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E-FILTER NEWSLETTER

July 2, 2001

WELCOME to Volume 2, Issue 7 of the INDA e-FILTER Newsletter.

e-FILTER, sponsored by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (www.inda.org), is sent monthly to subscribers within the global filtration business. It focuses on the latest news, new products, patents, legislative issues and commentary in the filtration industry. Check out the information at the end of this newsletter on how to subscribe or submit your company's information for inclusion.

IN THIS ISSUE...

HOME FILTRATION AMONG TOP TRENDS FOR 2010
Should we be walking around our homes wearing blue decontamination suits? Not quite yet, but the health of our homes will be a challenge at the forefront of home technology in the coming years. Nasty spores, mites and bacteria may fall victim to an explosion of new home products like self-sanitizing materials and air or water purifiers. People could be taking care of routine health monitoring from their homes instead of the doctor's office.

The carbon monoxide monitors and home security alarms we use today are considered the first generation in the wave of home health and security trends on the horizon. "The market is here for these types of products in the health conscious Baby Boomer generation. People are concerned about maintaining their health and want to make sure they take every step in their own homes to do so," said Steve Millett, Thought Leader and Futurist for Battelle. "Technologists are working on these home products now and you'll see them become a reality by 2010."

A group of Battelle scientists and researchers pinpointed the Top Ten Trends in Healthy Homes for 2010. Top of the list was Breathing Easy: Indoor Air Quality. Increasingly energy efficient homes have created interiors that are a virtual soup of odors and fumes from indoor pollutants. Americans spend 90% of their time indoors and often the quality of air is worse than what we find outdoors. Homes and commercial buildings are sealed so well that despite circulation by heating and cooling systems, odors and particulates swirl around with nowhere to go. Respiratory problems, including asthma and allergies, are on the rise and can be attributed, in part, to mold and mildew spores; outgassing from synthetic fiber used in building materials and carpets; pet hair and dander; outdoor pollens that become trapped indoors; and inadequately vented cooking and food odors.

Battelle predicts that we are likely to see on the market and in homes by 2010 : Products for advanced air venting, air filtration and biosensors that help fight humidity, mold and other indoor pollutants.

Rounding out the Top 10 Trends:
2. Home-based Medical Monitoring, Diagnosis and Care
3. Monitoring and Sensing for Home Safety and Personal Protection
4. Absolutely Reliable and High Quality Power
5. Whole-House Water Quality
6. Food Quality and Safe Handling, Storing and Cooking
7. Anti-Aging Materials For Baby Boomers
8. Battling Mites and Molds in Bedding, Furniture and Carpets
9. Drudgery-free Housecleaning
10. Germ Resistant Materials, Coatings and Fabrics

For more information: Katy Delaney, 614-424-5544; delaneyk@battelle.org .

INDA UNVEILS FILTRATION 2001 PROGRAM
Two days of conferences and two days of a trade show make Filtration 2001, set for December 4-6 in Chicago, IL, the place to be for the filtration industry this year. Here's a quick synopsis of the program as it stands today.

December 4
Filtration 101-The Fundamentals of Filtration; Moderator: Lutz Bergmann, FMC, Inc.
Instructors Ken Rubow, Mott Corporation, Thad Ptak, Columbus Industries, Joseph Van Cura, R.P. Fedder, and Dan Ryan, Parker Hannifin.

December 5
General Session: Moderator: Lutz Bergmann, FMC, Inc. Speakers: Robert McIlvaine, The McIlvaine Company; Peter Mayberry, INDA; Bernard Drouin, Texel, Inc.; Morton Kamien, Northwestern University

Test Method Forum: Moderator: Eric Hanson, Air Techniques International

December 6
Concurrent Session - Medical: Moderator: Lutz Bergmann, FMC. Speakers: James O'Conner, Hemasure; Leo Steenweg, TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory; Russell Kerschmann, M.D., Resolution Sciences Corp.
Concurrent Session - Transportation: Moderator: T.M. Singh. Speakers: Matt Middlebrooks, AQF Technologies; Jack Bacon, NASA

Concurrent Session - Appliances. Moderator: Steven Quinn, R.P. Fedder. John Rucker, Foamex International; Thomas Carlsson, Scandfilter AB; Gary Asbury, Professional Testing Laboratories

Concurrent Session - Hot Topics. Moderator: Steve Lister, Johns Manville. Speakers: Edward Vaughn, Clemson University; Andrew Streifel, University of Minnesota; Lutz-Peter Nethe, Donau Carbon GmbH & Co. KG; Robert Touslee, Johns Manville Corp.

