The global industrial filtration market is poised for significant growth in the coming years, driven by the demand for more efficient and sustainable filtration solutions. Within this landscape, the air-oil separator market is projected to grow steadily at over 5% annually over the next decade. Air-oil separators are used in compressors and vacuum pumps, where removing residual lubricating oil is critical for machinery performance, and oil and gas systems that require impurity-free final products of the highest quality. The separators play a vital role across industries in separating oil from air or gas and thereby improving equipment performance and lifespan, recycling of lubricating oils, protecting equipment, and reducing environmental emissions.
To address this growing demand, Ahlstrom, a global leader in innovative filtration solutions, is proud to introduce a groundbreaking PFAS-free filtration platform with water-repellent properties specifically designed for air-oil separation applications. This new solution offers filter manufacturers a sustainable alternative to meet stringent regulatory and performance demands while maintaining durability and reliability.
The air-oil separation market requires high-performance materials capable of efficiently separating fine oil and water aerosols from air streams while maintaining excellent filtration performances. In multilayer filter structures, media treated with water-repellent properties enhances the coalescing effect. This ensures the media remains stable, avoiding increased wet pressure drops and preserving filtration efficiency. Traditionally, these challenges were addressed using PFAS-based technologies. Ahlstrom's PFAS-free filtration materials eliminate the need for fluorochemicals, delivering advanced water-repellent properties that ensure reliable and robust performance, even in demanding operating conditions. A dedicated test bench supports the development and qualification of our multi-layer air-oil separation solutions in collaboration with our customers.
"Our new PFAS-free solution underscores our commitment to innovating sustainable solutions, supporting the transition to environmentally responsible alternatives without compromising performance," says Tamara Quatrano, Vice President, R&D and Product Development, Filtration. "We are actively collaborating with our customers' R&D teams to further develop and optimize PFAS-free filtration media."
The PFAS-free filtration media is now available through Ahlstrom's glass microfiber production platform in Fabriano, Italy, and is designed for use in industrial applications and sectors.
