e-FILTER will be sent monthly to all the key players in the global filtration game. It will be chock full of the latest news, new products, legislative issues and commentary that you need to keep pace with - and ahead of -- the ever-increasing competition. Check out the information at the end of this newsletter on how you can continue to receive this newsletter on the first business day of each month.

IN THIS ISSUE …

• WIRTZ OF WELCOME
• RESEARCH REPORT: CROSS F LOW FILTRATION WILL TOP $4.7 BILLION
• AROUND THE WORLD OF FILTRATION
  New Internet Site …
  Sonobond Expands Into Filtration Business …
  Another filtration web site at eFiltration.com …
  Carlee enters new filtration venture …
  Special magazine offer from Filtration+ Separation …
  Filtration media market to reach $75 billion in 2020 …
  
• FROM THE LEGISLATIVE FRONT
  EPA Issues New Report on Health Hazards of Particulate Matter …
  EPA Draft Estimates That Air Pollution Controls Benefits Far Exceed Costs …
  EPA Faces Law Suit Over Hazardous Waste Incinerator/Cement Kiln Emissions
  Carbon Filtration Discouraged for Chemical Weapons Incinerators
  
• TWO EXPERTS SPEAK
• THAT'S ALL, FOR THIS MONTH …
  How To Subscribe

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WIRTZ OF WELCOME
From Ted Wirtz, president of INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry …

The Filtration industry is large, fast growing and very diverse. Most companies in the business already know this and also recognize the business is in a rapid state of change. To serve the evolving demand from customers, new products proliferate and are reaching the marketplace at a faster pace than ever before. At the same time it is becoming more and more difficult for industry participants to keep abreast of this strategic evolution that can have an unexpected impact on their company.

With over one billion square yards of nonwoven materials being consumed annually in filter applications, and INDA being the world's leading nonwovens trade association, it is appropriate that we lead the way at improving the transfer of information between and among organizations serving the business. Nonwoven materials are one of the common threads for filter products. In some cases, nonwovens are the primary filter media; in others, nonwovens act as a support substrates for membrane type media. These engineered fabrics find use in both liquid and gas applications and can be designed to act as both coarse and fine filters. Particles as small as .3 microns can be removed from an air stream at efficiencies of 99.9999% - quite remarkable.

Welcome to the first edition of our electronic newsletter devoted specifically to reporting key happenings in the filtration industry. We plan to publish on a monthly basis, so keep your eye peeled during the first week of each month. Our goal is to provide quick-time information of the hot topics now emerging throughout the business. Take a look and let us know what you think. INDA can be reached at www.inda.org on the net or at (919) 233-1210. Ask for Cindy Garcia.

CROSS FLOW FILTRATION SALES WILL TOP $4.7 BILLION THIS YEAR …

Worldwide sales of cross flow filtration equipment and membranes will top $4.7 billion in 2000, with reverse osmosis accounting for just under $2 billion in sales. Accounting for the remainder: Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration. This forecast is included in RO, UF, MF World Markets 1999-2004, recently published by The McIlvaine Company.

Among the report's findings:

• The U.S. will be the largest purchaser, followed by Japan, China, Germany and Saudi Arabia. The fact that Saudi Arabia is in the top five attests to the importance of desalination of seawater in this market. Costs to desalinate seawater using cross flow membrane processes have plummeted due to new system and membrane designs. This reduced cost has opened up new markets in the Middle East and other arid areas of the world.

• China edged out Germany because of activity in a variety of industries, including power, semiconductors, chemical, food and metals. Japan will maintain the second slot based on some resumption of semiconductor expenditures and a revival in other basic industries. Germany will spend $74 million for microfiltration equipment this year, $57 million for reverse osmosis, and $7l million for ultrafiltration.

• The United Kingdom will be the sixth largest purchaser, followed by South Korea, France, Spain and Italy. Semiconductors are an important segment of the both the UK and South Korean markets. Food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals are important segments in all five of these second tier markets.

• The only other countries where sales will exceed $100 million are India, Canada, Russia and Brazil.

• The largest supplier of RO membranes is Dow Chemical, followed by Nitto Denko, DuPont, Osmonics and Koch. The largest supplier of RO systems is Ionics, followed by Mitsubishi, Osmonics, Christ and Pall.

