Walpole, MA
www.hollingsworth-vose.com
2024 Nonwoven Sales: $660 million

Key Personnel
Josh Ayer, president and CEO; James Noonan, vice president and CFO; Mike Clark, president, Filtration Solutions; Nick Starita, president, Energy Solutions; Angela DiNisco, vice president & chief human resources officer; Mark Freeman, vice president & general counsel; Dave Healey, vice president, Global Technology; Jochem Hofstetter, vice president, managing director, Europe, Middle East & Africa; Schuyler Hollingsworth, vice president of Global Marketing & Communications; Tim Li, vice president, managing director, Asia Pacific; Suzanne Rotherham, vice president & managing director Americas; Kevin Schmidt, vice president Global Operations

Plants
Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.

Processes
Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

The latest innovations from filtration specialist Hollingsworth & Vose is its NanoWave ESA product, a revolutionary synthetic material designed for high-efficiency respiratory and medical filtration, offering enhanced performance, lower pressure drop and a streamlined design process for respiratory protection equipment (RPE) manufacturers. This PFAS-free media helps achieve high filtration efficiencies (like P3/P100) with a more comfortable, less restrictive filter design, addressing market demands for smaller, higher-performing and sustainable filtration solutions.

Described as the world’s first 3D filter media, NanoWave provides a more efficient and intuitive filtration solution compared to traditional methods and is designed to achieve high filtration efficiency (e.g., P3, P100) while maintaining a lower pressure drop, which means less resistance for the user. By integrating 3D filtration capabilities, NanoWave ESA simplifies the design process for respiratory protection, allowing for more comfortable and better-performing next-generation products.

In recent month’s H&V, which is based in East Walpole, MA has reported softer market demand caused by inventory adjustments as well as price reductions supported by lower raw material and energy costs. However, the market, particularly in the North American filtration market and in energy solutions is showing signs of recovery.

H&V’s latest investment, announced in January 2023, supports its Trupor business, a revolutionary high performance liquid microfiltration media. The new capacity will come online in late 2025 in Floyd, VA. “H&V continues to view liquid microfiltration as an area where we can demonstrate technical leadership and provide great value to our customers in bioprocessing, water and the food and beverage markets,” Mike Clark, division president, says.

In Europe, H&V has made two major expansion projects in Hatzfeld, Germany designed to keep it at the forefront of innovation and will add new filter media technologies and capabilities for indoor air quality, cabin air, liquid, gas turbine, cleanroom and medical applications.

Also in Germany, H&V completed work on a line dedicated to the production of Technostat electret filtration media at the end of 2021 to better serve the European market. Technostat continues to be a leading technology for commercial and residential HVAC filtration, cabin air and medical applications and respirators. This expansion is providing increased European service and growth capacity for IAQ, gas turbine, cabin air, medical and appliance markets.

In addition to Technostat, H&V continues to focus on its NanoWave product line designed for pocket filters and one-inch depth panel filters. NanoWave XTE, the highest performing pocket filter media, is a patented extended surface area synthetic filter media works against hazardous air pollution by providing clean air while significantly lowering energy consumption in buildings.

Within its energy storage area, in early 2023, H&V started up a new wetlaid glass fiber production line in Mysuru, India. The new asset adds significant battery separator capacity to the region and is serving automotive and industrial customers in South Asia and global markets. H&V acquired the Indian site in 2014 when it purchased Raman Fibrescience. The facility specializes in developing innovations in fiber-based, wetlaid filtration media and battery separators and was a natural complement to H&V’s existing business. Today in Mysuru, H&V produces battery separator products that are used in a variety of energy storage applications.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Sales declined to $660 million at East Walpole, MA-based Hollingsworth & Vose. The maker of filtration media and other specialty nonwovens attributed the reduction in sales to softer market demand caused by inventory adjustments as well as price reductions supported by lower raw material and energy costs.

Executives say recovery has already begun, particularly in the North American filtration market. Additionally, demand for energy solutions applications began growing in the second half of 2023 as the automotive and industrial markets recovered.

H&V’s latest investment, announced in January 2023, supports its Trupor business, a revolutionary high performance liquid microfiltration media. The new capacity will come online in late 2025 in Floyd, VA. “H&V continues to view liquid microfiltration as an area where we can demonstrate technical leadership and provide great value to our customers in bioprocessing, water and the food and beverage markets,” Mike Clark, division president, says.

In Europe, H&V has two major, ongoing expansion projects in Hatzfeld, Germany. These investments are planned to keep H&V at the forefront of innovation and will add new filter media technologies and capabilities for indoor air quality, cabin air, liquid, gas turbine, cleanroom and medical applications, Clark says.

Also in Germany, H&V completed work on a line dedicated to the production of Technostat electret filtration media at the end of 2021 to better serve the European market. Technostat continues to be a leading technology for commercial and residential HVAC filtration, cabin air and medical applications and respirators. This expansion is providing increased European service and growth capacity for IAQ, gas turbine, cabin air, medical and appliance markets.

In addition to Technostat, H&V continues to focus on its Nanowave product line designed for pocket filters and one-inch depth panel filters. The technology, which is made in both Europe and the U.S., has demonstrated industry-leading service life and the lowest pressure drop to reduce the HVAC system’s energy consumption.

Later this year, H&V will introduce a new NanoWave XTE, the highest performing pocket filter media. This patented extended surface area synthetic filter media works against hazardous air pollution by providing clean air while significantly lowering energy consumption in buildings. It provides extraordinarily low pressure drop and superior dust-holding capacity, and it improves air quality by enabling higher levels of filtration without reducing HVAC system airflow. The result: better filtration with lower energy usage.

Within its energy storage area, in early 2023, H&V started up a new wetlaid glass fiber production line in Mysuru, India. The new asset adds significant battery separator capacity to the region and is serving automotive and industrial customers in South Asia and global markets. H&V acquired the Indian site in 2014 when it purchased Raman Fibrescience. The facility specializes in developing innovations in fiber-based, wetlaid filtration media and battery separators and was a natural complement to H&V’s existing business. Today in Mysuru, H&V produces battery separator products that are used in a variety of energy storage applications.

Hollingsworth & Vose is an industry-leading supplier of separators, separator enhancements, paste additives and pasting papers that meet the highest standards for battery assembly and performance. This new line in India enables H&V to provide local service to India and South Asia.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
ProcessesL Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Thanks to strong price performance across its energy solutions and air and liquid filtration business, Hollingsworth & Vose reported record sales of $729 million in 2022 and continues to see positive trends for its product solutions across multiple industries.