For information on Filtration 2001: www.inda.org

BBA TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE U.S. SPUNLACE CAPACITY
BBA Nonwovens plans to significantly increase its spunlace capacity in the United States. BBA's current spunlace capacity is located at its manufacturing facility in Bethune, SC. This commitment to additional capacity will address the growing demand in the industrial, medical and consumer markets for spunlace nonwoven materials. With 29 manufacturing sites and sales offices in 16 countries around the globe, BBA Nonwovens is the third largest nonwovens supplier in the world.

CARTIS OPENS U.S. OFFICES
Cartis recently opened offices in Palm Beach, FL, 33480 (561-832-8448) and has made the following personnel additions: Herve Gallion: President, CEO, and Director; Fernand Le Loroux: Secretary, CFO, Treasurer, Director; and Cyril Heitzler: Director.

PURADYN AND FONTAINE ESTABLISH FILTRATION PROGRAM
puraDYN Filter Technologies recently announced that Fontaine Modification will install puraDYN by-pass oil filtration filters when ordered on new trucks before delivery is made to the selling dealer. Under this program, the puraDYN system may be installed by ordering through a supporting dealer on a ship-through basis with Ford, Freightliner, International, Mack and Volvo.

BIOSPECIFICS COMPLETES PRODUCTION FACILITY
BioSpecifics Technologies has completed construction and commencement of first stage production runs at its advanced biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This dedicated facility was designed for production of Collagenase ABC, the active ingredient in the prescription drug Collagenase Santyl Ointment marketed by Smith & Nephew. Improvements provide a highly controlled state-of-the-art clean room environment with manufacturing areas, laboratories and equipment designed for increased production capacity. The microenvironment is controlled by computerized high-efficiency air filtration systems engineered to prevent contamination.

MPW COMPLETES SALE OF FILTRATION GROUP TO CLARCOR
MPW Industrial Services Group has completed the sale of its Filtration Group to Clarcor. The purchase price was approximately $31 million, subject to final closing adjustments. Monte Black, MPW's Chairman and CEO said, "The sale completes the final component of our re-positioning strategy, which was intended to reduce debt and strengthen our balance sheet. We will focus our services going forward on the Company's three remaining service lines - industrial cleaning and facility maintenance, industrial water purification and industrial container cleaning services."


OSMONICS NAMES ELLIOT VP & GM
Richard Elliott has joined Osmonics Household Water Group as vice president and
general manager. Having previously served as president of four manufacturing companies, including EcoWater Systems, Elliott brings extensive knowledge of the water treatment industry and proven general management experience to Osmonics. Elliott reports to Ed Fierko, Osmonics president and chief operating officer, and will be responsible for all aspects of bringing point-of-use and point-of-entry water treatment products to Osmonics' customers who, in turn, serve residential consumers.


FILTER.COM ADDS PARKER HANNIFIN
Filter.com recently announced that the Hydraulic Filter Division of Parker Hannifin has submitted technical information to be included in the Filter.com Application Bulletin Database. This database contains technical information on various filtration applications. The Parker Bulletins include subjects such as cold start-up, maintaining turbine lube oil, removal of water, etc. Readers can visit the site at www.filter.com


MCLEOD CONTINUES TRANSFORMATION INTO FILTRATION SPECIALIST
McLeod's transformation into a focused filtration business continues. But the rapid reorganization of certain key operations impacted on recent performance. A significant loss on the disposal of businesses is to blame for the sharp deterioration in profits. Management also blames the reduction in profitability on disruptions caused by the transfer of its air filtration operations. Operating profits from the core clean air and liquid filtration businesses fell 4%, although the contribution from filter technology group Luwa, acquired in December, helped lift the overall figure. By contrast, the performance of the liquid filtration business, Vokes, was strong


H20 INNOVATION SIGNS SENGALESE AGREEMENT
H2O Innovation has signed a distribution agreement and a first $100,000 contract for water treatment systems with Ba Eau Bab, a Senegalese company specialized in the distribution of bottled drinking water. The short-term market potential for drinking water in Senegal represents over $610 million. As of this month, Ba Eau Bab will be distributing H2O Innovation's water purification products and H2O Innovation will assist Ba Eau Bab by providing the necessary technical staff training in order to ensure it has a specialized and qualified workforce capable of offering personalized after-sales services.

