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 at ken@filtnews.com
Most recent update: March 30, 2022
OCWD Lab Named First California Public Lab in CA to Receive Newest Certification to Detect PFAS in Drinking Water
Orange County Water District’s (OCWD) Philip L. Anthony Water Quality Laboratory is the first public agency laboratory in California to achieve state certification to analyze for per- and polyfluoralkly substances (PFAS) in drinking water by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 533. Certification was granted by the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) administered by the State Water Resources Control Board.
The lab previously became the first public agency lab to receive ELAP certification for PFAS analysis via EPA Method 537. Together, these certifications enable the lab to analyze 29 PFAS targets in drinking water.
PFAS are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals that are used to make items non-stick and/or resistant to water, oil, and stains. They are also used in a number of industrial processes and firefighting activities. Chemical manufacturers are the original source of PFAS chemicals. Over the past several years, the science on PFAS and its impacts to the environment and public health have prompted regulatory actions.
PFAS have been detected in the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which supplies 77% of the drinking water supply to north and central Orange County. Despite playing no role in releasing PFAS into the environment, cities and water agencies must find ways to remove it from their local water supplies. Water agencies in OCWD’s service area adhere to PFAS federal health advisory and state response levels and provide drinking water that meets all state and federal regulations.
The Philip L. Anthony Water Quality Laboratory supports OCWD’s mission to provide clean, reliable groundwater to 19 cities and water districts. In addition to state certification to analyze both PFAS methods, the lab has received acceptance into the EPA Laboratory Approval Program to perform PFAS analyses under both EPA Method 533 and 537.1 for the UCMR 5 program, with monitoring set to begin in 2023.
Source: OCWD
Broan-NuTone® Global Technical Products Manager Elected Chairman of the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) Board of Directors
Patrick Nielsen, Global Technical Products Manager for Broan-NuTone®, a leading manufacturer of residential ventilation solutions, has been appointed Chairman of the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) Board of Directors for the 2021-2023 term. In addition to the role of Chairman, he is also the chair of the Codes and Standards Committee and is active in multiple other committees addressing industry issues. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017 and served as Secretary from 2019-2021.
Nielsen has 20 years of experience with Broan-NuTone, including roles in product development. He has used his engineering background to launch a wide range of innovative ventilation products to solve a variety of IAQ and customer challenges. More recently his focus has been codes and standards, green building trends and projecting longer-term product needs/opportunities.
As chairman, Nielsen will continue to drive HVI’s mission to champion healthy indoor air by working together to advance and promote dependable ventilation practices through product certification, stakeholder education, and codes and standards participation.
Nielsen is also a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) and the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA).
Source: www.hvi.org
SWM Expands Its Air Filtration Offerings for Facemask Applications
SWM International, a leading global producer of nonwoven media, has launched DelporeTM Advanced Filtration Media – ideal for surgical facemasks, N95 offerings, and other facemask applications.
“We have diversified our facemask offerings to provide various materials that have greater than 95% efficiency for standard flow rates,” said Bart Sistrunk, SWM’s Commercial Director – Filtration. “With our DelporeTM Advanced Filtration Media, N95 material can now be produced with a basis weight reduction of up to 30%. This reduction provides a more economic option for consumers, as well as increased comfort for all-day wear.”
SWM has a long history of supplying high-quality media integral to the manufacture and performance of facemasks used in the dental and surgical sectors as well as the construction and industrial sectors. DelporeTM Advanced Filtration Media allows for better airflow and breathability and is considered ideal for all day comfortable wear while maintaining key performance features.
SWM also offers DelnetTM apertured film, a lightweight nonwoven that is extruded, oriented, and uniquely embossed for use as a flexible surface layer for medical face masks or as a comfort barrier in finger bandages.
Source: SWM
Industrial air filtration market expanding at a healthy 6.2% by 2032
In 2032, the industrial air filtration market share is likely to expand at a steady CAGR of 6.2%, reaching $45.2 Billion in 2027 from $ 6 Billion in 2021, according to a new analysis from Future Market Insights (FMI).
