A Number of New Developments in $11.2 Billion World Market for Fabric Filters and Bags

There are a number of new developments in $11.2 billion world market for fabric filters and bags.

The market for bags will grow 6% this year to reach $2.9 billion in 2014. The market for fabric filter systems will grow 4.4% to reach $8.9 billion next year. These are the conclusions reached in World Fabric Filter and Element Market published by the McIlvaine Company.

The lower growth rate for systems is a function of the proportion of revenues in developing countries. The system revenues per cfm (unit of gas volume) are lower in these countries. The bag revenues are positively impacted by the move to membrane laminates. This media is more efficient, but is also more expensive.

There are a number of major changes in the industry in addition to the introduction of new materials. A number of Chinese bag makers are now making a global presence. There is also movement within China to increase the purchase of fabric filters as opposed to precipitators in the power and certain other industries.

The industry is becoming internationalized on a continuing basis. Within the last twelve months, Nederman purchased Mikropul, Pneumafil and Menardi. CECO purchased Met-Pro. Nederman has a European base and is strong in small fabric filters. Mikropul was the inventor of the pulse jet filter and has worldwide presence in the process industries. CECO has acquired Flexkleen as part of the Met-Pro acquisition. This will supplement its activities through its Fisher Klosterman subsidiary. Donaldson continues to gain market share in Asia.

Media suppliers are very international. Roll goods are being manufactured by the larger media suppliers in several international locations. Many media suppliers have successful manufacturing operations in Asia.

New applications are expanding the market as well. The need to remove mercury has resulted in combinations of activated carbon injection followed by fabric filters. This requirement is going to expand the revenues of filter suppliers in the U.S. over the next few years. W. L. Gore has a unique solution to the mercury problem. The company has developed a medium which can be inserted after the scrubber. It collects and retains mercury. The medium is not cleanable, but the amount of mercury in a typical application is only 2-100 lbs/yr. so the medium will have a life of several years.