At the same time, H2O Innovation signed a contract worth $100,000 with Ba Eau Bab. The membrane water filtration systems Ba Eau Bab is acquiring will allow it to boost its production of bottled drinking water in Senegal.

H2O also recently signed two other major contracts with Magnola Metallurgy and Circuit Foil of America for the development of industrial projects in the treatment of industrial process wastewater worth approximately $500,000. The deals are in addition to a contract reached with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In late June, H2O's industrial division will proceed with the installation of a membrane filtration system for Magnola Metallurgy to provide MMI with a supply of demineralized water for use in its industrial operations.


PARKER HANNIFIN TO CLOSE NORFOLK PLANT
European filter manufacturer Parker Hannifin is closing a European plant with the loss of 70 jobs. Parker Hannifin is to shut its fluid power filtration plant in Thetford as part of a consolidation process after buying similar plants in Europe. The company assembles hydraulic filtration equipment for earth- moving gear and military vehicles. A spokesman said the company was primarily a manufacturer, whereas the Thetford plant was an assembly operation.

FOAMEX NAMES CARLINI SENIOR VP
Foamex International has appointed Michael Carlini, 48, as Senior Vice President-Finance and Acting Chief Financial Officer. Carlini joins Foamex following seven years with Framatome, a global manufacturer of electronic components. Foamex, headquartered in Linwood, PA, produces comfort cushioning for bedding, furniture, carpet cushion and automotive markets. The company also manufactures high-performance polymers for diverse applications in the industrial, aerospace, electronics and computer industries as well as filtration and acoustical applications for the home.

AIRTECH NAMES NEW HVAC DEALER
Airtech International Group has shipped two marine containers full of Airtech air purification products to both Panama and Taiwan. These orders represent an ongoing increase of the international sales and distribution of Airtech air purification/sterilization systems.

In an unrelated move, Airtech's North American distributor, W&B's Owens Division, has added County Wide AC of San Antonio, Texas, as a new distributor. County Wide was started in 1960 by Richard Neil and is the largest air conditioning service company in San Antonio.

AMT SIGNS DEAL WITH JD DESIGNbr> Advanced Medical Technologies, developer of the patented hydrologic WaterStar system, capable of producing drinking water from air moisture, recently announced a manufacturing agreement with JD Design and Manufacturing LTD. JD Design will manufacture the residential and commercial WaterStar models designed to produce between five and 12 gallons of water per day. The manufacturing program will begin immediately and result in a schedule to produce up to 3,000 WaterStar 5 units during the last quarter of the year and up to 2,000 per month thereafter.

EX-UN ENVIRONMENTAL CHIEF JOINS WATERCHEF BOARD
Mostafa Tolba has joined the Board of Scientific Advisors of WaterChef, Inc. Dr. Tolba, who is one of the world's leading environmental scientists, served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Program from 1976 to 1992. Dr. Tolba is currently President of the International Center for Environment and Development, in Geneva, Switzerland, and Emeritus Professor of Science at Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. WaterChef sells the PureSafe Water Station, water dispensers, and water filtration products.

WATTS ACQUIRES PREMIER MANUFACTURED SYSTEMS
Watts Industries has acquired Premier Manufactured Systems, Phoenix, AZ, a manufacturer of water filtration systems for both residential and commercial applications. Its line of products consists of reverse osmosis filtration systems employing membrane technology along with under-the-counter Ultraviolet filtration technology as well as a variety of Sediment and Carbon filters. The company was founded in 1989 and has annual sales of $10 million. Watts Industries designs, manufactures and sells valves to the water quality and water regulation and control markets.

ESCO ACQUIRES BEA FILTRI
ESCO Technologies recently announced the cash purchase of BEA Filtri S.p.A., a supplier of filtration products to the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, healthcare, and petro-chemical markets. BEA, headquartered in Milan, Italy, has annual sales of approximately $10.5 million. Terms were not disclosed. In making the announcement, Dennis Moore, Chairman and CEO, said that "BEA immediately broadens our microfiltration product offering and increases our participation in European markets. BEA will join our PTI filtration business and contribute to the growth initiatives already underway at PTI in microfiltration."