Making headlines this year was the company’s announcement it was adding new capacity in Floyd, VA. Announced in January 2023, the investment, which is valued at $40 million, will add more than 28,000 square feet to an existing facility to accommodate new production equipment to meet increased demand.

“H&V’s expansion in Virginia builds off of the long-running need for more synthetic porous materials, and does so in a market that H&V sees as a growth area—liquid filtration,” says Mike Clark, president—Filtration Solutions. “The expansion will be complete by the fourth quarter of 2024 and is focused on extending H&V’s product portfolio for buyers in the food, beverage, water and biopharmaceutical space.”

In other investment news, H&V is also in the process of a major plant expansion in Hatzfeld, Germany, where it is adding two new production lines to increase its capabilities and capacity for next- generation synthetic filter media.

Also in Hatzfeld, H&V completed work on a line dedicated to the production of Technostat electret filtration media at the end of 2021 to better serve the European market. Technostat continues to be a leading technology for commercial and residential HVAC filtration, cabin air and medical applications and respirators.

“Technostat has seen many technological improvements over the years and continues to be the highest-performing electret filter media,” Clark says. “ The product line demonstrates superior dust-holding capacity and low pressure drop. Technostat is offered in various weights to meet the desired efficiency.”

H&V also products Technostat technology at its sites in Virginia and Kentmere, U.K.

H&V’s NanoWave product line is also made in both Europe and the U.S. for commercial HVAC systems. The NanoWave product line is designed for pocket filters and 1” depth panel filters. Furthermore, the technology has demonstrated industry-leading service life and the lowest pressure drop to reduce the HVAC’s energy consumption.

“Demand for filtration solutions continues to grow as air and liquid filtration contributes to health, safety and productivity,” Clark says. “Two general filtration industry trends that are changing the market are increased levels of filtration (higher standards and increased regulations) and increased energy efficiency and higher flow rates. H&V’s advanced filtration solutions provide the highest levels of filtration efficiency with the lowest pressure drop, which means that our products can filter out more contaminants with less energy and higher flow rates.”

“H&V’s broad product portfolio has been designed to meet the global market needs. The portfolio has been developed to serve demand today, and H&V continuously innovates for tomorrow,” Clark says. “H&V offers both electret and mechanical filtration solutions to support application and local regional needs. Further, we partner with customers to tailor solutions for company-specific requirements.”

Beyond filtration, energy solutions continues to be an important growth market for H&V. In 2022, H&V announced it would invest in new wetlaid capacity at its Mysuru, India plant, doubling manufacturing capacity to produce battery separators that serve the South Asia and Global markets. H&V acquired the Indian site in 2014 when it purchased Raman Fibrescience. The facility specializes in developing innovations in fiber-based, wetlaid filtration media and battery separators and was a natural complement to H&V’s existing business. Today in Mysuru, H&V produces battery separator products that are used in a variety of energy storage applications.

“Like other regions of the world, India is investing in cleaner modes of transportation,” reports Nick Starita, president, Energy Solutions. “This increases the demand for advanced batteries as transportation becomes electrified and less reliant on fossil fuels.”

The investment more than doubles the capacity to serve the global market and is an exciting opportunity to strengthen its on-the-ground presence in India and it will enable H&V to further support the global transition to clean and sustainable energy storage solutions.

H&V manufactures Hi-Sep battery separators in Mysuru which are integral in industrial and automotive applications. Hi-Sep technology also serves a niche in applications such as electric rickshaws, back-up power and industrial forklifts. Electric rickshaws are popular across Asia and are a growing form of transportation.

“Global investments in clean energy, emissions-free vehicles and the digital economy are driving the need for advanced batteries and high-quality battery components, like separators,” Starita says.

Hi-Sep is a battery separator made from synthetic and glass fibers that outperforms more traditional separators that used gel VRLA and flooded battery applications. Its unique composition makes it an excellent replacement for other commonly used separator materials, such as PE, PVC and phenolic resin. Hi-Sep is especially valuable in extending battery life in hot climates.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Demand for solutions across multiple industries helped drive Hollingsworth & Vose’s nonwovens sales to $475 million in 2021 compared to $431 million in 2020. Additionally, the company reported a strong recovery in transportation markets for engine filtration and battery separators, two of its key markets.

Demand for filtration media is expected to continue to increase as the public realizes the importance of sustainability and emission reduction. Government regulations and corporate air quality policies will expedite the demand for green buildings with sustainable, healthy spaces that adhere to LEED standards. Additionally, cabin air filtration will play a huge part in the transportation sector as it moves toward more energy-efficient vehicles, such as hybrids and EVs. H&V’s CEO Josh Ayer predicts, “The demand for filtration in the future may evolve, but it’s not going away.”

Other areas for opportunity include in indoor air quality (IAQ), particularly in schools, creating better learning environments for students, teachers and staff at a time when the need is greater than ever.

In particular, the company’s Technostat filter media, which is used in MERV 11-13 filters, is playing a key role in how schools are making improvements to their IAQ. In fact, Technostat is the go-to choice of many prominent filter manufacturers who make the MERV 13 panel filters used in U.S. schools.

This is not only because Technostat meets stringent industry ratings, but also because it is the leading electret media product in the market. It can capture small particles and offers high efficiency filtration with a low pressure drop, which means cleaner air with lower energy consumption in an HVAC system.

In October 2020, H&V announced it would significantly expand capacity for its Technostat electret filtration media products. This new capacity began operations at H&V’s Hatzfeld, Germany, location in the second half of 2021. The expansion is allowing H&V to further support the growth of its key customers and strategic growth markets, globally.

In addition to Technostat, H&V’s Nanowave technology continues to be a cornerstone of the company’s Filtration Solutions business. In this business, the new NanoWave XT product platform sets the standard for pocket filter media, providing the industry’s lowest total cost of ownership, with the best energy ratings and a stable mechanical efficiency. NanoWave is 100% synthetic, and can be welded or sewn, and is fully incinerable.

H&V has also committed to growth in India. In April 2022, the company announced it would double capacity at its Mysuru, India, plant, where it produces battery separators that serve the South Asia and global markets. H&V acquired the site through its purchase of Raman FibreScience, a technology company, in 2014. The facility specializes in developing innovations in fiber-based, wetlaid filtration media and battery separators and was a natural complement to H&V’s existing business. Today in Mysuru, H&V produces battery separator products that are used in a variety of energy storage applications.