Increasing demand for energy-efficient filtering technology has an impact on the Governments and regulatory organizations have adopted tough industry requirements to improve air quality. For example, the US Clean Air Act developed laws to decrease air pollution. In order to comply with strict air quality laws, industrial air filtration companies have been forced to employ air filtering devices.
The HEPA filters market is expected to develop at a 6.9% CAGR through 2027. HEPA filter manufacturers made these filters extremely effective at trapping hazardous particles like dust mites and pollen.
Source: FMI
Technical Book on Dust Collection
Scientific Dust Collectors offers a FREE Third Edition publication on dust collection titled “A Scientific Review of Dust Collection – Third Edition”. It reviews the history, theory and application of all types of dust collection equipment.
This third edition contains updated information on system design, filter media, explosive dust control and additional information on the new standard in measuring dust collector performance: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 199. This is the first and only standard as it relates to dust collection equipment and is a valuable tool in reviewing dust collection equipment for your facility.
Source: Scientific Dust Collectors
EPA WIFIA Annual Report Celebrates over $5 Billion in Water Infrastructure Loans
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week released the 2021 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Annual Report. The report highlights the program’s 2021 investments in water infrastructure to protect public health and the environment, create good-paying jobs, and save communities money over alternative financing options.
“The WIFIA program has been an incredible success, providing more than $5 billion in water infrastructure funding in 2021 to save communities $1.5 billion while creating nearly 40,000 jobs,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The WIFIA program, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the agency’s other water infrastructure funding programs are building a better America by securing clean and safe water for all.”
In 2021, the WIFIA program closed 31 loans totaling over $5 billion to support nearly $12 billion in water infrastructure projects. At the same time, borrowers saved $1.5 billion and created nearly 40,000 jobs.
Source: WIFIA
Market conditions, inflationary pressures force H&V to implement temporary surcharge
Global market conditions, including constrained supply chains, inflationary pressure, increased transportation costs and historically high energy rates, are forcing H&V to implement a temporary 12% surcharge in the Americas and EMEA regions.
The surcharge will be effective on all orders shipped on or after April 4, 2022, and applies to contract and non-contract customers. H&V will regularly review the surcharge at a global business level, with the intent of reducing the charge as market conditions even out.
Customers who have questions about this inflationary surcharge can reach out to their account managers.
H&V remains committed to its customers and their success.
Source: Hollingsworth & Vose
NIRI launches new filtration platform technology: developing next generation filtration products
The Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute (NIRI) has developed a new platform technology to enhance the performance of a broad range of nonwoven products, also suitable for multiple high-performance applications.
Chief Commercial Officer at NIRI, Dr. Ross Ward, said the technology is already being utilized in a COVID Capture project for PPE that captures and immobilizes SARS-CoV-2 to prevent viral transfer between healthcare staff and patients. He explained the process and its relevance for numerous sectors, such as air filtration, wastewater filtration, automotive, pharmaceuticals and HVAC.
To develop the technology specific to the Covid Capture project, NIRI utilized their new filtration platform technology. NIRI first identified a range of strategies for binding different functional groups onto the surface of the fibers. This allows the optimal binding strategy to be selected for the specific adsorbent molecule. The success of the project development to date means that COVID-Capture PPE is now being prototyped for clinical trial evaluation.
When designing an adsorbent filter for a specific application, there are key considerations: the nature of the contaminant and level of contamination; the nature of the application itself, and fluid dynamics such as dwell time, adsorption kinetics and required performance.
The next stage of the process is to bind the adsorbent molecule, which is specifically designed for interacting with an adsorbate or contaminant. When the contaminated fluid passes through the filter substrate the contaminant or adsorbate is captured.
In addition to the COVID Capture project, NIRI has utilized the new platform technology to enhance its Sanguis universal plasma filter, and is already exploring applications in wound-care, air filtration and wastewater filtration. Consistent investment in new technology underpins the development of the new filtration platform technology and the company growth and expansion are enabling NIRI to help more clients grow their businesses, accelerate innovation and develop their next generation of nonwoven products.
Source: NIRI
New indoor Air Quality Funding Opportunity Available from EPA Partner
The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), an EPA partner organization, has announced a new funding opportunity to help communities build capacity and advance evidence-based efforts to improve health in indoor home environments by reducing exposures to common indoor air contaminants including radon, mold and moisture, dust mites, environmental tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke), pests, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), combustion byproducts (e.g., CO and NO2,), and other emerging IAQ issues.
