Nonwovens are continuing to gain ground in liquid filtration applications as global demand for higher efficiency, improved pressure drop and reliable purification intensifies. Increasingly, traditional materials such as paper, cloth and glass are being displaced by engineered nonwoven media designed to meet more exacting performance standards.

Recent industry estimates project the combined global air and liquid filtration market to reach $5 billion by 2029, with broader segments forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8% between 2025 and 2029. Growth is even more pronounced in water filtration, which is expected to expand at a 12.5% CAGR, reaching $19 billion by 2029. Biopharmaceutical filtration is also on a strong upward trajectory, projected to reach $18.1 billion over the same period, fueled by continued expansion in biologics manufacturing and high-purity processing requirements.

Market drivers are multifaceted. Increasingly stringent environmental regulations governing wastewater treatment and industrial discharge are accelerating the adoption of advanced filtration technologies. At the same time, water scarcity and growing investment in desalination and water reuse—particularly across the Asia-Pacific region—are reshaping infrastructure priorities. Digitalization is also playing a role, as IoT-enabled monitoring systems help optimize filter life and reduce unplanned downtime. Meanwhile, food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical processors continue to demand higher levels of liquid purity to ensure product quality and regulatory compliance.

Among the companies addressing these needs is Ahlstrom, a global supplier of high-performance filter media. According to the company, water filtration remains central to public health, ensuring safe drinking water while also contributing to sustainability by reducing reliance on bottled water and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Ahlstrom’s liquid filtration portfolio serves a wide range of applications including water purification, hot cooking oil filtration in quick service restaurants, milk filtration, alcoholic and soft beverage production, and other process filtration uses such as syrups and shortenings.

Within water filtration, Disruptor, an electro-adsorptive media was originally developed in 2006 to address demanding water purification challenges. Unlike conventional mechanical filtration media, the technology is designed to remove a broad spectrum of contaminants—including submicron particulates, organic acids, viruses, bacteria, cysts, cell debris and trace pharmaceuticals—through electro-adsorption mechanisms.

The latest development within the Disruptor range targets PFAS. In testing conducted using challenge concentrations based on the 95th percentile of UCMR 5 survey data, the new media demonstrated the ability to reduce PFAS levels to as low as 5 parts per trillion (ppt). In addition to PFAS reduction, the media provides effective chlorine removal while maintaining high flow rates—an important balance for residential and commercial drinking water systems.

Engineered for gravity-flow drinking water systems, the product is currently undergoing NSF 42 review and is expected to meet NSF 42 requirements upon completion. Its multifunctional design enables simultaneous capture of biological contaminants and PFAS reduction, offering a streamlined approach for point-of-use and point-of-entry applications, as well as select industrial installations.

“Being able to achieve PFAS levels as low as five parts per trillion without compromising flow rates or chlorine removal efficiency marks a major advance in drinking water,” says Clas Läck, head of Liquid Filtration, Ahlström. “Building on our existing Disruptor platform allows us to explore the full capabilities of this innovative technology.”

Beyond water, Ahlstrom is also targeting sustainability and performance improvements in food service applications with OptiPad, a high-performance filter pad developed for hot cooking oil filtration. The pre-impregnated pad combines advanced filtration media with a filter aid to remove particles and oil contaminants more efficiently.

According to the company, OptiPad can extend cooking oil life by up to 75%—from three to four days to several weeks—reducing material and labor costs while minimizing waste. By lowering total polar material (TPM) levels in oil, the solution supports improved food quality and operational efficiency for quick service restaurant operators.

Manufactured with FDA-approved materials and compliant with NSF/ANSI 51 standards for food equipment materials, OptiPad is designed to simplify filter changes and streamline daily maintenance routines.

“This is probably the first truly innovative product sold to this market in many years, and we have had a great reception,” Läck adds. “OptiPad enhances oil quality and offers savings and improved ease of use. Our filtration solution reduces the frequency of oil replacement, saving total oil consumption—critical advantages for foodservice businesses striving for both efficiency and sustainability.”

As regulatory pressures mount and sustainability targets become more aggressive, nonwoven-based filtration technologies are positioned to play an increasingly vital role across water, biopharmaceutical and industrial processing markets. With performance, efficiency and environmental considerations converging, liquid filtration remains one of the most dynamic growth segments for the global nonwovens industry.

