Expanded applications strengthen membrane technology market

Norwalk, CT — Advances in membrane designs and surfaces are making the technology more beneficial to a broader range of industries concerned with contamination control, according to new findings published by Business Communications Co. (Norwalk, CT).

The 1997 Membrane and Separations Technology Industry Review (RDMS97; $1,500) reports that membrane technology now extends from food and drug production to chemicals and wafer manufacturing, with increasing usage cited by the biotechnology, biomedical, industrial, pharmaceutical and municipal water, semiconductor, and electronics markets.

BCC projects the domestic market, which was valued at $1.1 billion in 1997, to reach $1.6 billion by 2001. Research indicates that the largest market segment for membranes is microfiltration. It was estimated at $386 million in 1997 and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.6 percent, reaching $500 million by 2001.

Other market segments projected to experience healthy increases are pervaporation, reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration, with values estimated at $71 million, $270 million and $284 million, respectively. Sales for membranes from gas applications are also expected to grow, rising from $99 million in 1997 to $135 million in the new millenium.

Data relating to markets and applications for membrane technology revealed that biotechnology, biomedical, hemodialysis and therapeutic sectors accounted for almost 40 percent of the $1.1 billion market in 1997. Biotechnology and biomedical applications are reported to be the fastest growing sectors, with an average annual growth rate of 13 percent, followed by industrial, pharmaceutical and municipal water sectors with a 9-percent AAGR. The semiconductor and electronics sector is expected to grow at an 8-percent AAGR. The hemadialysis and therapeutic sectors are projected to experience the slowest growth rate, only increasing at a 5-percent AAGR. — TGW