Air Filtration Market News for March 09

 

Here are the headlines for the month of March ’09 to the Air Filtration & Purification Markets Updates.  For more information to Air Filtration & Purification Markets, click on:  http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/air.html#n022 .

 

Many projects, mergers and acquisitions are detailed in monthly updates in the Market Report’s Chapters under Industry Analysis: Aerospace, Food, Disk Drive, Flat Panel, Metalworking, Other Electronics, Pharmaceutical, Power, Pulp Mills, Semiconductor and Transportation.

 

CONSTRUCTION

 

Housing Starts Rebound In February

Housing starts unexpectedly increased in the month of February, according to a report released by the Commerce Department. The report showed that housing starts rose 22 percent to an annual rate of 583,000 in February from a revised January estimate of 477,000………………………………………………………………………………

 

Building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, rose 3.0 percent overall to an annual rate of 547,000 in February from the revised January rate of 531,000………………………………………………………………

 

Canadian Housing Starts Down In February

Canada's annual rate of housing starts declined to 134,600 units in February from 153,500 units in January, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said recently…………………………………………………….

 

The national housing agency said new home construction is "slowing to more sustainable levels" and starts are forecast to come in at 160,250 units for the full year.

Australia Housing Market Poised For Recovery in 2009/10- HIA

The housing market in Australia has prospects for recovery in the next fiscal year of 2009-10, helped by the substantial stimulus package and large interest rate reduction, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) said recently………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

FINANCIALS

 

Lydall Announces 4Q and Year End Financial Results

Lydall, Inc. (NYSE: LDL) recently announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. Net sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008 were $60.8 million compared with $81.5 million for the same period in 2007. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $305.7 million compared with $320.9 million for 2007………………………………………………………………………………

 

Lydall's 2008 financial results were impacted by significant global, regional and industry economic downturns, particularly in the automotive industry.

 

Pall Corporation Reports Second Quarter and First Half Results

Pall Corporation (NYSE:PLL) reported sales and earnings for the second quarter and six months ended January 31, 2009.

 

Sales for the six months were $1.1 billion, a decrease of 5.5 percent from a year earlier. Net earnings were $82 million, compared to $84.1 million in the period last year.

 

Second quarter sales were $543.3 million compared to $625.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2008…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Donaldson Q2 Profit Down Slightly; Cuts 2009 Outlook

Donaldson Co Inc (DCI.N) posted a marginal drop in second-quarter profit, and cut its 2009 forecast citing weak demand across its end markets.

 

Net income was $33.8 million, compared to $34.1 million last year.  Sales were $460.6 million, down from $511.8 million in the second quarter of FY08.

 

The company, which has cut 1,850 jobs since the beginning of the fiscal year………………………….

 

FY09 Outlook

The company, whose largest customer is Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N), sees 2009 earnings of $1.70 to $1.90 a share on revenue of $1.9 to $2 billion, down 10 to 15 percent for the year. 


Engine Products: Donaldson now forecasts full year sales to decrease 11 to 16 percent………………..

 

Fiberweb Reports 2008 Revenue Up

Fiberweb has described 2008 as a solid year, reporting sales at approximately $731.3 million (£512.8 million), up 8 percent from 2007 revenues of $675.4 million ((£473.6 million).

Key factors in this success included good progress in its turnaround program, stable sales in hygiene, and growth in industrial. Profits increased from £13.6 million to £13.8 million………………………………………………..

 

COMPANY NEWS

 

Freudenberg Opens Adsorptive Nonwovens Plant

Freudenberg Nonwovens has officially started a new production facility for adsorptive products in Littleborough, UK. With an investment of more than €2 million in the latest activated carbon technology, Freudenberg Nonwovens plans to expand the adsorptive business into other applications and regions…………………………………………………

 

Big Island Carbon Plant Construction to Start

A Big Island technology startup plans to begin construction this month on a manufacturing plant that will turn macadamia nut shells into premium grade, granular activated carbon, Pacific Business News reports……………………..

 

Munktell Filter AB Selects Raleigh, NC for Expansion

Ken Atkins, executive director for Wake County Economic Development (WCED), has announced that Munktell Filter AB, a Swedish-based paper filtration company, has opened its first North American sales and distribution office in Raleigh, NC………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

NEW PRODUCTS

 

DelStar Developes Biodegradable Media

DelStar Technologies has developed a unique DelPore meltblown media that is biodegradable and compostable. Designed specifically for the air filtration industry, this product is manufactured from PLA (polylactide). Its efficiency has been enhanced by successful electrostatic charging.

 

DelStar has developed the new DelPore media for short-term disposable air filtration applications, including medical face masks, respirators, vacuum bags and furnace filters………………………………………………….

 

Elmarco Industrial Nanofiber Production Equipment

Elmarco introduces its industrial nanofiber production equipment.  Nanospider(TM), Elmarco's proprietary technology, allows filtration companies to bring the benefits of nanofibers into their products in the most cost-effective manner………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

Bob McIlvaine

847-784-0012

rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com