“This growth will enable H&V to further support the global transition to clean and sustainable energy storage solutions,” says Nick Starita, president, Energy Solutions with H&V.

H&V manufactures Hi-Sep battery separators in Mysuru which are integral in industrial and automotive applications. Hi-Sep technology also serves a niche in applications such as electric rickshaws, back-up power and industrial forklifts. Electric rickshaws are popular across Asia and are a growing form of transportation.

For Hollingsworth & Vose’s 2020 top company profile, click here.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.

Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Demand for high efficiency filtration media in the personal protective equipment and the medical markets helped drive Hollingsworth & Vose’s nonwoven sales up 14% to reach $431 million in 2020. Additionally, the company reported a strong recovery in transportation markets for engine filtration and battery separators, two of its key markets.

“H&V continues to play a major role in the fight against Covid,” Mike Clark, president, Filtration Solutions, says. “At the start of the global pandemic H&V was quick to add capacity and pivot production from transportation and industrial applications to respond to the global outcry for increased production of respirators, face masks, ventilators, medical gowns/hoods, air purifiers, IAQ, pharmaceuticals and Covid test kits.”

In June 2020, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, H&V announced it had, on a rapidly accelerated timeline, developed a new material for non-surgical medical gowns.

Using standard construction methods, this new material can be converted into medical gowns for healthcare workers in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities. The material meets stringent testing including the AATCC 42 impact penetration and AATCC 127 hydrostatic pressure tests. Its origin stems from a Covid-19 related task force that H&V convened at the start of the pandemic to see how the company could expand production and help meet the shortage of medical grade PPE.

Clark says that the company’s entrance into medical was a natural extension of the company’s existing businesses and it will continue to participate in this market.

“H&V has been a global leader in advanced filtration for RPE and medical applications for more than 50 years,” he adds. “We believe that our easier-breathing, proprietary filtration technologies will continue to be valued by our customers looking for the highest performance, quality, and safety.”

In October 2020, H&V announced it would significantly expand capacity for its Technostat electret filtration media products. This new capacity will be installed at H&V’s Hatzfeld, Germany location and will begin operation in the second half of 2021.

“With H&V’s continued focus on product and process innovation, Technostat remains the highest performing electret filter media, widely trusted in critical applications ranging from medical to consumer use,” Clark says. “Technostat enables increased levels of filtration performance, the maximum efficiency with the minimum pressure drop.”

Additionally, Technostat products played a direct role in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in ventilator, respirator, and other critical medical applications. With the latest Hatzfeld investment, H&V is further improving its global Technostat manufacturing footprint, which already includes Kentmere, U.K., and Floyd, VA.

“This expansion will allow H&V to further support the growth of our key customers and strategic growth markets, globally. We are especially proud of the impact Technostat has made in the fight against Covid-19,” says Patrick Demchko, marketing director for Commercial IAQ & Industrial at H&V.

“People are really starting to pay attention to indoor air quality, and how that air quality impacts their health. Whether in your home, your car, or within any commercial building, including schools and hospitals, Technostat offers a unique solution to the market in that it has the highest efficiency at the lowest air flow resistance available,” adds Demchko.

In addition to Technostat, H&V’s Nanowave technology continues to be a cornerstone of the company’s Filtration Solutions business. In this business, the new NanoWave XT product platform sets the standard for pocket filter media, providing the industry’s lowest total cost of ownership, with the best energy ratings and a stable mechanical efficiency. NanoWave is 100% synthetic, and can be welded or sewn, and is fully incinerable.

In late December 2020, H&V, a global manufacturer of advanced materials used in products that provide clean air, clean liquids and energy storage, has won Waterloo Filtration Institute’s Product of the Year Award for its standards-setting NanoWave XT filtration media With NanoWave XT, H&V has introduced a new filtration media for use in HVAC systems that outperforms all other media – reducing exposure to hazardous fine particulates while lowering energy consumption. The product reflects H&V’s commitment to sustainability and is beneficial for people, the planet and business performance. H&V’s NanoWave XT is used to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in numerous public facilities, including hospitals, schools, airports, hotels and more.

“We are thrilled to receive this award from WFI. At H&V we are committed to developing and producing advanced materials for a cleaner world. In a year when clean air has become so essential in all public spaces, we’re especially pleased to introduce this superior filtration media,” says Mike Clark, division president, High Efficiency and Specialty Filtration.

NanoWave® XT has the highest performance and protection against PM1 particles. It offers the best possible cost-efficiency and significant energy savings due to up to 40% lower pressure drop, which reduces CO2 emissions by 30%.

In addition to producing filtration media for HVAC systems, H&V is a leading producer of critical healthcare related materials, including filtration media for face masks, N95 respirators, materials used in the production of ventilators, surgical hoods, and consumables for COVID-19 test systems.

“H&V is committed to filtration and will continue to invest in new technologies and production capacity in support of our customers,” COO John Madej says. “H&V’s continued success will be dependent on our ability to quickly innovate and provide differentiated air, liquid, and molecular filtration solutions to address the global mega-trends in filtration.”

H&V’s global Filtration and Energy storage businesses remain strong in all regions and the company is working extremely hard to meet customer commitments in this very challenging business environment which has been characterized by supply chain disruptions, shipping/logistics challenges, and steep raw material cost escalation.”

“H&V is optimistic about the future of our markets and is committed to growing with our customers globally, by supporting them locally with manufacturing capabilities and applications expertise,” Clark says.

In 2021, H&V has formed two distribution agreements for the use of H&V Trupor, a novel microporous filter media solution available in several industry standard polymer families. One agreement, with  I.W. Tremont for the use of H&V Trupor in I.W. Tremont’s LabExact products, and other analytical products, including High Performance Liquid Chromatography (“HPLC”) applications covers PES-PBT composites. H&V Trupor enables best-in-class flow rates with the reliability of conventional microfiltration membranes..

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Sales decreased 4.5% to $377 million in 2019 at Hollingsworth & Vose due largely to the broader economic impact of trade tensions including the U.S.-China trade dispute and Brexit. Meanwhile, the picture for 2020 is mixed as activity in several of the company’s key markets including automotives and industrial filtration faced slowdowns earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic while other markets picked up steam.

