Industry professionals convene for new technologies, business connections and filtration innovations
CARY, N.C., Nov. 3, 2026 — FiltXPO™ 2026 brought together filtration industry leaders, manufacturers, researchers, product developers and technology innovators Oct. 28-29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Organized by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, FiltXPO provided a forum for industry professionals to discover innovative filtration technologies, explore emerging market opportunities, exchange technical expertise and build business relationships.
The two-day event featured an exhibition showcasing filtration products, materials, components and manufacturing technologies, and the Advances in Filtration Technical Conference, which addressed the trends and challenges shaping the future of air, gas, water and liquid filtration.
FiltXPO 2026 Innovation Award Winners Announced
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the FiltXPO 2026 Innovation Awards, recognizing advancements in filtration technology, performance and sustainability.
The winners were honored in two categories:
Air/Gas Filtration Innovation Award
Solberg Manufacturing Inc. — Fully Automated Liquid Management System
Imagine giving a vacuum system the ability to continuously manage heavy liquid loads with less operator involvement. Solberg’s Fully Automated Liquid Management System combines high-efficiency liquid separation with automatic pneumatic draining in one integrated solution. Liquids are continuously captured and removed while low pressure loss supports vacuum performance, helping protect valuable equipment, simplify liquid management, and reduce maintenance demands. The result is smarter liquid management built to keep demanding vacuum processes moving.
Water/Liquid Filtration Innovation Award
Ahlstrom — Ahlstrom OptiPad™
Ahlstrom OptiPad™ is an integrated filtration system featuring innovative depth filtration media designed to maximize cooking oil performance and sustainability. Using a proprietary blend of exclusive fibers, it creates a unique micro-channel structure for ultra-efficient filtration, capturing contaminants while maintaining optimal flow. The result is extended oil life, improved food quality, reduced oil consumption, lower waste generation, and significant cost savings. OptiPad™ delivers measurable economic and environmental benefits for foodservice operators. https://discover.ahlstrom.com/introducing-optipad
The following finalists were also recognized for their contributions to advancing filtration technology:
- Air/Gas Filtration: HIFYBER — CombiNano; Leanfil Oy — Leanfil®
- Water/Liquid Filtration: Acuriant Technologies Inc. — CUF Flow – More Water, Same Footprint; Gessner, a Mativ Brand — GESSNER PFAS Filter Media
The awards recognize innovations that advance filtration performance, operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Advances in Filtration Technical Conference Explores Emerging Technologies
Co-organized by INDA and the American Filtration and Separations Society (AFS), the Advances in Filtration Technical Conference brought together industry experts to examine the technologies, market forces and emerging applications transforming the filtration industry.
The conference addressed critical developments in advanced filter media, PFAS, artificial intelligence, data center filtration, water treatment, sustainability and next-generation filtration applications.
Through technical presentations and industry discussions, participants gained insights into evolving performance requirements, regulatory challenges, market opportunities and technological advancements influencing filtration product development and manufacturing.
Filter Media Course Builds Technical Expertise
Preceding FiltXPO, the two-day Filter Media Course, held Oct. 26-27, provided participants with foundational and applied knowledge of nonwoven filter media and their applications in air, liquid and aerosol filtration.
The course explored filtration technologies, performance requirements, emerging industry needs and opportunities for future product development.
The course was led by:
- Behnam Pourdeyhimi, PhD, William A. Klopman Distinguished Professor of Textile Materials, associate dean for industry research and extension at North Carolina State University, and executive director emeritus of The Nonwovens Institute.
- Hooman Tafreshi, PhD, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State University.
- Benoit Maze, PhD, director of education and administration at The Nonwovens Institute.
INDA will continue its filtration education offerings with a one-day Filter Media Essentials course March 22, 2027, preceding IDEA®27 in Kansas City, Missouri.
FiltXPO Returns in 2028
Building on the industry's continued commitment to innovation and collaboration, FiltXPO will return March 29-30, 2028, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Additional details about FiltXPO 2028 will be available in May 2027 at www.filtxpo.com.
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About INDA
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, serves hundreds of member companies in the nonwovens/engineered fabrics industry in global commerce. Since 1968, INDA events have helped members connect, learn, innovate, and develop their businesses. INDA educational courses, market data, test methods, consultancy, and issue advocacy help members succeed by providing them the information they need to better plan and execute their business strategies. For more information, visit www.inda.org, or download the INDA mobile app for immediate updates.
About the American Filtration and Separations Society
The American Filtration and Separations Society (AFS) is the leading U.S. organization dedicated to the exchange of technical knowledge and educational advancement in the field of filtration and separations. Through conferences like FILTCON, scheduled April 20-22, 2027, and other training, publications, and professional development programs, AFS serves as a hub for scientists, engineers, and practitioners working to improve technologies that impact industries and the environment worldwide.