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: June 11, 2025
Fibroline and Big Frog Innovation LLC Enters Partnership
Fibroline, the French company that has developed dry powder impregnation solutions, has entered a strategic partnership Big Frog Innovation LLC, a consulting company with many years of international experience focused on bringing innovation to the filtration and nonwovens industries.
With this new collaboration, Fibroline aims to extend the use of its solutions in the filtration industry and especially in the American market. Capitalizing on the recent opening of its US-based Innovation Center in February and a successful presence at FiltXPO recently, Fibroline is confident that this will lead to new project developments in the filtration sector. Indeed, this partnership brings together unique innovative technologies and a seasoned company in this field.
Veolia to Provide Seawater Desalination Tech for Two Santos Basin FPSOs
Veolia’s Water Technology & Solutions has secured a multi-million dollar contract from Seatrium to provide advanced seawater desalination solutions for two Petrobras’ offshore platforms in Brazil.
The project, serving Petrobras’ P84 and P85 floating production storage and offloading platforms (FPSO), will demonstrate innovative water treatment technology solving critical environmental and operational challenges in offshore energy production.
Each platform will have the capacity to process 225,000 barrels of oil and 10 million cubic meters of gas daily. This requires sophisticated water management solutions in order to minimize environmental impact while maximizing production efficiency. Oil and gas production relies on treated, desalinated seawater to be injected into reservoirs through sulphate removal units (SRU).
At the heart of this solution is an SRU system for water injection production, featuring Veolia’s ZeeWeed Ultrafiltration and SWSR Series Nanofiltration membranes. These advanced systems will reliably process 1,960 cubic meters per hour of water per platform.
This collaboration marks the fifth contract between Veolia and Seatrium following three successful projects in the past three years.
Braskem and Ardent Advance Breakthrough Olefin Separation Technology
Braskem the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, as well as a global market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, and Ardent Process Technologies announced the successful completion of their joint development program for an innovative olefin-paraffin separation technology, marking a significant advancement in polyolefin production efficiency.
The collaboration, which began in November 2020, centered on the development and testing of Ardent’s OptipermTM membrane technology at a dedicated demonstration unit within Braskem’s facilities. The rigorous development program has satisfactorily met key performance metrics, including membrane efficiency, durability, and operational stability.
“The successful pilot program demonstrates the tremendous potential of this technology to revolutionize olefin paraffin separation processes,” said Bill Charlton, the COO of Ardent and leader of this project. “We are excited to move forward with Braskem towards full commercial implementation.”
Following these promising results, Braskem has confirmed its intention to implement this groundbreaking technology across commercial facilities. Engineering and design work have already commenced for the first commercial installation.
“This technology represents a significant step forward in our commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions,” said Gus Hutras, Global Process Technology Director at Braskem. “The successful pilot results align with our vision of transforming the chemicals and plastics industry through innovation while advancing our goals toward carbon neutrality. We’re excited to move this breakthrough technology into commercial implementation.”
MANN+HUMMEL Expands Management Board
As the next step on the path toward Leadership in Filtration, MANN+HUMMEL is strengthening its leadership structure and expanding its Management Board from two to three members. This decisive step reinforces the company’s strategic focus on sustainable growth, customer centricity, and the resilience of its global structures – in an increasingly dynamic geopolitical and economic environment.
The current Executive Board – consisting of CEO Kurk Wilks and CFO Emese Weissenbacher – will be expanded by introducing the new role of Chief Operating Officer. As part of the reorganization, Emese Weissenbacher – currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer – will take on the newly created role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Jurate Keblyte will join MANN+HUMMEL as Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Weissenbacher. She brings over 25 years of international leadership experience in financial transformation. As CFO, she will be responsible for Finance, IT, and Global Business & Technical Solutions, and will continue to drive MANN+HUMMEL’s transformation journey.
Membrane Technology Makes Fuel Cells Cheaper, Environmentally Friendly
A new membrane technology – so light and thin that it makes an A4 sheet of paper feel like thick cardboard – has been created in the hydrogen laboratory at Norwegian research institute SINTEF.
Fuel cells that run on hydrogen are efficient and emit water vapor instead of exhaust. But so far, the technology is still expensive and therefore not competitive with the electric motor alternative. Researchers have now figured out how they can accelerate competitiveness by reducing two critical components, potentially making fuel cells both cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Fuel cells consist of a membrane and a catalyst. Both are crucial for the process of converting hydrogen gas into electrical energy and for the overall performance of fuel cells. The membranes are made of fluorine-containing materials that are harmful to the environment, while the catalyst consists of platinum, which is a rare and expensive mineral. Membrane and catalysts account for over 40 percent of the total cost of fuel cells.
“It was thus important to find the optimal balance between the amount of materials used and the amount of electricity produced. In the research project, we found a way to arrange the reactors so that they provided enough power to run the fuel cell, while at the same time drastically reducing the amount of materials required,” said Patrick Fortin, a researcher at SINTEF.
He explains that the research has led to a 62.5 percent reduction in platinum content, compared to state-of-the-art fuel cells.
“By reducing the amount of platinum in the fuel cell, we’re not only helping to reduce costs, we’re also taking into account the global challenges regarding the supply of important raw materials and sustainability,” says Fortin.
Platinum is one of the most expensive and rarest minerals on earth, and it is only extracted in parts of the world outside Europe. The EU has therefore categorized platinum as a critical raw material. By slimming down the already razor-thin membrane by 33 percent, the researchers have now come up with a far more environmentally friendly membrane that is also less expensive, and cost can be reduced by up to 20 percent and PFAS can be reduced by a third.