• In ultrafiltration, Pall heads the membrane list followed by Koch, Hoechst Celanese, Nitto Denko, and Asahi Chemical. PCI and Suez Lyonnaise are among the top five ultrafiltration system companies.

• Finally, the largest new market in microfiltration is drinking water, where membranes are replacing sand filters. Major participants include some of the leaders in other segments, but there are some different faces as well. Millipore, USFilter and Tech Sep are among the top five membrane suppliers in this segment. In the microfiltration systems segment, Cuno and Zenon are in the top five. More than 100 companies manufacture membranes and more than 3,000 companies supply systems. However, only 200 companies enjoy cross flow filtration sales in excess of $5 million.

  Contact: The McIlvaine Company, 2970 Maria Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-272-0010; www.mcilvainecompany.com.

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AROUND THE WORLD OF FILTRATION

New Internet Site …
One of the hottest places to get information on the filtration industry, other than your INDA e-FILTER Newsletter, of course, is at filter.com. And just last week the filter.com Forum was updated to include six categories: Process Filtration (Liquid), Process Filtration (Gas), HVAC, Laboratory Filtration, Home Filtration and General Filtration. Members are now able to post their questions and answers in a specific appropriate category.

Also at filter.com:

• Deals & Steals, the first of several Buy and Sell databases, became active late last year and there are already well over 100 products listed for sale on the database. It costs only $5.00 to list a product. An interesting way to move slow-moving inventory.
• Filtration industry companies can have their own @filter.com address. Most e-mail addresses begin with the owner's first initial (or first name) and last name, followed by @ and the domain name. The trouble is, domain names seldom give any indication about what a person or company does. To get an e-mail address like tjones@filter.com, e-mail info@filter.com and they will set up a Filter.com e-mailbox for you. The cost is only $25 per year for individuals and $50 for companies.
• Finally, filter.com's New Product Showcase came online early in December. Companies can submit a photo and text one day, and have their product or service appear the next. They can link to a second full-page description with technical specifications, how-to-order info, or anything else they want to communicate.

Sonobond Expands Into Filtration Business …
Sonobond Ultrasonics announced late last year that it is expanding its ultrasonic bonding and converting equipment for specific applications in the filtration industry. Specialized ultrasonic bonding units, adapted from Sonobond's Cylinder Arm machines, are being developed for specific applications in the assembly of industrial and commercial filtration devices.

In order to serve the needs of filter manufacturers, Sonobond and Myriad Products have developed a special Cylinder Arm machine with the arm extended to 24 inches, which allows for quick and easy assembly of continuous lapped or felled seams. The system can be equipped with folders as well as unwind and roll-up attachments and operates at speeds in excess of 40 feet per minute.

Sonobond is also adapting its well-known SeamMaster system for use in filtration manufacturing applications. Traditionally used to produce athletic accessories, awnings, automotive interiors and medical disposables, the system is now being used by filter manufacturers to cut and seal to nonwoven materials used in the assembly of filtration products. It features a programmable flying cutter that can cut and seam pre-determined lengths in one step at speeds up to 60 feet per minute.

Sonobond Ultrasonics: 1191 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19380; 610-696-4710; www.SonobondUltrasonic.com

Another filtration web site at eFiltration.com …
A business-to-business online filter site was launched last month at eFiltration.com (www.efiltration.com) that heralded, according to the company "the end of the traditional hierarchy of wholesalers, distributors, and sales reps in the field of industrial filtration."

eFiltration's management team has more than 100 years of filtration experience and is committed to supplying the best products and top brand names from a variety of manufacturers, including Filtration Group, 3M, Kimberly Clark, Urban Industries, and many others. eFiltration.com uses the convenience of the Internet to offer online ordering of a variety of filter products and services, 24-hour customer service, instant order tracking and technical support. Current products include: Liquid Filter Bags, ASME Liquid Filter Vessels and Complete Filter Systems.

Carlee enters new filtration venture …
Carlee Corp., a manufacturer of traditional resin and thermal bond polyester high-loft nonwovens, has undertaken a major investment in the manufacturing of a pleated fiber interlocked nonwoven based on Struto processing technology originally developed at the Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic. Carlee's new product will be based on in-house proprietary web formation and the vertical axis pleat construction afforded by Struto. The product is trademarked as Z-Axis Hi-Loft.

