NEWS RELEASE                                   MARCH 2012

Cross-Flow Membrane Revenues Will Exceed $9.3 Billion This Year

Worldwide revenues for reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration and microfiltration equipment and replacement modules will exceed $9.3 billion in 2012. This is the latest finding in the online report RO, UF, MF World Market published by the McIlvaine Company.

Cross-Flow Membrane System and Module Revenues ($ Millions)

Desalination will be the leading segment and will account for 27 percent of the revenues. The Middle East will account for 26 percent of the total desalination revenues. Asia is gaining on other regions for two reasons.  One is the lack of uncontaminated water and the second is the growth in demand due to industry expansion.

The Asian power plant owners will account for more than 40 percent of the cross-flow membrane equipment purchases by the world’s electrical generating industry. This is due to the substantial investment in new coal-fired power plants in China, India and other Asian countries. The majority of the purchases of cross-flow equipment and modules for the pharmaceutical industry will be by manufacturers in Europe and the U.S.

Wastewater reuse is becoming increasingly popular. Membrane bioreactors provide a cost effective way to combine biological treatment with efficient membrane particle removal. The concept of sewer mining in conjunction with membrane bioreactors minimizes the transport problem for water reuse for golf courses and similar grey water classifications. The present market is only $341 million/yr for membranes in wastewater but the growth will be at double-digit rates for the next five years.

Microfiltration and ultrafiltration continue to make inroads in the municipal drinking water industry. Traditionally sand filters have been used for drinking water purification. But membranes remove more microbes and make water safer.

For more information on RO, UF, MF World Market, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/water.html#no20