Magnera Aligns Portfolio

Driven by tightening global regulations, heightened sustainability expectations and the rapid digitalization of filtration systems, the liquid filtration market continues to evolve at a steady pace. According to Soujanya Muralidhara, product line manager, Reemay, at Magnera, growth is being fueled not only by compliance pressures but also by advances in AI- and IoT-enabled system monitoring. At the same time, electrification trends—from EV battery production to hydrogen systems—are introducing new purity requirements, while life sciences, microelectronics and data center applications demand increasingly cleaner fluids. Coupled with breakthroughs in membrane materials, these dynamics are accelerating both innovation and opportunity across the sector.

In response, Magnera has aligned its portfolio to serve highly regulated and performance-driven markets. The company offers a broad range of liquid filtration media engineered for purity, durability and consistency across three primary segments: Pool & Spa; Life Sciences; and Industrial, which encompasses water filtration, food and beverage, oil and gas, and fuel filtration.

Across the liquid filtration landscape, Magnera’s development efforts are focused on higher precision, improved durability and more sustainable performance. Leveraging proprietary technologies—including Reemay, Reemay Elite, Typar/Tekton, PP Spunbond and Meltex meltblown—the company delivers media with tighter pore size distribution, enhanced filtration efficiency and dependable mechanical strength compared to conventional options.

“A strategic focus on fine filtration is meeting increased demand for higher purity and controlled particle capture,” says Muralidhara. “This shift is reinforced by significant upgrades to our backing and pleat support portfolio, enhancing pleat integrity, structural resilience and long-term performance in demanding operating environments.”

As application-specific solutions gain importance, Magnera is collaborating closely with customers to engineer media tailored to defined process parameters—from precision coolant filtration in metalworking to hot oil filtration in food processing. By optimizing thermal stability, chemical resistance and particle retention, the company is positioning itself as a solutions partner rather than a traditional supplier.

The company reports increased activity across Life Sciences, Industrial and Pool & Spa applications, where demand continues to rise for greater efficiency, tighter pore size control and more durable constructions. In Life Sciences and Industrial segments, Magnera continues to advance its core platforms to deliver improved uniformity, chemical and temperature resistance, as well as enhanced pleat support.

In Pool & Spa, momentum remains strong as consumers and OEMs seek clearer water and extended filter life. Reemay and Antimicrobial Reemay products remain central to Magnera’s offering, delivering high dirt-holding capacity and sanitation performance in this established market.

Hollingsworth & Vose Expands Portfolio

Hollingsworth & Vose (H&V) has expanded its liquid filtration portfolio with a clear focus on sustainability and high-performance membranes. In 2024, the company introduced its PlusZero line, a comprehensive range of filtration media manufactured from source materials containing zero added PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Designed to help customers proactively address environmental concerns, the line maintains performance, reliability and cost competitiveness comparable to legacy materials.

“We have a long tradition of innovation and sustainability at H&V, and PlusZero is our latest breakthrough furthering our commitment to both,” says Mike Clark, division president at H&V. “After years of research, we have developed a line of zero added PFAS solutions that are not only better for the environment, but smart for business.”

Although regulations do not yet universally require the elimination of PFAS in filtration media manufacturing, H&V’s investment reflects a broader industry shift toward safer chemistries and forward-looking compliance strategies.

In parallel, H&V continues to expand its Trupor microfiltration membrane family. Trupor, the company’s first microfiltration membrane platform, delivers flow rates up to twice industry benchmarks and is currently available in nominal pore sizes ranging from 0.20 µm to 5.0 µm. Future developments are expected to include Polyethersulfone (PES) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) sterilizing-grade options.

Additional innovations include Nanoweb for Liquids, a nanofiber-based technology featuring fibers in the 0.3 to 0.5 micron range. The resulting synthetic media structure offers approximately 40% higher porosity than standard meltblown materials at equivalent micron ratings. Applications include standalone advanced microfiltration substrates and pre-filtration for reverse osmosis systems.

H&V has also introduced next-generation coalescer media engineered for liquid/liquid separation, such as water removal from diesel and jet fuel. By integrating nanofibers with microfiber glass, the company has developed gradient fiber structures designed to improve separation efficiency.

Finally, the company continues to broaden its meltblown offerings, with materials available in PBT, polypropylene and nylon. Grades now range from 30 microns down to 0.80 microns, supporting a wide range of industrial process liquid applications.

Together, these developments underscore how the company is responding to regulatory pressure, sustainability demands and performance expectations with increasingly specialized, high-value liquid filtration solutions.

