NEWS RELEASE                                                                                        FEBRUARY 2014

Consolidation of the Air Filter and Dust Filter Media Companies

In the past, the companies making air filter media were distinct from those making dust collector filter media. But this is all changing thanks to acquisitions.  This consolidation is being tracked in both the Air Filtration & Purification World Market and World Fabric Filter and Element Market reports published by the McIlvaine Company.

The combined market for air filtration and dust collector media next year will be $4.1 billion.

Air Filter and Dust Collector Media Market in 2015 ($ Millions)

East Asia will be the largest market followed by NAFTA.   The indoor air filtration market is larger than the dust collector media market, but much of the same media is used in the lower temperature applications.  The difference is that there are a number of high priced media constructions used for high temperature dust collection. This is where a double-digit growth rate is likely.  Thus, the dust collector media companies have become attractive acquisitions for air filter media companies. 

There has been considerable consolidation with air media companies buying dust collector media companies, filter suppliers buying media companies and media companies buying other media companies. Lydall has just acquired Andrew.  This will add revenues close to $100 million just in dust collector media and finished bags.  In North America, Andrew has been primarily a media supplier, but in the rest of the world, it furnished finished bags. Clarcor has purchased BHA from GE, thus adding dust collector bag and media revenues. Nederman purchased Menardi and Filtration Group purchased Clear Edge.

New technology will drive the industry. Several suppliers have successfully combined NO_x reduction and particulate removal with ceramic fibrous filter media with attached or embedded catalyst. This new media is a big improvement over older monolithic block designs which did not lend themselves to cleaning. Thousands of these elements are now in use on power generation facilities burning biomass and other solid fuels. Others are used in conjunction with driers and kilns.

The combination of membranes and application to pleated media is another step forward. Several developments involve mercury capture.  One company just introduced a coating which will absorb mercury. Even though the mercury is not purged, there is enough capability to function at high efficiency through the expected two to three year life of the bag. Another variation uses a membrane module for mercury capture. Successful commercial experience has been obtained in Minnesota at a large coal-fired power plant.

For more information on Air Filtration & Purification World Market, click on:http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/2-uncategorised/108-n022

For more information on World Fabric Filter and Element Market, click on: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/2-uncategorised/110-n021