With the first product line scheduled for completion late last month, definitive marketing agreements are being negotiated based on end use and on regional considerations. The company reports that initial marketing research has indicated strong consumer interest for the inherent air/gas filtration and sound attenuation properties of the new product. Further research is ongoing to serve the fluid transfer, thermal insulation and high-performance substrate markets.

Carlee Corporation, 28 Piermont Road, Rockleigh, NJ 07647; 201-768-6800; www.carlee.com

Special magazine offer from Filtration+ Separation …
One of the world's leading publications for the filtration industry - Filtration + Separation magazine - is offering all new subscribers a free copy of its 1999-2000 Buyers' Guide (a $154 value) as an incentive to subscribing before January 31, 2000. Current subscribers can take advantage of the offer by extending their subscriptions by one year.

Contact: Filtration + Separation, Elsevier Advanced Technology, P.O. Box 150, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1AS, U.K.; www.filtsep.com

Filtration media market to reach $75 billion in 2020 …
The world market for filtration media will rise from $17 billion in 1998 to over $75 billion in 2020, according to a recently released report on the "World Filter Media Market in 2020" by The McIlvaine company. The report predicts that the market for filtration media will be affected by population growth, GDP, technical, and societal factors.

In the low-end scenario, the market would grow to only $34 billion, but there is a high-end scenario driven by biotech and electronics that would result in a $1.4 trillion market in 2020. However the most likely scenario results in revenues of $75 billion. This includes finished filter elements used in dust collectors, air filtration, liquid cartridges, membranes, mobile filtration, and liquid macrofiltration.

The McIlvaine Company, 2970 Maria Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062; 847-272-0010; www.mcilvainecompany.com.

* * * *

FROM THE LEGISLATIVE FRONT
(By Peter Mayberry of INDA's Washington, D.C. office)

EPA Issues New Report on Health Hazards of Particulate Matter …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new findings late last year regarding health hazards attributable to solid air pollutants. These new data reflect studies conducted as of mid-1999, and update research that EPA had conducted through 1996 in its efforts to tighten emission standards for particulate matter from 10 microns or smaller to 2.5 microns or smaller. Finalized in 1997, the particulate matter standards have been challenged in Federal court, and EPA has vowed to fight these challenges all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. If ultimately adopted, however, the 2.5-micron standard could be a boon to nonwovens producers as the only way to trap such tiny particulates in through the use of fabric filtration devices. These new EPA data can be located on the Internet at: www.epa.gov/ncea.

EPA Draft Estimates That Air Pollution Controls Benefits Far Exceed Costs …
According to a draft report that EPA prepared in mid November, reductions in air pollution achieved between 1990 and 2010 will provide benefits that are about four times greater than the costs required to achieve the reductions. Moreover, according to the report, benefits could actually outweigh costs by as much as 10 to one. These findings are based on an EPA cost/benefit analysis of reductions required under the Federal Clean Air Act for six major pollutants (volatile organic compounds, NOx, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, coarse particulate matter, and fine particulate matter). The report concludes the net benefit to society of these reductions between 1990 and 2010 will be as high as $530 billion, but notes that the actual net benefit could range from $0 to $1.4 trillion. EPA can be expected to use these findings as a justification for further restrictions in emission of pollutants such as coarse and fine particulate matter.

EPA Faces Law Suit Over Hazardous Waste Incinerator/Cement Kiln Emissions
The Sierra Club, a well known environmental interest group, filed suit in Federal court late last year to prevent EPA from adopting a final rule that sets emission standards for hazardous waste incinerators, cement kilns, and lightweight aggregate kilns. While the rule was signed into law on July 30, 1999, the Sierra Club suit asserts that it is "far weaker" than Federal law requires and does not require operators of hazardous waste incinerators to gather and report accurate information about their emissions. The case is likely to be decided within the next six months.

Carbon Filtration Discouraged for Chemical Weapons Incinerators
The National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Science, has issued a set of recommendations regarding the continued operations of U.S.-Army chemical weapons incinerators Tooele, UT, Anniston, AL, Matima, OR, and Pine Bluff, AR. According to the NRC, the army should not add or remove carbon filters at these facilities because doing so would "cause delays that will increase the risk to workers and the public [by] delaying destruction of the stockpile." Copies of the report (entitled "Carbon Filtration for Reducing Emissions from Chemical Agent Incineration") are available from the National Academy Press by calling (800) 624-6242.

