INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, will celebrate the strength and growth of the filtration market at its 25^th anniversary edition of the Filtration International Conference & Exposition that takes place in Philadelphia this fall.

Started as a small conference in a hotel setting in 1991 by INDA, then in collaboration with the American Filtration & Separations Society, the Filtration International Conference & Exposition has become the industry’s leading filtration event in North America.

Filtration 2016 will be held from 8-10 November at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, where Attendees will toast the 25th anniversary milestone at the industry reception on 9 November. Business engagement will continue throughout the exposition where industry participants from around the world and across the supply chain will have the opportunity to connect with buyers and decision makers.

Dramatic growth

The Filtration International Conference & Exposition has experienced dramatic growth from 200 delegates with 20 tabletop displays in its first year to 1б500 attendees and more than 140 exhibitors last year.

“As INDA celebrates the 25th edition of Filtration, we reflect upon the incredible breadth of innovations, new technologies, and advancements that have taken place over the past few decades,” said Dave Rousse, INDA President.

“This milestone is extremely important as it shows the vitality and health of the filtration industry to support this annual international business event for 25 years. INDA is excited to see what the future will bring as the Filtration sector of nonwovens continues to be a leader in the overall growth of nonwovens and engineered fabrics.”

Drivers of growth

Increased demand and regulations for cleaner air and water, as well as for more sterile environments in healthcare markets, has helped fuel the growth in this segment over the past two decades, INDA reports. North American end use sales of filter media products are forecast to reach US$ 19.1 billion in 2018, a robust 4.4% annual growth rate from 2008.

The event has evolved with the industry’s needs. Originally planned as a biennial event, Filtration was changed early on to an annual conference starting in 1993 due to the market’s vitality. In 1996, it moved to a convention centre setting with exhibitor booths replacing tabletop displays to give companies more room to showcase their offerings. 

Filtration currently alternates between the East Coast and the Midwest to better serve the needs of the filter media industry, organisers explain.

Filtration 2016 highlights

The 25^th Anniversary edition of Filtration will feature conference presentations that address issues and developments that are changing the world of filtration. Attendees will hear presentations covering the latest industry intelligence, technical advances, and leading-edge products and applications. INDA expects a repeat of last year’s record-setting turnout.

Highlights include a keynote speaker Alfred Weber, President and CEO of MANN + HUMMEL International GmbH & Co. KG, who will speak on Filtration Meets Digitalization. Other topics of interest presented by industry leaders will include:

• OSHA’s Final Rule on Silica Dust
• UL 900 Flammability Standard
• Indoor Air Quality and Workplace Productivity
• Filtration Markets to Watch
• Polycarbonate Spunbond Filter Media
• Gradient Pre-media Filters
• Hydraulic Contamination in Helicopters
• The State of the Nonwoven Filtration Market

The Nonwoven Filter Media Training Course will once again be co-located with Filtration 2016. The one-and-a-half-day training course will cover the principles of filtration to market and technology trends.

www.inda.org