Awards & Recognitions
AFS annually honors those who have made contributions to the AFS Society and the filtration and separation industry with the following awards.
*Please note that not all awards have a recipient each year.
Lifetime Achievement Award
For Exceptional Career and Valuable Contributions to the Filtration and/or Separations Industry
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the premier award given by AFS and was created to honor those who have had an exceptional career and have made valuable contributions to the filtration and/or separations industry.
Past Recipients:
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Dr. Wu Chen
2024
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Norm Lifshutz
2011
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George Chase
2010
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Ed Gregor
2009
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Tadeusz Jaroszczyk
2008
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Shiao-Hung Chiang
2007
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Wells Shoemaker
2004
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Warner H. Stahl
2004
AFS Legacy Award
For Enduring Impact Through Mentorship and Community Building
The AFS Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have fundamentally shaped the filtration and separations community through mentorship, knowledge transfer, and the development of future leaders. This award honors those whose influence extends beyond their own work—creating a lasting legacy reflected in the people they have trained, the culture they have fostered, and the continued advancement of the profession.
Past Recipients:
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Dr. George Chase
2026
Fellow Member Award
For Superior Contributions of Organization and Leadership
The Fellow Member Award was established in 1996 to honor individuals who have made superior contributions of organization and leadership to Society for many years. Fellows are entitled to a lifetime membership enjoying all the benefits of regular membership with waived annual dues. Fellows may attend AFS-sponsored conferences with a waiver of registration fees.
Past Recipients:
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Chris Wallace
2026
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Tom Ramsey
2023
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Wenping Li
2021
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Christine Sun
2019
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Ken Rubow
2017
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Mark Willingham
2016
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Kyung-Ju Choi
2012
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Peter Tsai
2011
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Wu Chen
2010
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George Chase
2009
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Wallace Leung
2008
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Norman Lifshutz
2007
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Tadeusz Jaroszczyk
2006
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Ed Gregor
2001
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Bernie Scheiner
2000
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Ernest Mayer
2000
Frank Tiller Award
For Leadership in Engineering and Education
Named in honor of Dr. Frank Tiller, the internationally acclaimed “Father of Modern Filtration Theory” and key founding member of the AFS, this award highlights scientific merit. The TILLER AWARD recognizes individuals for outstanding lifetime scientific and engineering achievements in the Technology of Fluid-Particle Separation.
Past Recipients:
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Rigoberto Advincula
2026
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Eunkyoung Shim
2025
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Tinoush Dinn
2024
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Peter Cartwright
2023
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Martin Lehmann
2021
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Wallace Leung
2015
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Wenping Li
2014
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Barry Verdegan
2013
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Christophe Peuchot
2011
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Gerhard Kasper
2010
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Ray Collins
2009
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Jerry Liu
2008
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K.J. Choi
2007
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Tadeusz Jaroszczyk
2006
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B.K. Parekh
2004
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George Chase
2003
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Wu Chen
2002
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Richard Hogg
2001
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Mopei Shirato
2000
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Ernest Mayer
1996
Wells Shoemaker Award
For Service and Leadership in Action
The Wells Shoemaker Award was established in 1989 and named after a key-founding member of the AFS society. He epitomizes the characteristics of leadership and service. This award recognizes individuals for a lifetime of outstanding leadership and exceptional service to the American Filtration & Separations Society, which have resulted in significant and demonstrable benefits to the Society’s members.
Past Recipients:
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James Walker
2026
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Saravanan Andan
2025
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Chris Wallace
2024
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Sneha Swaminathan
2023
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Rob Bender
2021
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Ray Collins
2014
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Jerry Lynch
2010
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Lew Osterhoudt
2009
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Don Olds
2008
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Scott Yaeger
2007
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Wallace Leung
2006
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Kenneth Rubow
2002
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Les White
2000
Professor George Chase Award
For Excellence in Academic Research
Named in honor of Professor George Chase for many contributions by himself and his students to AFS and to the filtration and separations profession. The Professor George Chase Award, established in 2021, was created to honor academic researchers and their students that make significant contributions to the filtration and separations profession. The AFS will bestow one award per year when a deserving candidate dui, professor and student, are available.