* * * *

THE EXPERTS SPEAK

Since our inaugural issue of e-FILTER Newsletter coincides with the start of the New Millennium, it seemed appropriate that we ask two people who have been in this business for a long time where they think the filtration industry is headed. Here are their interesting responses.

• Lutz Bergmann, President, Filter Media Consulting, LaGrange, GA ...
  Technology, with a concern for cost competitiveness, is what is driving and will continue to drive the filtration business in the early years of the 21st century. He points to a number of ongoing developments on the technology side that will keep the filtration business on the move.

  * Pleated bags used for baghouse systems as replacements for conventional circular bags. Originally developed in Europe, this technology - which provides more filtration area for the same size filter bag - is taking hold in North America to a point where the former 100% cellulose paper market is now 10-20% nonwovens in the U.S.

  * In the past few months he has seen catalytic bags that allow the user to remove specific gases that are released when burning garbage.

  * The trend to melt blown/microfibers to improve the filtration efficiency for sub-micron particles is a key developmental area that is growing proportionately faster than any other nonwoven area.

  "The developments are technology driven, but the products have to be very close in cost to existing products or the penetration will be very slow the next few years," he said.

• Ed Homonoff, President, Edward C. Homonoff & Associates, LLC …
  From the first removal of sediment from wine to the preparation of biochemicals for the production of the basic components of life, filtration has had a major impact on the advancement of our way of life. Where will it take us from here into the 21st century? One thing we can count on is change.

  The World Wide Web has had and will continue to have a major impact on the way we do business. The recent creation of two-filter "market" web sites indicates that the way we get to market is changing. Filters are speced and quoted, technical questions are networked and answered, and orders are placed and billed on these sites. Most larger companies now have their own web sites. We can teleconference over the Net.

  Trends in the marketplace point to continued growth for specific market segments in the new millennium. In air filtration, one trend is for better indoor air quality. Consumers have come to expect better filtration of the air they breathe. We now have charged filters that clean the air we breathe in our homes and our cars. Last year, United Airlines converted all of their on-board aircraft cabin air filtration systems to HEPA filtration. In fact, HEPA filters, once used only in high-tech environment applications, are now used on our household vacuum cleaners. Cleanrooms have controlled particles so well that now semiconductor manufacturers have started to focus on the removal of molecular contaminants that are adsorbed into the atomic structure of the wafer to reduce circuit failures and increase computing speed.

  In liquids, chemical additives are pushing the envelope of what we can remove. Surfactants that are added to fuels to increase their burn efficiency and reduce air pollution have made it harder for them to be cleaned and dried when transported from in-ground tanks to vehicles. Additive packages in synthetic oils can now, under long term soak conditions, chemically eat away components of the filter media, causing filter failures. Little thought is given to how the additive package will affect the materials that the filter is produced from. This is pushing the envelope of the "art of the possible" today and creating opportunities for new materials to be developed to meet these more challenging applications.

  Longer service life will continue to be a major driver in industrial liquid filtration. Bags that last 2-3 times as long as current micron rated bags will be developed that command a sales premium to existing products. Cartridges will be developed that will extend the amount of media that can be included into a given filter volume and will extend the changeout times for filter replacements. Life cycle analysis will be a much larger driver in system total cost analysis due to increased demands for recycleability/compostability of filter components.

  The concept of "one stop shopping" will continue to drive consolidations in the industry. Companies with the horsepower and resources to make it easy for their customers to do business with them will tend to lead the pack as these markets segments grow. These are the companies that will be the "market drivers," identifying and creating demand where it did not exist before.

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THAT'S ALL, FOR THIS MONTH …

To subscribe to the monthly e-FILTER Newsletter and to receive the three special Filtration White Papers to be published in 2000, contact Cindy Garcia at INDA, 1300 Crescent Green, Suite 135, Cary, NC 27511; 919-233-120; cgarcia@inda.org

You may also use the ordering form available on line by "pressing" the ordering form button on the next line:

Any company with news for the INDA e-FILTER Newsletter, or any individual with something they want to say to the industry, should send an email to Michael Jacobsen, INDA Director of Publications, at mjacobsen@inda.org or mail to 22 Paterson Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432; 201-612-6601; Fax 201-612-6677.

Subscribers will receive their next e-FILTER Newsletter via e-mail on February 1, 2000. See you then.

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