“(The automotives market) has been recovering in the third quarter, but there is tremendous uncertainty about how long it will take to reach sustainable pre-Covid levels,” says Nick Starita, president, energy and industrial systems.

Meanwhile, markets like filtration media for medical applications including respirators, ventilator filters, surgical masks, PAPR respirators and HEPA filtration for hospitals, have been part of the Covid-19 response effort.

“Demand for these products has been very strong,” says Mike Clark, president, high efficiency and specialty filtration. “We have also seen a push in the general HVAC markets to higher efficiency filtration. We believe that market demand for medical filtration products will continue well into 2021 and beyond. I think that the industry will see a ‘reset’ to a new, higher baseline in some segments.”

In response to the need for more face mask materials, H&V’s special Covid-19 task force developed Nanoweb FM, a new filtration media made by H&V, designed for use in homemade face masks. To get this material into use, H&V formed a collaboration with Midwest Textiles to create and sell ready-to-sew face mask kits to the general public.

“This relationship brings together H&V’s knowledge and experience in the filtration industry with Midwest’s ability to reach the individual consumer,” Clark says. “We are pleased to offer this new mask kit.”

Also in response to the critical need for PPE, H&V has developed a new material for non-surgical medical gowns on an accelerated timeline. Using standard construction methods, this new material can be converted into medical gowns for healthcare workers in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities. The material meets stringent testing including the AATCC 42 impact penetration and AATCC 127 hydrostatic pressure tests.

“H&V had already been manufacturing critical materials used in the fight against Covid-19, including filtration media for N95 respirators, ventilator filtration media and the materials used in surgical hoods, so it made sense for us to see how else we might be able to meet the needs of healthcare workers on the frontlines,” says Jeff Crane, segment leader at H&V. “Accelerating our research and development process, partnering with companies that provide third party testing and pulling expertise from different industries we serve allowed us to quickly develop this new material in just a matter of weeks and begin supplying it to gown manufacturers that are facing shortages due to the pandemic.”

Customers for the new material include a mix of existing H&V customers as well as new customers who are helping to meet demand for medical gowns. H&V is manufacturing the material entirely at its manufacturing facility in Easton, NY.

“H&V has a long history in producing nonwovens for demanding, highly technical, air and liquid filtration applications and, hence we were very fortunate that our material scientists and process engineers had the expertise and capabilities to quickly develop fluid barrier materials that the medical industry desperately needed,” Clark says.

Not only did H&V ramp up development and production of face mask and medical gown materials on an accelerated timeline, it was achieved using available materials and existing production lines.

“I am really proud of the people at H&V, for their deep commitment, and for stepping up to go above and beyond for the good of our customers and humanity,” he adds.

Looking at H&V’s traditional businesses, the company’s NanWave, Nanoweb and Technostat technology platforms continue to be cornerstones of the HESF’s (high efficiency and specialty filtration) business and its multi-generational applications plans. These leading synthetic technologies enable high efficiency filtration with the lowest available pressure drop and can be combined and tuned to provide the best aspects of mechanical and electrostatic filtration. Given their ability to filter more with less energy for a smaller footprint, these product lines are expected to be significant growth drivers well beyond Covid, Clark says.

In the past few years, H&V has invested in new production capacity for both Nanowave and Technostat and Clark says the company continues to have major expansion plans for both technologies and is also developing further plans for NanoWave.

These developments will help H&V meet the need for higher efficiency filtration in commercial and residential HVAC where media with MERV ratings of 13 and higher are becoming more mainstream.

Meanwhile in engine and industrial filtration, H&V is excited about its potential to work with its partners for growth in the fast-paced fuel market segment. “As fuel efficiency and quality have a significant impact in each region we’ve worked hard to gain a deep understanding of the market needs and create product accordingly,” says Josh Ayer, president engine and industrial filtration. “We continue to develop multi-layer products with a variety of media and secondary processes. There is no one product fits all type of solution in this area. Each customer and region have specific needs that must be addressed in order to solve the complicated challenges in fuel.”

Despite challenges brought on by the global pandemic, H&V remains bullish about the future of the filtration market as macro trends globally point to the need for cleaner air and liquids in transportation, heavy duty and industrial applications. Meanwhile, smaller form factors, tighter tolerances, increasing government regulations around efficiency and a deeper personal understanding of end use operators are driving the need for high performing filtration.

“Filtration will continue to be a strong market globally–the demand for clean air, clean water and purification requirements for process ‘fluids’ (air and liquid) is only increasing,” Clark says. “In a word, H&V plans to maintain a leadership position through innovation. But in reality, that’s an oversimplification. We will only be successful if we have the ‘trust’ of our customers and the markets and that has to be based on: listening to what they are saying, and meeting quality and service commitments.”

Meanwhile, in Asia where H&V has operations in both China and Asia, sales declined slightly in 2019 due to international trade relations. Despite this, the company continues to see great opportunities for its business in these regions across all major market segments. “We will continue to build on our broad technical and production capabilities by investing in these regions to ensure local production capacity for our best technologies,” Clark says.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Sales grew an impressive 6.4% to reach $395 million for Walpole, MA-based Hollingsworth & Vose. The company reports double digit growth in both the Nanowave and Technostat product lines amidst improved demand for improved IAQ and energy savings, according to Mike Clark, president of H&V’s HESF division. In 2018, the company launched a new Nanowave product family aimed at meeting the new HVAC ISO 16890 standards. Nanowave air filter media offer a lower pressure drop and in turn lower energy consumption compared to traditional synthetic or glass mat filter media.

In late 2015, H&V expanded production capacity for Nanowave with a new line in Hatzfield. Other developments have centered on reducing air flow resistance.

Meanwhile, the company’s Technostat line has been expanded with products that combine enhanced mechanical filtration with its market leading electrostatic performance. The Technostat technology is also made on both sides of the Atlantic. Its latest investment in the electrostatically charged media was a new line in Floyd, VA. Its key markets include industrial face mask, cabin air and appliance applications.

In other new product news, H&V continues to develop product solutions for cabin air, HVAC and liquid filtration applications. “We are seeing increasing demand for fine particulate air filtration end use customer expectations for IAQ increase,” Clark says. “ We are seeing an increasing interest in IAQ monitoring with the advent of lower cost ePM1 and ePM2.5 sensor technology. H&V’s new solutions increase filtration efficiency without increasing pressure drop.”