AIRTECH REVEALS FILTRATION TECH BREAKTHROUGH
Airtech International Group recently revealed a technological breakthrough of its Titan III (in-duct) air sterilization system. The Titan III is recognized as a realistic solution to "sick home syndrome." Airtech's breakthrough in technology, of the Titan-III in-line, ducted, single-phase filtration system, incorporates photocatalysis and high-efficiency particulate filtration that converts most volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to carbon dioxide and water vapor, while capturing and destroying 99.3% of biological contaminants in a single pass.

SIONIX MAKES ANNOUNCEMENTS AT ANNUAL MEETING
James Houtz, President of Sionix Corporation, made the following major announcements at the company's annual shareholders meeting in early June.

1. Sionix is currently in negotiations to purchase the Environmental Products Division of Hoffinger Industries. The parties have signed a letter of intent and Sionix is conducting its due diligence. Hoffinger is the joint venture partner of Sionix in the development and production of Sionix proprietary water treatment technology for drinking water and wastewater treatment systems for municipalities and industrial use.

2. Sionix has a letter of intent for the purchase of 20 Dissolved Air Flotation Systems with an International Consortium for approximately $10 million.

3. Sionix's DAF water treatment technology will remove more than 99.5% of the suspended particle matter in the water being treated. The loss of raw water treated is approximately 1%, which is significantly less than other water treatment systems. Sionix's basic water purification system will produce approximately 200 gallons of fresh potable water per minute, enough for a community of 2,400 people or 600 homes.

EMERGENCY FILTRATION BEGINS MANAGEMENT RESTRUCTURING
Emergency Filtration Products has named EFP Director Sherman Lazrus as its interim Chief Executive Officer. One of Lazrus' main duties will be to oversee the transition from the company's start-up management to a team more experienced in the growth stages of marketing and business development.

ABTECH AWARDS DISTRIBUTORSHIP TO CLEAN WATER TECHNOLOGIES
AbTech Industries, an environmental solutions company that employs proprietary technologies for stormwater, wastewater and non-point sources of pollution, has signed an exclusive distributorship agreement with Seattle-based Clean Water Technologies. CWT provides technologies, products and services for municipalities and businesses in the Pacific Northwest that enable water treatment systems to protect both marine habitats and endangered species as mandated in the new federal and state regulations.

CWT has the exclusive distribution rights in the Pacific Northwest for AbTech's product line of filters and skimmers. AbTech's products are based on the Smart Sponge polymer-based technology, which enables selective removal of hydrocarbons and oil derivatives by "absorbing" them into its porous structure and permanently encapsulating them so they won't release, even under pressure.

NEW PRODUCT: EUREKA WHIRLWIND
The new Eureka WhirlWind Plus is a new bagless upright vacuum with True HEPA sealed The Eureka WhirlWind Plus is a new bagless upright vacuum with True HEPA sealed filtration. It has a large capacity covered dust cup. Eureka currently makes six bagless upright models with True HEPA sealed filtration.

GALLOWAY JOINS ANSYS
ANSYS Technologies recently announced that Keith Galloway has joined its executive management team as the Vice President-Sales, Marketing and Business Development for its Diagnostics Products Division. Galloway brings experience in developing products, markets and strategic relationships in a number of medical diagnostic product areas, including drug of abuse testing.

FILTER PATENT REVIEW
PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR REFINING OILS
A process and composition for removing trace contaminants from glyceride oils utilizes a metal-substituted silica xerogel having a pH of at least 7.5 to adsorb at least a portion of the contaminants. The process of the invention includes contacting a glyceride oil with such an adsorbent and then separating the adsorbent from the contaminant-depleted glyceride oil, for example, by filtration. The composition of the present invention includes a metal-substituted silica xerogel having a pH of at least 7.5 and an organic acid blended with the xerogel. Preferably, the organic acid is citric acid. Contaminants which can be removed from glyceride oils during the refinement of such oils by the adsorbent include phospholipids, soaps, detrimental metals, and chlorophyll. Patent Number: 6248911; Issue Date: 6/19/01; Inventors: Canessa, Carlos E.; Brozzetti, Adam J.