Communities can apply for a bundled award of coaching and support over eighteen months that includes on-call access to technical assistance from a network of national experts, opportunities to engage in peer learning, and a $15,000 grant.
Eligible applicants include local, regional, or state non-profit and community-based organizations and state, county, local, and tribal government agencies. Funding should be used to build capacity within a community and help communities achieve policy, practice, or systems change.
Source: NCHH
Grundfos announces 2021 results with record sales and earnings, though challenges lie ahead
Denmark headquartered company Grundfos set a new sales record in 2021 with a full year net turnover of 28.7bn DKK. Grundfos’ full year return on sales (EBIT/Net turnover) reached 11.1% representing Earnings before Interest and Tax (EBIT) of DKK 3,185m. Adjusted for items not related to the operations of the company, Grundfos’ return on sales landed at 11.4%. The annual customer satisfaction survey showed world-class levels and was the highest score since Grundfos started conducting customer satisfaction surveys.
Throughout second half of 2021, Grundfos was increasingly challenged by supply chain constraints and sharp price increases on materials, energy and logistics services which added pressure on profitability.
“Our record results give us a strong foundation to face what will be a challenging 2022. The invasion of Ukraine is first and foremost a tragedy for the Ukrainian people. The global repercussions are immediate and far reaching and have led us to pause all business activities in Russia. On top of this, the inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints are aggravated, making the outlook for 2022 very uncertain, said Group President & CEO of Grundfos, Poul Due Jensen.
Grundfos pioneer solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improve quality of life for people. As a global pump and water solutions company we provide expertise in energy- and water efficient solutions and systems for a wide range of applications, including water utility, water treatment, industries and buildings.
Source: Grundfos
Encycle promotes Steve Alexander to President and CEO
Encycle Corporation, a software technology company focused on helping commercial enterprise-level utility customers dramatically improve the efficiency of their HVAC systems using IoT-enabled services, announced that it has named Steve Alexander as President and CEO effective March 1, 2022. Mr. Alexander succeeds Robert Chiste, who served as the company’s CEO since 2015. As part of the transition, Chiste will join Encycle’s Board as Executive Chairman.
Alexander has been Encycle’s President and COO since 2015. Together with Chiste, he has led Encycle through tremendous growth, establishing strategic partnerships with building control OEMs and utility program and service providers to deliver specialized HVAC energy-saving technologies to business customers.
Source: Encycle
DuPont announces multimillion euro transformation of Athlone production facility
DuPont Water Solutions, a DuPont de Nemours, Inc. business and global leader in water and wastewater treatment technologies, announced a major transformation of the OxyMem™ Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) at its manufacturing facility in Athlone, Ireland. The investment in the facilities and employees at the Athlone site will help meet the increasing global demand for MABR.
OxyMem™ was the first company to commercialize MABR technology, which provides unique and differentiated performance for secondary wastewater treatment. DuPont acquired OxyMem™ in 2019, expanding its extensive portfolio of industry-leading water solutions that help produce, purify, and extract some of the world’s most commercially important products.
“This investment will allow OxyMem™ to develop more efficient and more reliable production technology as well as improve our product design to meet the continuously increasing demand by the market” said Andreas Gorenflo, General Manager of OxyMem™. “It is fundamentally important, and it will help us grow the company to meet the increasing global demand for MABR.”
This multimillion-euro investment includes additional training for staff based in Athlone. This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Source: DuPont
UL introduces verification program to ensure ventilation and filtration performance for aerosol removal
SafeTraces, a California-based company focused on air quality, is working with the certification company UL to provide a verified ventilation and filtration program for ensuring aerosol removal in shared spaces. The program is based on SafeTraces’ patented aerosol tracing technology and provides assessment and verification, along with a comprehensive desktop review with field verification of ventilation and filtration performance. According to SafeTraces, the program is the first of its kind to measure the real-world performance of ventilation and filtration for aerosol removal rate in the built environment.
