NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                    APRIL 2014

Cross-Flow Membrane System Sales to Exceed $3 Billion in the Americas Next Year

Sales of reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration and microfiltration systems along with the replacement membranes will exceed $3 billion in North and South America in 2015. This is the latest forecast in RO, UF, MF World Market published by the McIlvaine Company.

Revenues ($ Millions) 

  

Industry

  
  

2015

  

 Total

 3,021

 Chemical

 144  

 Desalination

 1,153  

 Food

 83  

 Metals

 77  

 Mining

 37  

 Oil & Gas

 37  

 Other Industries

 233  

 Pharmaceutical

 357  

 Power

 34  

 Pulp & Paper

 84  

 Refining

 37  

 Residential/Commercial

 191  

 Semiconductor

 42  

 Wastewater

 94  

 Water

 418  

The biggest single application will be desalination. California is leading the way, but many of the countries throughout the Americas have either a lack of fresh water or only polluted water which must be filtered prior to use. The islands in the Caribbean represent a significant market. At one time, the cost of desalinated water was high enough to deter manufacturing on these islands. But the cost improvements in the membranes and systems have made desalinated water relatively inexpensive.

The second biggest market is for drinking water. Municipalities are increasingly opting for microfiltration or ultrafiltration rather than granular media filtration for particle removal.

The pharmaceutical industry uses reverse osmosis filtration of water which will be used in injectable drugs. Reverse osmosis systems are used in residences and commercial buildings where the municipal water is unacceptable. The food industry uses reverse osmosis to purify water which will be used in soft drinks and other products that will be consumed but do not go through a pasteurization process after canning or packaging. Membrane bioreactors are also used by the food industry to purify wastewater.

For more information on RO, UF, MF World Market, click on: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php/markets/2-uncategorised/120-n020