SYNERGISTIC MINERAL BLENDS FOR CONTROL OF FILTRATION
A silicate drilling fluid having effective rheology and filtration control properties comprising water as a continuous phase wherein hematite is used as a weighting agent and manganese oxide is used as a bridging agent. The drilling fluids uses a minimal number of components, which includes a salt, preferably sodium chloride, water-soluble polymers for viscosification and filtration control, and a glycol for shale stabilization and filtration control. Patent Number: 6248698; Issue Date: 6/19/01; Inventors: Mullen, Gregory A. Gabrysch, Allen

SOLIDS MONITORING FILTER MEDIA
A cartridge filter element of known degree of filtration is the central part of the meter for monitoring water quality with respect to suspended particles. Typically the holder of the filter element is located in a sampling line which is at a point downstream of the commercial primary filter being monitored. Sensors of rate and differential pressure send signals to the microprocessor of the meter which measures the transmissibility of the monitor cartridge filter. Thus the microprocessor calculations determine the quality of the commercial primary filter effluent. Also microprocessor logic manipulates the steps of the meter and sends signals to display, controls and alarms depending on the water quality observed. A tangible additional benefit of this meter in comparison to an optical turbidity meter is the identification of the composition of the solids. The flushing step reveals the response of the monitor filter to solids removal by flushing agent or agents. This can help with full-scale design of chemical treatment of injection wells which have been inadvertently damaged by solids. Patent Number: 6248243; Issue Date: 6/19/01; Inventor: Farley, James T.

ABRASIVE CLEANING SYSTEM
An abrasive cleaning system that utilizes a central vacuum compressor, at least one in-line filtration device and at least one control panel unit to be placed in a treatment station. This system has an option to expand by adding two or more additional control panel units in two or more treatment stations. The number of these add on control panel units depends upon the design layout of the system unit which can be unlimited. Patent Number: 6247997; Issue Date: 6/19/01; Inventor(s): Khalaj, Ben M.

EXTRUDED THERMOPLASTIC FOAMS USEFUL IN FILTRATION
A filter element made to fit within a filter element housing, the filter element comprising an extruded open-cell thermoplastic foam having a structure substantially of cell walls and cell struts, an overall open-cell content of 50 percent or more, an average cell size of 1.5 millimeters or less and, optionally, retaining means for the foam, and a method of filtration comprising passing a liquid or gas through the filter element. Pub. No.: EP 1102618; Appl. Data: EP 99932180 7/2/99; Applicant: Dow Chemical

FILTRATION DEVICE AND METHOD
The invention relates to a filtration device comprising at least one filter membrane, at least one counter-surface located opposite said filter membrane and at least one split-like fluid chamber located between the filter membrane and the counter-surface. The invention also relates to a filtration method according to which a fluid is introduced into the split-like fluid chamber located between the filter membrane and the counter-surface and is moved relatively to the filter membrane and/or counter-surface. The aim of the invention is to improve said method and filtration device. For this purpose, the inventive filtration device comprises a disk at the circular surface of which at least the filter membrane or the counter-surface is formed. According to the inventive method, two helicoidal swirls extending parallel to said filter membrane and said counter-surface are produced in the split-like fluid chamber, said swirls having the same rotation direction but radially opposite moving directions. Pub. No.: EP 1102622; Appl. Data: EP 99932777 1999 07 01; Applicant: Plasma Select GmbH Teterow

INTC BRINGING NONWOVENS TECHNICAL COMMUNITY TOGETHER
With more than 80 technical presentations in 13 conference sessions, the International Nonwovens Technical Conference, co-sponsored by INDA and TAPPI, is a conference that can't be missed. Networking opportunities are plentiful throughout the conference with the New Technologies Showcase, Table Top event and evening reception. INTC 2001 will be held September 5-7, 2001 at the Renaissance Harborplace in Baltimore, MD. For more information: www.inda.org.

THAT'S ALL, FOR THIS MONTH …

To subscribe to the monthly e-FILTER Newsletter, contact Cindy Garcia at INDA, 1300 Crescent Green, Suite 135, Cary, NC 27511; 919-233-120; cgarcia@inda.org

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.

The next INDA e-Filter Newsletter will be sent to you August 1, 2001

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