Infectious aerosols such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza and the common cold represent a significant threat to public health and safety due to their high transmissibility and ability to remain airborne for hours and migrate beyond 25 feet in indoor environments. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, inadequate ventilation is the largest source of indoor air quality risk, including airborne pathogens. However, building owners and operators could not historically verify, manage, and communicate real-world ventilation and filtration performance for aerosol removal in occupied spaces due to the limitations of in-field assessment tools.
To address this need, SafeTraces, with support from the National Institutes of Health, developed the first diagnostic platform for field verification of ventilation and filtration performance for aerosol removal in shared occupancy spaces. This program leverages patented DNA-tagged aerosol tracers that safely simulate respiratory emissions and exposure to airborne pathogens.
The UL Verified Ventilation and Filtration program, powered by SafeTraces, is being introduced as health concerns about reoccupying shared spaces remain at an all-time high, with some polls indicating nearly 90% of the public have concerns about workplace safety. A major impetus for the program came from corporate, commercial, and institutional real-estate owners and operators seeking to enhance, communicate, and differentiate on indoor air quality (IAQ), ventilation, and filtration with direct financial implications linked to health & safety, capital and operating expenditure, and sustainability.
Source: safetraces.com
Eric Nelson to lead international business development for Eriez
Eriez, a provider of separation technology, announced the appointment of Eric Nelson as vice president of International Operations and Business Development. Nelson worked for Eriez previously, serving the company as interim managing director of Eriez-China until 2018.
According to Eriez vice president of International, Jaisen Kohmuench, Nelson will collaborate in developing global business strategies and assist regional Eriez sales directors in uncovering and cultivating business advancement opportunities across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions. He will be primarily responsible for coaching and advising local teams, with the overall goal of continuing strategic growth plans for Eriez.
“Eric brings a wealth of international management experience,” said Kohmuench. “His accomplishments include spearheading numerous organizational turnarounds, developing international management teams, and optimizing the performance of many businesses within China and the Southeast Asia region.”
Established in 1942, Eriez is a global provider of separation technologies. The company’s 900-plus employees are dedicated to providing trusted technical solutions to the mining, food, recycling, packaging, aggregate and other processing industries. Headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, Eriez designs, manufactures, and markets on six continents through 12 wholly owned international subsidiaries and an extensive sales representative network.
Source: eriez.com
Industrial air filtration market to hit US $8.85 billion by 2027
The industrial air filtration market is expected to surpass US $8.85 billion by 2027, according to a new research study by Global Market Insights Inc. The market will be driven by rising concern pertaining to the degradation of air quality and implementation of stringent environmental regulations to reduce air pollution. Likewise, an increasing emphasis on worker health & safety, along with stringent government regulations for maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ) in industrial settings, is projected to produce gains.
The baghouse filters product segment is set to witness a growth rate of about 6.1% through 2027. Baghouse filters or fabric filters are used to filter dust and other granular solid pollutants from small household workplaces to large industrial facilities, including coal-fired power plants and cement plants. High efficiencies and low initial investment cost associated with baghouse filters is projected to escalate the product demand.
Air filtration systems to protect gas turbine, generator, and equipment compartments from airborne dirt and contamination (power applications) reached more that US $1.00 in 2020. Growth in the power generation sector across the globe is expected to continue, owing to high electricity demand.
The Asia-Pacific industrial air filtration market is projected to register 7% gains through 2027. The presence of a large number of food & beverage, cement, and metal manufacturing companies in the region led to increased installation of air filtration units in their facilities driving industrial air filtration demand. Government initiatives to control the level of air pollution caused due to industrial operations and a rising focus on safe working environments are also propelling market growth.
Key findings include:
- The cartridge collectors & filters product is projected to observe 6% CAGR through 2027 propelled by its advantages, such as high efficiency, longer life span, and low cost.
- The pharmaceuticals application is predicted to surpass USD 1.40 billion by 2027 due to rapid growth in the pharmaceutical sector in emerging economies such as China and India.
- Major players in the industrial air filtration market are focused on implementing strategic initiatives such as new product launch, mergers & acquisition, and partnerships to cater the rising demand for industrial air filtration across the global.
- North America comprises a significant market share and is estimated to grow with a CAGR of over 5.5% owing to stringent environmental and worker safety regulations.
Source: gminsights.com
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