Freudenberg Filtration Technologies has won the first ever FILTREX Innovation Award. Votes were submitted confidentially by industry professionals attending FILTREX, the leading nonwovens filter media conference and tabletop exhibition, being held in Geneva this week, in conjunction with INDEX17.

“The FILTREX Innovation Award recognises the efforts of all manufacturers of nonwoven based filtration products/elements and celebrate their continuous efforts for excellence and innovation. The occasion marks the first time the sector has officially recognised innovation in the filtration industry,” organisers report.

New micronair blue filter

The five nominees each presented a 10-minute showcase of their innovation during the FILTREX conference. Freudenberg were then announced as a winner at an award ceremony at the Château des Bois, Geneva, where the company received a specially commissioned trophy featuring an artist’s view of a filter media performance.

Freudenberg was honoured for its brand new micronAir blue filter. The filter is a highly efficient four-layer particle filter that features a patented two layered filter media focusing on PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles, as well as a combi-filter that protects against harmful gases and an anti-allergen filter layer. The new product, to be used principally in cars, is said to eliminate almost 100% of occurring allergens and protect against microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungal spores.

“There is immense pride in this achievement. I hope this initiative will further innovation and collaboration across our industry. Together we can achieve so much,” commented Alexander Oelsner, Director Sales Europe IAM at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.

Award nominees

Other award nominees, in alphabetic order, were as follows: Ahlstrom Tampere was nominated for its Ahlstrom Statguard – a filter media suitable for bag filters that reduce the explosion risk, because of added conductive properties.

Europlasma was chosen for its Nanofics – a high-tech finishing process designed to improve filter performance but reduce the consumption of energy and chemicals in manufacturing.

Johns Manville was nominated for a 3-layer hybrid filter media for the production of bag filters. Finally, Sandler was nominated for its sawasscreen enAIRsave – a new pocket filter media with improved energy efficiency.

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