$2 Billion for Thermal Air Treatment Market by 2010
Industry around-the-world will be making $2 billion annual investments in thermal treatment systems to reduce air pollutants by 2010. This is an increase of $500 million over the 2005 investment. This is the latest forecast in the online continually updated McIlvaine report, Thermal/Catalytic World Air Pollution Markets,
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are destroyed with thermal or catalytic oxidizers. One of the most attractive options is the regenerative thermal oxidizer which utilizes the heat generated during oxidation to preheat the gases to be combusted. This option is attractive when there is little fuel value in the gas. The industries investing in this technology in order of importance are:
1. Surface Coating
2. Chemical
3. Metal Working
4. Semiconductors
5. Pulp and Paper including OSB
6. Food
7. Pharmaceutical
8. Waste Incinerators
More than one third of the purchases will be scattered through a wide range of industries that use solvents or otherwise generate VOCs. The chemical industry and waste incinerators emit some hazardous organics such as dioxins. Very high destruction requirements are required for this category of organics. Surface coating using solvent based paints accounts for a very large portion of the total VOCs emitted by industry around-the-world.
One of the segments which is growing rapidly is ethanol production. Thermal oxidizers are being installed in new plants and are often being retrofitted in existing plants as nearby residents complain about odors.
The biggest growth potential is in Asia. The market is growing slowly in Europe and the U.S. where most VOC sources are already controlled. But in Asia most sources are uncontrolled. The serious ozone problems in Asian countries are leading to tough regulations to require thermal treatment. The biggest growth of semiconductors and flat panel displays is taking place in Asia. These factories need to treat the solvents evaporated in the cleaning of wafers and displays.
There is continuing consolidation in the industry. The catalysts, used in many thermal treatment systems to lower the combustion temperature and maximize destruction efficiency, are manufactured by a few global companies. There is even activity in consolidation of several of the largest catalyst suppliers. Suppliers of the burners used in the systems are also global but less so than the catalyst suppliers.
The manufacturers of the complete thermal systems tend to be more local. A few system suppliers are global but their market share is less than 5 percent. Smaller manufacturers either focus on a geographical region or on a specific industrial segment. Durr is dominant in the automotive segment worldwide. Megtec is the leader in printing. In both cases the air pollution activities are complimentary to the sales of production equipment for those industries.
Despite the pleasant aromas from coffee roasters and bakeries, these industries are among those required to oxidize the odors and ethanol fumes emanating from their factories.
For more information on, Thermal/Catalytic World Air Pollution Markets, click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/air.html#N007 .
Bob McIlvaine
847-784-0012