The Market for Nonwoven Filter Media

Report Highlights

• The North American market for nonwoven filter media was worth $588 million in 2005 and will be $617 million by the end of 2006. In 2007 this figure will grow to approximately $639 million and at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 4.4% will reach $792 million by 2012.
• The market is broken down into several different manufactured categories, including air-laid, wet-laid, spunbonded, meltblown, and apertured film. Of these sectors, spunbonded material maintains more than 30% of the market throughout the forecast period-the highest of share of the market.
• Meltblown material will be worth $181 million in 2007 and will grow at an AAGR of 4.9% to $230 million in 2012. Meltblown material has the highest growth rate of the material types and will hold 29% of the market share by 2012.

INTRODUCTION

After enjoying decades of relatively fast growth, the nonwoven filter media industry is slowing down. Since the end processes are designed to control pollution and the purity of fluid streams, they are heavily regulated. Recent terrorist events and the economic slowdown have also impacted the nonwoven filter media industry. However, it remains an important industry for critical filtration processes in several application sectors such as water filtration, HVAC, manufacturing, and food processing. Increasing consumer awareness of product, water, and air quality and their long-term effects on health are prompting new technological trends in the filtration industry.

Corporations engaged in the nonwoven filter media industry must understand the significance of these trends to effectively manage their enterprises and its resources. Stakeholders in these competitive technologies and products must recognize the impact of these trends upon their operations. End users of nonwoven filter media must consider the effects of these changes to select the most cost-effective options among newly available products and technologies prior to committing significant capital resources.

SCOPE OF STUDY

This report contains:

• The business, economic, and technological aspects of the North American nonwoven filter materials market, covered in an industry overview
• Commercial applications, including water, HVAC, transport, food, manufacturing, healthcare, petroleum and high technology
• Five-year forecasts of the North American market through 2012, based on historical and current data and the driving forces behind the market
• A specific discussion of the international aspects of the nonwoven filter materials market
• A review of important technology, upcoming advances, and a detailed patent analysis
• Lists and profiles of the major players in the industry.

METHODOLOGY

Estimates of current market demand are made for 2007 and are projected over the next 5 years. Projections are made in terms of constant U.S. dollars (2007). Growth is presented as average annual growth rates. Confirmation of the numbers reached was obtained by contacting several representative manufacturers in the nonwoven filter media industry and by analyzing published reports.

INFORMATION SOURCES

The primary source of information in this report was derived from interviews and communications with individuals in the industry. Other sources included searches of online and print media, including electronic databases, conference proceedings, patent literature, trade journals, and newsletters, company financial publications and news releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and industry participants' websites were also valuable sources of information.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS

The author has worked in industrial research and development for nearly 14 years. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. His extensive experience includes new product development and product commercialization, and he is a Six Sigma practitioner as a Black Belt. He has published several papers on materials science, specializing in porous materials. Additionally, he is lead inventor for three U.S. and international patents.