PURE Bioscience Unveils Membrane Treatment Solution for Dairy, Beverage Industry
PURE Bioscience, Inc., creator of the patented non-toxic silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, announced an innovative application method for membrane treatment in the dairy and beverage industry using their flagship product, PURE® Hard Surface. This groundbreaking solution addresses common membrane fouling and sanitization challenges, delivering outstanding results that enable operators to restore throughput and sanitize the membrane without damage or oxidation.
Tom Myers, EVP of Technology & Development at PURE Bioscience, stated, “The introduction of PURE Hard Surface to the Dairy and Beverage industry represents a significant advancement in membrane treatment technology. This product delivers unmatched efficiency and enhances filtration operation and longevity.”
Key Attributes of PURE Hard Surface for Membrane Treatment:
- One Treatment
- Complete Penetration in Minutes
- Environmentally Safe
- Cost-Effective Solution
“Our SDC technology is redefining what’s possible in the food industry – and PURE Hard Surface is at the forefront,” said Tim Steffensmeier, Vice President of Sales. “This modern membrane application brings a smarter, more efficient approach to streamlining operation, delivering a measurable cost savings, and empowers manufacturers to uphold the highest quality standards in the industry, without the negative trade-offs of traditional chemistry.”
Donaldson Appoints Richard Lewis Chief Operating Officer
Donaldson Company, Inc. a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, announced the appointment of Richard Lewis as chief operating officer, effective August 1, 2025. In his new role, Lewis will oversee the company’s three segments as well as its enterprise operations and supply chain, and corporate technology functions. He will continue to report to Tod Carpenter, chairman, president and chief executive officer.
“Rich is an experienced leader with a track record of consistent operational success through a broad range of dynamic and challenging market conditions,” said Carpenter. “During his 23 years with Donaldson, he has achieved a deep understanding of our global portfolio of businesses, end markets, and customers’ needs. I look forward to partnering with Rich to further strengthen execution of our strategy and drive value creation for all of our stakeholders.”
Lewis is currently president of the company’s Life Sciences segment and will continue to perform that role until a successor is named. During his tenure within Donaldson, Lewis has held several key leadership positions including President, Mobile Solutions and Senior Vice President, Global Operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Louisville and an MBA from Indiana University.
“I am honored to step into the COO role and lead operations for the company’s diversified portfolio of businesses,” said Lewis. “I am eager to continue working with our strong leadership team to deliver our innovative solutions for customers around the globe and further our collective success.”
Metso Wins New Indonesia Equipment Order
Metso has been awarded a repeat order to deliver sustainable tailings filtration technology for the Huayou Group’s laterite nickel mine project in Indonesia. The order value, which is not disclosed, has been booked in Minerals segment’s 2025 second-quarter orders received.
Metso’s delivery consists of the engineering, manufacturing and supply of 16 Larox® FFP3512 filters, as well as advisory services and spare parts for installation and commissioning. The fully automatic, fast-opening filter press (FFP) is part of the Metso Plus offering. The filter combines the benefits of membrane technology and sidebar design with high mechanical and process performance, providing safe and sustainable high-volume dewatering of tailings with low operating and life cycle costs.
Huayou Group is a high-tech enterprise engaged in the research, development and manufacturing of new energy lithium-ion battery and cobalt materials in China. Its nickel cobalt hydrometallurgy project in Indonesia is one of the largest and most advanced hydrometallurgy projects in the world. Metso has signed several cooperation agreements with Huayou Group to provide comprehensive minerals processing solutions for its projects in Indonesia, including SAG mills, ball mills, as well as Larox® filters and thickening equipment of various specifications.
Camfil Expands Local Presence in China
Camfil, a global leader in clean air solutions, announced two significant updates in its operations in Mainland China: the opening of a new office in Shanghai and the completion of a large-scale solar panel installation at its manufacturing plant in Taicang. These milestones reflect Camfil’s commitment to environmental responsibility and customer-focused growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Following a successful visit by Camfil Group CEO Mark Simmons, who attended both milestone events, the company reaffirms its dedication to building closer relationships with local customers and enhancing its sustainable business practices.
At the Taicang facility, more than 2,000 rooftop photovoltaic panels have been installed. This system is expected to generate approximately 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually—covering nearly 30% of the plant’s total energy needs and reducing over 1,000 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. Combined with green electricity sourced from the grid, Taicang’s overall green power usage now stands at approximately 90%, marking a major achievement in Camfil’s global sustainability roadmap.
The new Shanghai office will serve as a strategic hub to support Camfil’s local teams and provide even stronger service to customers throughout Mainland China. It enhances the company’s presence in one of its most important markets, enabling faster response times, localized expertise, and closer customer partnerships.
Aquaporin Sells 500 CLEAR Membranes to China
Aquaporin announced they sold 500 Clear membranes to Beijing-based company Czrlo to help increase energy efficiency significantly at a municipal wastewater incineration plant and a coal chemical plant.
Clear is a series of brackish water reverse osmosis elements designed for industry, municipalities, and businesses. Crzlo has purchased Clear Classic, Clear Classic FR, and Clear Eco membranes to meet the needs of its customers.
The company, based in China, has already conducted testing of the energy-efficient membranes at a municipal waste incineration plant and a coal chemical plant. During the testing phase, the Aquaporin Inside Clear membranes delivered stable water quality, meeting stringent desalination requirements.
The Clear elements operate at a lower pressure than the previous membranes in use. This improved performance means the municipal waste incineration plant in Beijing has experienced an increase of more than 30% in compliant process water produced daily.
“Achieving commercial traction in China’s competitive membrane market demands more than mere presence – it requires strong technological and operational advantages. With our Aquaporin Inside Clear product line, we are earning the trust of industrial customers and consistently delivering the performance and reliability they depend on,” said Aquaporin chief executive officer Matt Boczkowski.
