Over the next five years, there will be a 65 percent increase in air filtration product sales into the electronic fabrication industry, according to industry analyst firm The McIlvaine Co. For bioclean applications in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, McIlvaine is forecasting sales growth of approximately 38 percent over the same time period.

In its online report, “Air Filtration and Purification World Markets,” The McIlvaine Co. forecasts the world market for H10-U17 filters for HEPA and ULPA applications to reach $1.3 billion by 2012, compared to $930 million in 2007. The report cites Asia as the biggest growth market for HEPA and ULPA filters, with 2012 expected to reach $533 million or 42 percent of sales (in terms of dollars).

“By tracking trends in the electronics, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries we are able to forecast sales of HEPA and ULPA filtration products. Right now, we see Asia as the strongest growth market for electronics applications,” states McIlvaine Co. president Robert McIlvaine.

The McIlvaine “Air Filtration and Purification World Markets” forecasts allow subscribers to breakdown forecast data by product class, industry, country, continent, and world region.

2012 sales forecasts for HEPA and ULPA filters sales in the electronics industry for the “top 10” countries are (all US$) South Korea, $76.3 million; Taiwan, $76.3 million; Japan, $75.4 million; United States, $66.4 million; China, $25.7 million; United Kingdom, $17.0 million; Germany, $10.6 million; France, $7.1 million; Russia, $5.7 million; and Singapore, $5.5 million.