Another core area is fuel filtration, which is gaining importance to OEM’s as they look for solutions to meet automotive emissions challenges. “H&V’s ability to combine multiple filtration media technologies to produce high performance composite materials enables us to meet a wide variety of application requirements that are often competing in nature (e.g., increased efficiency and life without a pressure drop penalty),” says Josh Ayer, president EIF division.

The filtration market in general continues to outpace GDP growth and H&V strongly believes that the filtration industry has an enormous impact on greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, process productivity and general health and safety. Customers across the many subcategories of filtration—HVAC, cabin, air, fuel, liquid and consumer—are demanding greater differentiation in quality and product performance.

Outside of filtration, battery separators continue to be a strong market for H&V due to product performance, quality and global supply chain. This market was boosted through the acquisition of a battery separator company in India with novel technology to meet the unique materials for battery performance in the region.

Meanwhile, in terms of global growth, Asia continues to be a focus for H&V and the company continues to work hard at growing its businesses based in China and India. By entering these markets early in the stages of infrastructure development, H&V has managed to establish strong footholds in markets that need its products. It has invested heavily in both human capital as well as plant and equipment to strengthen its local service capability.

“We have great confidence in the mid to long term Asia markets,” Ayer says. “International trade wars and a general slowing of growth rates are affecting near-term demand.”

In support of its key Asian market segments, H&V is making a significant capital investment to expand its wetlaid nonwovens capacity with a new production line coming online in the fourth quarter of this year, and it continues to grow its presence in India with the expansion of R&D and production capabilities.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Reporting a 7.2% increase in sales was Hollingsworth & Vose. The Walpole, MA-based manufacturer of technical nonwovens for filtration and battery separator markets achieved sales of $371 million as demand in its key markets continues to be strong in most areas of the world. “We believe this growth is influenced by global concerns about the impact of air and water quality on human health and increased interest in products that are more energy efficient,” vice president of business development David von Loesecke says.

In recent years, the development and expansion of two key products, Nanowave and Technostat, continued to drive growth for the company. Both cater to market interest in synthetic media for high performance filtration applications while offering significant reduction in air flow resistance, providing energy consumption benefits in HVAC applications and better comfort in respiratory protection applications.

In late 2015, H&V expanded production capacity for Nanowave with a new line in Hatzfeld, Germany, and added capacity for Technostat, an electrostatically charged air filter media, in Floyd, VA. Technostat’s expansion into industrial face mask, cabin air and appliance applications continues to boost demand for the material.

The company’s latest version of Nanowave, called Nanowave LT, offers up to 40% reduction in air flow resistance than conventional media while a pleatable version of the media can be used in rigid filters. Technossta MC now offers high mechanical efficiency.

Additionally, H&V is expanding the use of both technologies  by pairing them with other materials made by the company to create composite structures that can address applications beyond HVAC and respiratory protection such as cabin air, paint spray booths and transportation applications.

Looking at the fuel filtration market, which continues to be an important market for the company, stringent global emissions regulations and consumer preference for clean, fuel efficient automobiles are the key drivers of growth in this market.  “H&V’s synthetic technologies can be combined into multi-layer composites capable of delivering the high particulate removal efficiencies required in today’s fuel injection systems,” von Loesecke says. “Our unique capability to build composite media from a variety of proprietary in-house synthetic technologies is what provides our market advantage. “

The protection of human health from poor air quality and the drive to improve indoor air quality are key factors contributing to growth in H&V’s HVAC business.  High efficiency filter media was traditionally used for protection of manufacturing processes such as cleanrooms. While still an important business for H&V, the attention in the filtration industry is now on HVAC applications requiring high efficiency media with lower air flow resistance to provide energy savings benefits.

Outside of filtration, battery separators continue to be a strong market for H&V. This market was boosted through the acquisition of a battery separator company in India with novel technology to meet the unique materials for battery performance in the region.

“It’s pretty much what you’d want a local company to do. Equally important is that we’ve established a physical presence that is enabling us to grow all of our businesses by having a local face to the market,” von Loesecke says.

In fact, global expansion is a top priority for H&V and the company has been working hard at capitalizing on recent investments in China and India. By being into those markets early in the stages of infrastructure development, it has managed to establish strong footholds in markets that need its products. It has invested heavily in both human capital as well as plant and equipment to strengthen its local service capability.

“Innovation, custom focus and global reach will continue to drive H&V’s growth in the future as the company invests heavily in new technology to improve filter media performance,” von Loesecke says.  “Since we don’t make filters, we prefer to work collaboratively with our customers to help them develop great products with our media. Designing and producing media is a totally different endeavor than making filters. “

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunch, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Demand for synthetic and composite filter media as well as HEPA media for cleanroom applications helped drive Hollingsworth & Vose’s sales in 2016 to more than $350 million in 2016. And, growth is expected to continue thanks to investments in key technologies like NanoWave and Technostat, new product development and investment into new geographies.

During the second half of 2015, H&V expanded production capacity for Nanowave with a new line in Hatzfeld, Germany.  “NanoWave delivers maximum mechanical efficiency with a step change in low airflow resistance, while more than doubling dust-holding capacity compared to standard, flat sheet synthetic media.  This translates into significant energy savings and longer filter life in HVAC applications,” says Mike Clark, division president of Hollingsworth & Vose’s  high efficiency filtration business.

Meanwhile, capacity for Technostat, an electrostatically charged air filter media with high efficiency, and dust-holding capacity, and the lowest airflow resistance in the industry compared to other media with the same efficiency, was added in Floyd, VA. The product is in high demand where low air resistance without a compromise in efficiency and dust holding is required such as in respiratory protection, cabin air filtration, HVAC and appliance filters.

And demand will continue to rise thanks to an expansion of the Technostat platform into industrial face mask, cabin air, and appliance applications. In these markets, the materials can offer a 20% reduction in thickness at the same efficiency.

Investments, like the ones in Germany and Virginia, have helped H&V maintain its leadership position in filtration and create a local presence in key regional markets to support its customers, a goal that is fundamental to its leadership strategy. “We offer premium, high performance products with a lower cost of use to end users,” says CTO John Fitzgerald. “This translates into quantifiable value such as a longer life, reduced energy use and the same or better performance packed into a smaller physical form factor.”