Nonwovenn Looks Toward Growth

U.K.-based Nonwovenn is sharpening its focus on liquid filtration with targeted investments in frying and coolant oil filtration as well as coalescer technologies, positioning the company for growth in high-performance industrial applications.

Within frying and coolant oil filtration, Nonwovenn supplies 100% viscose materials available in jumbo rolls up to 2200mm wide, with in-house conversion capabilities allowing for smaller roll formats. The materials are certified by ISEGA for compliance with Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and the applicable migration limits outlined in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, meeting stringent food contact and safety requirements.

The company is also expanding its presence in coalescer filtration through engineered drainage layers featuring a range of surface treatments, including oleophobic finishes, as well as a PFAS-free option. These coalescer media are designed to separate components within liquid emulsions through the process of coalescence and are used in applications such as moisture removal from fuel mixtures, oil and water separation from air and gas streams and fine droplet capture via depth filtration. Key performance attributes include minimal fiber migration and reduced oil or water carryover.

Investment in innovation and technical capabilities has played a central role in supporting this growth. Over the past year, Nonwovenn has directed resources toward research and development in activated carbon filtration, coalescer media and acoustic solutions—areas identified as high-growth technical fabric segments. As part of its broader expansion strategy, the company is upgrading its existing impregnation line and adding a second line, effectively doubling output capacity to meet increasing demand.

In parallel, Nonwovenn is strengthening its team to broaden its portfolio of advanced respiratory protection products and air and liquid filtration solutions. and continues to advance coalescer technologies in systems such as compressed air units, where oil droplets and fine particulates must be efficiently removed.

With established partnerships and new opportunities emerging, Nonwovenn is targeting a doubling of sales within the next 12 to 18 months.

“InduTech is a key growth area for Nonwovenn,” says Fabrizio Tiribilli, industrial business director. “Our investments in filtration and acoustics reflect our commitment to innovation and technical excellence. By increasing capacity and efficiency while accelerating product development, we are responding to the evolving needs of customers in this expanding market.”

Chairman David Lamb adds that the latest round of investment supports the company’s ambition to become a market leader across its four market vehicles. “The outlook in the industrial sector is incredibly promising, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead,” he says.

Freudenberg Performance Materials Offers Multiple Technologies

At Freudenberg Peformance Materials, advances in nonwoven technologies have expanded the design possibilities for liquid filtration media, the the company’s ability to combine multiple technologies, such as composite or multilayer structures, to optimize filtration efficiency, durability and flow behavior. This allows the company to provide its customers with unique, added-value solutions.

The company’s Filtura portfolio delivers high-performance nonwoven filter media for demanding applications including liquid filtration media which is designed to meet the diverse requirements of industrial and consumer applications. Additionally, In coolants and lubricants, the company has expanded its lineup to provide customers with a true one-stop-shop offering materials from three core technologies: spunbond, drylaid, and wetlaid nonwovens. Meanwhile, for fuel, oil, and hydraulic oil filtration, the company supports selected applications using meltblown, drylaid and wetlaid media, which provide reliable filtration efficiency and an excellent pore size distribution. Finally, in the pool and spa segment, Freudenberg Performance Materials supplies cartridge filter media globally. The company is actively aligning product platforms across North America, EMEA, and APAC, while also developing added-value solutions such as media with antibacterial functionality targeting to meet applicable local regulations.

Overall, the company´s focus is on delivering consistent high quality, global availability, and application-specific performance.

In recent years, increasing environmental regulations related to air and water quality—driven by population growth, urbanization, and the expansion of the middle class—have raised expectations for filtration performance and material safety. At the same time, restrictions on certain substances, including PFAS, are shaping material choices across the industry. Freudenberg has proactively stopped developing new solutions containing PFAS and is investing in alternative materials that deliver comparable or improved performance without regulatory concerns.

Sustainability also remains a key driver, according to the company. Customers increasingly expect reduced environmental footprints. However, adoption depends on maintaining performance and total cost of ownership. Freudenberg is therefore working on two fronts: reducing its own CO₂ emissions and waste and investigating alternative materials to support e.g. biobased products.

“In EMEA, Freudenberg Performance Materials sees a stronger interest in sustainability topics, supported by relatively stringent regulatory frameworks. However, North America and APAC are also placing increasing emphasis on environmental performance and material compliance,” the company continues.“While the pace and regulatory details may differ by region, the underlying trends—such as sustainability, safety, and performance reliability—are relevant worldwide, and Freudenberg addresses them through a globally coordinated yet locally responsive approach.”