NEWS RELEASE                                   NOVEMBER 2009

Fabric Filter Sales to Reach $7.5 billion By 2012

Fabric filters separate the small and harmful particles from stack exhausts.  Due to new regulations in the U.S. and expansion of industry in China, the fabric filter system market will expand robustly to $7.5 billion in 2012.  This new forecast is displayed in the Fabric Filter & Elements World Markets published by the McIlvaine Company.

The growth is being driven by tougher regulations in developed countries and expansion of the electrical generation, cement, steel and other major industries in developing countries.  A new ambient standard for fine particulate in the U.S. will cause many operators of scrubbers and precipitators to switch to fabric filters.  It will cause operators of existing fabric filters to switch bag materials to nonwoven microfibers and membranes.

Mercury reduction requirements will be another driver.  Cement plants and coal-fired boilers in the U.S. will be fitted with secondary fabric filters and activated carbon injection systems for the purpose of mercury capture.

Coal-fired boilers represent the largest application.  Since China and the U.S. will be the largest operators of coal-fired boilers in 2012, it is no surprise that they will be the largest purchasers of fabric filter systems.

Fabric Filter Systems (Millions)

In the case of China, the second ranking is also attributable to the fact that it’s expanding its steel, chemical and other heavy industries.  It produces more than 50 percent of the world’s cement.

South Africa owes its unusual ranking in 2012 to some specific coal-fired boiler projects and to its mining industry.  The market for systems is volatile and country rankings change year by year.  However, the $2.5 billion market for bags is more stable.  South Africa will rank only 23 in terms of bag purchases in 2012.