H&V achieves this by working closely with customers to develop products that address their own market strategies.  The company offers advanced technology platforms and uses them to tailor products to meet unique customer needs.

Recent developments inlcude a new fuel filtration media using synthetic fiber that uses the same particle removal efficiency as a glass-based media and AlphaPerm, a high performance meltblown that offers lower resistance with the same efficiency for room air cleaners.

“We put our sales, manufacturing, customer service and technical resources in close proximity to our customers and engage with them in a manner that makes us a highly trusted partner,” Fitzgerald adds.

H&V uses a variety of media technologies to solve real world issues with air and liquid cleanliness and energy use. The company’s solutions have multiple synergies. “For example, energy is required to move air and liquids through HVAC filtration systems, room air cleaners and fluid hydraulic systems. In designing media we consider not only the requirements for filter life and particle removal efficiency, but also the resistance required to move air or fluid through a filter to reduce energy consumption. Fuel filtration media plays an important role in removing harmful particulates in fuel delivery systems and simultaneously helps lower engine emissions.”

Global expansion is also a part of H&V’s growth strategy. In late 2014, the company acquired Mysore-based Raman FibreScicne (RFS), a technology and innovation-driven company specializing in advanced materials for filtration media and battery separator applications.

More than two years later, the operation continues to manufacture the Hi-Sep battery separator product for the flooded battery market.  The unique characteristics of this product, especially for batteries in tropical climates, have been demonstrated in industrial and automotive applications.  David von Loesecke, H&V’s vice president for business development, adds: “Our Mysuru operation is being positioned to support H&V’s full line of business in the battery and filtration markets. We are adding local resources to support these markets and plan additions to our manufacturing capability.”

According to Engine and Industrial Filtration Division president Josh Ayer, “H&V is bullish about China, India, Southeast Asia and South America. These regions are in various stages of significant infrastructure improvement, all of which favors high growth rates.  Requirements in these markets are often distinctly different than in North America and Europe. We are responding with products to fulfill unique requirements in these markets, particularly the protection of people, buildings, manufacturing processes, vehicles and heavy duty equipment from high levels of ambient air pollution like soot and dust.”

In its near three decade-long history, H&V has been no stranger to diversity. Starting out in the paper business, the company began making filtration media in the 1940s and has since moved into new market areas and geographies.

“H&V’s story is one of longevity,” says CEO Val Hollingsworth. “We think for the long term, adapt to changing markets and invest in new ones.  We’ve been particularly aggressive in our willingness to invest in new technology, develop patentable products and lead the market in the adaptation of new technology that we commercialize.

“Many of the nonwovens technologies used in the industry today were the result of H&V’s investments years ago. We’re in a good place right now. Public opinion and government regulations will require increasing attention to clean air, clean liquids and energy storage. We have a good story to tell with our vision of advanced materials for a cleaner world.”

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Mysuru, India; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunched, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles

Investment and acquisition were credited for the modest growth achieved by Hollingsworth & Vose. The Walpole, MA-based company acquired Raman FibreScience in Mysore, India, and started up new lines in Floyd, VA and Hatzfeld, Germany, activities that led to 3.9% growth to $347 million.

The new lines support successful market growth of H&V’s high performance media brands, NanoWave and Technostat, both of which address higher global standards for energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

NanoWave is an extended surface area, multilayer filtration media for HVAC applications. Using nano and coarse fiber layers, NanoWave delivers 2.4 times the surface area of normal flat sheet media. The waved nanofiber layer allows for maximum mechanical efficiency with very low resistance while more than doubling dust-holding capacity compared to standard synthetic media.

Technostat is an electrostatically charged air filer media which offers high efficiency and dust-holding capacity, low airflow resistance and effective shelf life and has been used in higher performance areas like respirators, vehicle cabins, HVAC systems and vacuum cleaners.

“Both products offer superior filtration performance and energy efficiency for improved air quality at less cost to the end user,” says Mike Clark, division president of H&V’s High Efficiency and Specialty Filtration business unit. “NanoWave is the highest performing pocket filter media in the market and the only synthetic material to achieve an A+ energy rating. Due to its leading performance, H&V’s Technostat is the electrostatic filter media of choice for applications such as HVAC, cabin air, respirators, vacuum cleaners and room air cleaners.”

H&V expanded production capacity for both in the second half of 2015.  Floyd, VA is the home for the new Technostat line and Hatzfeld, Germany is the home for the new NanoWave line.  Both investments provide the latest technology advances in the two brands such as Technostat Plus.

“On the liquid side, our high performance fuel filtration media  performs to the high standards of more sophisticated engine fuel injection systems, which is particularly important in developing regions where fuel quality is poor,” says Josh Ayers, president of Engine and Industrial Filtration. “Increased awareness in both developed and developing economies about the health hazards of poor quality air is driving government legislation to reduce engine emissions and increase fuel efficiency.”

For H&V, all developing markets are of interest, whether they are served with local manufacturing capability or imports.  The company’s intent is to create an active presence to ensure global customers are equally well served at all their locations and that local customers in these regions have good access to H&V resources.

In India, H&V acquired Mysore-based Raman FibreScience (RFS), in late 2014. Raman FibreScience is a technology and innovation-driven company specializing in advanced materials for filtration media and battery separator applications. At the time of the acquisition, which began contributing to sales growth last year, executives said the acquisition would improve its local operating presence in India, a market in which H&V had already been active with imported products.

In other investment news, H&V’s new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery separator line in East Walpole is under construction and will begin commercial production in 2017 with capacity to serve the industry for many years to come. Sales in this segment continue to grow thanks to the development of products that address the need for increased battery performance. Mitch Bregman, division president of H&V’s battery business unit comments, “This industry is capital intensive. With the long lead times for equipment installation and customer qualification it is important that we stay ahead of industry demand.”

Executives say that investment is the backbone of innovation and the means to address the increasingly more sophisticated demands of the filtration market. Thanks to H&V’s unique portfolio of technology platforms and recent innovations like NanoWave and Technostat Plus, the company is well-positioned to provide nonwovens solutions for the toughest challenges in the filtration and battery industries.

