driven by increasingly stringent emissions regulations and the ongoing transformation of the transportation sector, filtration solutions are expected to deliver both high performance and improved environmental profiles. OEMs and filter manufacturers are accelerating efforts to reduce their environmental footprint, while ensuring uncompromised efficiency across applications such as engine air, oil, and fuel filtration.
Ahlstrom ECOTM filtration media addresses these challenges through the integration of lignin, a renewable by-product from the pulp industry. By replacing about 30% of traditional fossil-based phenolic resin, Ahlstrom ECOTM reduces reliance on non-renewable materials while maintaining excellent filtration performance, including efficiency and durability in hot oil conditions.
In addition to its sustainability benefits, Ahlstrom ECO™ offers strong mechanical properties fully compatible with existing pleating and filter manufacturing processes. The solution also contributes to safer operations with reduced formaldehyde emissions between 40-70% during curing level, helping customers meet stricter environmental and occupational health requirements. Flame-retardant options are available, and the technology supports reliable global supply and industrial scalability.
MANN+HUMMEL Appoints Christoph Sagemüller as Chief Marketing Officer
MANN+HUMMEL, a leading global filtration company, announced a new appointment to its leadership team. Effective August 17, 2026, Christoph Sagemüller will join MANN+HUMMEL as Chief Marketing Officer and member of the Executive Leadership Committee.
In his new role, Sagemüller will be responsible for shaping and advancing the company’s global brand architecture and portfolio of brands, while driving a seamless and differentiated Customer Experience across all touchpoints, with a particular focus on Digital Customer Experience. With this appointment, MANN+HUMMEL underlines its commitment to further strengthening its customer-centric transformation and its global brand positioning.
Sagemüller joins MANN+HUMMEL from Mercedes-AMG GmbH, where he most recently served as Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. In this role, he was responsible for the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport business unit, including governance, product strategy, race car development, sales, customer care, communication and global activation. Having started his career at Mercedes-AMG in Product Management, Sagemüller subsequently held several leadership positions, including roles within the Executive Office, as well as responsibilities for brand management, strategic partnerships and motorsport communications.
Alfa Laval Lands Record Order for Acelen’s Brazil SAF Biorefinery
Alfa Laval has secured a SEK 1.1 billion (€102 million) contract from Acelen to supply hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) pre-treatment technology for a major renewable fuels biorefinery under development in Brazil. The agreement marks the largest order in Alfa Laval’s history and will be executed in phases through the project’s expected completion in 2029.
The Swedish company will provide HVO pre-treatment systems, including heat exchangers, separators and other engineered components, covering feedstock clarification, degumming, absorption and wastewater treatment. The technology will process a variety of renewable feedstocks, including soybean oil, used cooking oil and macaúba, a native Brazilian oilseed crop.
The Acelen facility is designed to produce more than 17,230 barrels per day of primarily sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using the HVO process. The project is expected to strengthen Brazil’s position in renewable fuels while supporting decarbonization efforts in hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and heavy transport.