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunched, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles
Brands: AFM, AFN, AlphaPerm, AlphaSeal, Capaceon, Cycleguard, DynaSeal, EnergyGuard, EnergyGuard Plus, Fastock, HiPerm, HiPerm Plus, H2oudini, Hovomat, Hovotex, Magnaseal, NanoWave, Nanoweb, PerForm, PurePerm, Stitchbackers, Technostat, Technostat Plus, Unisorb, ValPac, ViaMat, WallTek Major Markets Engine and industrial filtration; high efficiency and specialty filtration; energy and industrial specialties

In 2014 Hollingsworth & Vose’s nonwovens sales increased 4.7% to $335 million.  Continued growth is expected thanks to innovative air filter products like NanoWave synthetic media and Technostat electrostatic media. The East Walpole, MA, USA based company has recently announced several capacity expansions and acquisitions to help propel growth in the future.

Mike Clark, president of the High Efficiency and Specialty Filtration (HESF) business division, comments that bringing higher performing products and new technologies to market while managing cost escalation of raw materials and energy, are some of the key challenges his company faces in the HESF markets.  “The market wants filter media that provides both Improved Air Quality (IAQ) and lower energy costs,” he says.

Technostat media has helped H&V meet these needs. With the lowest pressure drop of any filter media available this has become a trusted solution for meeting the market requirements for increased air quality and decreased energy costs. Meanwhile NanoWave is the highest performing pocket filter media available and the only synthetic product that achieves an A+ energy rating while meeting the EN779:2012 standard emphasizing mechanical filtration. Both of these technologies are in expansion mode at H&V which has announced plans to add a Technostat line in Floyd, VA and NanoWave capacity in Hatzfeld, Germany.  Both should be complete during the third quarter.

H&V also serves the engine and industrial filtration markets where Josh Ayer, division president comments, “In transportation filtration there is a trend toward standards requiring lower emissions, higher fuel efficiency, and less energy use.”

Beyond filtration, H&V also continues to invest in the energy storage segment. Its new AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery separator line, greatly increasing H&V’s global capacity, is under construction at the East Walpole, MA mill and will be operating in 2016.

Mitch Bregman, division president for Energy and Industrial Systems (EIS) added, “In the battery market, the biggest challenges are long product development and approval cycles and the requirement to strictly adhere to tough quality standards.”

Also boosting this business is the acquisition of Raman FibreScience in India late last year. This addition is helping H&V expand its global footprint into a developing economy with long-term growth potential for filtration media and battery separators.

Within our core filtration and battery separator markets, it is innovation and global reach that will help H&V continue on its growth path. Concludes Val Hollingsworth, H&V’s CEO, “We intend to keep working on technology platforms that can be optimized for local markets through local applications expertise and local service. We continue to make significant investments in R&D and equipment to meet the increasing performance standards of our markets.”

Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunched, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles
Brands: AFM, AFN, AlphaPerm, AlphaSeal, Capaceon, Cycleguard, DynaSeal, EnergyGuard, EnergyGuard Plus, Fastock, HiPerm, HiPerm Plus, H2oudini, Hovomat, Hovotex, Magnaseal, NanoWave, Nanoweb, PerForm, PurePerm, Stitchbackers, Technostat, Technostat Plus, Unisorb, ValPac, ViaMat, WallTek
Major Markets: Engine and industrial filtration; high efficiency and specialty filtration; energy and industrial specialties

Demand for new filtration products plus strong cleanroom and battery separator sales helped drive sales up for Hollingsworth & Vose. The Walpole, MA-based manufacturer of nonwovens for filtration and other technical end uses reported sales at $322 million with success being achieved in all of the company’s major businesses—High Efficiency and Specialty Filtration; Energy and Industrial Specialties and Engine and Industrial Filtration.

Demand has increased across all segments but especially so in the HVAC, life sciences, and fuel/water areas,” says Mike Clark, president, high efficiency and specialty filtration. “Increasingly stringent indoor air quality standards continue to drive demand for higher particulate efficiency media in HVAC.”

Clark credits two new filtration prdoucts—NanoWave and Technostat—as major contributors to his company’s growth in recent years. “On the product development front, H&V has prioritized development of products that improve both air quality and energy efficiency and reduce emissions,” says a company source.

NanoWave is an extended surface area, multilayer filtration media for HVAC applications. Using nano and coarse fiber layers NanoWave delivers 2.4 times the surface area of normal flat sheet media. The waved nanofiber layer allows for maximum mechanical efficiency with very low resistance while more than doubling dust-holding capacity compared to standard synthetic media.

“This patented technology is increasingly preferred for HVAC in hospitals, airports, automotive and pharmaceutical production facilities as well as in large retail stores. Product performance is widely recognized and lifecycle cost of HVAC systems employing NanoWave is superior to competitive media,” says Jochem Hofstetter, vice president and managing director, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In October 2013, H&V announced plans to add NanoWave production capacity to its plant in Hatzfeld, Germany to support rapid growth in demand for the high performance filter media. The investment, which will offer performance attributes for the technology as well as increased capacity, should be complete in mid-2015.

“European NanoWave demand has been particularly strong due to increasing preference for media with high mechanical filtration performance, particularly in applications such as HVAC where electrostatic-based media performance can degrade due to ambient air conditions,” Hofstetter claims.

Another new product contributing to growth for H&V is Technostat, an electrostatically charged air filer media which offers high efficiency and dust-holding capacity, low airflow resistance and effective shelf life and has been used in higher performance areas like respirators, vehicle cabins, HVAC systems and vacuum cleaners.

In November 2013, H&V said it would add production of the material to its Floyd, VA site. This effort will support the successful launch of Technostate Plus, the latest extension to the Technostat brand, as well as the ongoing demand for Technostat. It is expected to begin by the end of the year.

Hofstetter says that new products, like NanoWave and Technostat respond to global growth in filtration products

“The global filtration market is expanding as the public becomes more aware of the health issues associated with air pollution and water quality.  Government regulations all over the world are mandating air cleanliness standards and lower carbon-based emissions at the source,” says John Zhang, vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific.

For example, developing economies in Asia are adopting the strict European air quality standards, EURO 4 and EURO 5, for automotive exhaust emissions.

In addition to investments in Hatzfeld, Germany and Floyd, VA, H&V has a new engine filter media production line in Suzhou, China, which is helping drive growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Sales in China were on track in 2013 despite a slowdown in the construction, mining and other off-road markets earlier in the year.  Josh Ayer, president of the EIF Division, says,  “We see significant growth in China.  With our new production line in Suzhou, China we can offer additional capacity to serve the growing markets of gas turbine, and diesel fuel.”

Beyond China, H&V global expansion priorities include India and Brazil. H&V is supplying customers in Brazil from manufacturing sites in North America and Europe. Segments of these markets are served through Reipel, an authorized distributor.

“H&V serves its customers with a strategy combining manufacturing and product innovation in key regional markets, using its proprietary process technologies and regional product development capability to serve customers with both global and local requirements,” Ayer says.

strong>Plants: Apizaco, Mexico; Corvallis, OR; East Walpole, MA; Easton, NY; Floyd, VA; Greenwich, NY; Hatzfeld, Germany; Hawkinsville, GA; Kentmere, U.K.; Suzhou, China; West Groton, MA; Winchcombe, U.K.
ISO Status: Apizaco, Mexico, ISO-9001:2008; Corvallis, OR, ISO 9001:2008; East Walpole, MA, ISO 9001:2008; Easton, NY, ISO 9001:2008; Floyd, VA, ISO 9001:2008; Greenwich, NY, ISO 9001:2008; Hatzfeld, Germany, ISO 9001:2008; Hawkinsville, GA, ISO 9001:2008 and AS 9100C; Kentmere, U.K., ISO 9001:2008; Suzhou, China, ISO 9001:2008; West Groton, MA, ISO9001:2008; Winchcombe, U.K., ISO 9001:2008
Processes: Wetlaid, meltblown, carded thermal bonded (point and flat calendered), latex bonded, through-air bonded, needlepunched, thermal lamination, aqueous and solvent-based saturation, nanofiber-webs, composites, webs incorporating functional particles
Brands: AFM, AFN, AQF, AlphaPerm, AlphaSeal, Capaceon, Cycleguard, DynaSeal, EnergyGuard, EnergyGuard Plus, Fastock, HiPerm, HiPerm Plus, H2oudini, Hovomat, Hovotex, Inviscint, Magnaseal, NanoWave, Nanoweb, PerForm, PurePerm, Stitchbackers, Technostat, Technostat Plus, Unisorb, ValPac, ViaMat, WallTek
Major Markets: Engine and industrial filtration; high efficiency and specialty filtration; energy and industrial specialties

Established in 1843, Hollingsworth & Vose (H&V) is a family-run company and a global leader in the supply of advanced materials for filtration, battery separators and industrial applications. The company operates manufacturing sites and research centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

H&V’s nonwoven revenues were $305 million in 2012, up slightly from $300 million the year before. Revenues were impacted positively by the company’s ongoing slate of new products, solid performance of HVAC, power generation and certain liquid filtration market segments and offset by challenging clean room and commercial truck segments.

China continues to be an important market for H&V. Despite the current slowdown, H&V has plans for continued growth.

“The poor air quality in China is driving new HVAC filter standards aimed at improving IAQ by reducing the PM2.5 impact on humans,” says John Zhang, president and managing director, Asia-Pacific. “H&V has actively worked with the China National Standard Committee and has been a key member for the publication of the new standard following the EN779:2012.”

H&V’s recent investment in an engine filter media production line in Suzhou demonstrates its commitment to the China market.

Moving forward, Zhang says the Asia Pacifi c region will continue to be a major part of H&V’s global business. “Many of our global customers have established their operations in Asia and it is important that we follow the same movement with our presence in the region,” he says. “Our Suzhou facility has played a critical role in realizing our strategy. We have been able to significantly grow our sales in the region in the last five years. Now we have sales offices and trading companies across Asia, which enable us to serve our customers better in both on-time delivery and product development for local demand.”

The engine and industrial markets expect generalized growth in the second half of 2013, according to Josh Ayer, president, Engine and Industrial Filtration. “Economists suggest that relative market weakness experienced in the first half of 2013 may continue in Europe and China through the end of the year,” he says. “Specific weaknesses in mining and commercial trucks have largely been offset by continued growth in power generation.”

H&V says the largest market drivers continue to be energy conservation, new emission regulations, health concerns and an increasing global need for more power.

H&V continues to invest in three areas: new production capacity to support global customers; new product development including increased testing capabilities; and improved product stewardship including environmental, energy, and safety standards.

“Demand for high efficiency and specialty filtration products in 2012 was lower than expected due to a slowdown in the Asia Pacific clean room market,” says Mike Clark, president, High Efficiency and Specialty Filtration. “Growth in our other core segments such as HVAC, facemask, liquid and specialty filtration were in line with our expectations.”

H&V’s Advanced Fiber Nonwovens (AFN) segment focuses primarily on FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) and high performance composite materials. “We are focused on producing wetlaid nonwoven structures using fibers such as carbon, aramid/para-aramid, glass, ceramic, nickel coated carbon, and other exotic fibers,” says Jim Vogt, marketing director, nonwovens. “Our concentration continues to target aerospace—military and civilian—and FRP applications for consumer products such as sports equipment and cell phones.”

On the new product front, H&V recently launched the NanoWave product line, which was selected as the winner of the Roll Goods IDEA13 Achievement Award, making it the most innovative and successful new product in the nonwovens and engineered fabrics industry launched during the past three years in the roll goods category.

NanoWave is an extended surface area, multi-layer filtration media for HVAC applications. Using nano and coarse fiber layers, NanoWave delivers 2.4 times the surface area of normal flat sheet media. The waved nanofiber layer allows for maximum mechanical efficiency with very low resistance, while more than doubling dust-holding capacity compared to standard synthetic media. A green product, NanoWave is composed of one polymer and can be incinerated to regain energy. NanoWave pocket filters achieve the highest filtration performance and deliver superior air quality. Other uses for NanoWave include residential filtration, liquid filtration and gas turbine intake air filtration.

“NanoWave has received great support from our customers and the broader nonwovens industry as the winner of the IDEA13 Achievement Award for Roll Goods,” says Clark. “We are planning to add NanoWave capacity in Europe to support the increasing market demand for this innovative product line.”

H&V also continues to expand the deployment of another new product line, the fi e fiber Nanoweb technology in both air and liquid applications.

In support of energy reduction, H&V’s Technostat and its newest hydraulic products feature some of the industry’s lowest pressure drops, which save customers energy and operating costs.

The company also continues to enable the newest fuel systems with a new line of more than 99% efficient fuel products and its Capaceon products help customers make smaller filters that meet the needs of the newest vehicles.

Coming down the product pipeline in 2013 H&V plans to launch several new high performance HVAC product lines.