Past Recipients:
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Hooman Tafreshi
2026
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Sneha Swaminathan
2025
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Pratik Gotad
2024
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Mohammad Jamali
2023
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Ashish Gadhave
2021
Senior Scientist Award
For Significant Contributions to the Technology of Filtration and Separation
The Senior Scientist Award was established in 1999 to honor individuals in the middle of their careers who make a significant contribution to the Technology of Filtration and Separation.
Past Recipients:
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Jianyu “Jerry” Zhou
2026
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Kaiyi Liu
2025
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Ashish Bandekar
2024
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Lin Zhao
2023
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Rahul Bharadwaj
2019
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Swarna Agarwal
2018
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Shagufta Patel
2017
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Saru Dawar
2015
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Ruijun Chen
2013
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Christine Sun
2012
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Ted Yang
2011
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Wenping Li
2011
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Hooman Tafreshi
2010
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Dan Japuntich
2009
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Pedro Bastias
2008
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Ali Chamkha
2007
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Evan Koslow
2004
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Wallace Leung
2002
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George Chase
2001
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B.K. Parekh
2001
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K.J. Choi
2000
Young Scientist Award
For Important Contributions to the Technology of Filtration and Separation
The Young Scientist Award was established in 1999 to honor individuals at the beginning of their career who have made important contributions to the Technology of Filtration and Separation.
Past Recipients:
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Sreevalli Bokka
2026
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Jianyu "Jerry" Zhou
2025
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Harshal Gade
2024
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Ashish Gadhave
2023
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Lin Zhao
2021
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Ashish Bandekar
2019
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Dinesh Lolla
2018
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Sarfarez Patel
2017
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Goutham Viswanadam
2016
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Prashant Kulkarni
2015
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Sneha Swaminathan
2014
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Shagufta Patel
2013
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Mathias Stolarski
2012
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Michael Doby
2011
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Saru Dawar
2010
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Martin J. Lehmann
2007
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Benjamin Fuchs
2006
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Chandrashekar Venkataraman
2001
FILTCON Student Poster Competition
Each year, students are invited to participate in FILTCON by submitting a poster abstract for presentation in the Student Poster Competition.
The first-place winner receives a $3,000 scholarship and certificate, with additional scholarships of varying amounts awarded based on the competition results.
Past Recipients:
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2026
1st Place: Mattie Brock, University of Kentucky
2nd Place: Komal Yadav, University of Hawaii at Manoa
3rd Place: Mostafa Jafari Gildeh, North Carolina State University
Honorable Mentions: Catarina Bejarano, University of Hawaii at Manoa and Odianosen Ewah, University of Kentucky -
2025
1st Place: Moni Mahesh Ghosh, The University of Akron
2nd Place: Pranto Paul, University of Kentucky
3rd Place: Youngwoo Hwang, North Carolina State University and Cecilia Abella, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honorable Mentions: Mara Baughman-Leach, University of Kentucky, Sam Thompson, University of Kentucky, and Usman Yousef, University of Kentucky -
2024
1st Place: Isabella Kotsol, The University of Hawaii
2nd Place: Tong Zhang, East China University of Science and Technology
3rd Place: Rana Bachnak, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Honorable Mention: Genhui Jing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Guangyao Lin, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, and Michal Stor, Warsaw University of Technology -
2023
1st Place: Moni Mahesh Ghosh, University of Akron
3rd Place: Leyao Wu, University of Akron
Honorable Mention: Pratik Gotad, The University of Akron -
2021
1st Place: Rana Bachnak, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
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2020
3rd Place: Sina Yousefi, Virginia Commonwealth University
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2019
1st Place: Mohammad Jamali, Virginia Commonwealth University
2nd Place: Harshal Gade, University of Akron
3rd Place: Emrah Sozumert, Loughborough University and Sina Yousefi, Virginia Commonwealth University -
2017
1st Place: Joseph Lavoie, North Carolina State University
2nd Place: Emrah Sozumert, Loughborough University
3rd Place: Seungkoo Kang, University of Minnesota and Maryam Razavi, University of Waterloo -
2016
1st Place: Mana Amrei, Virginia Commonwealth University, Masoume Davoudi, University of Akron and Yalong Li, University of Akron
2nd Place: Peng Cheng, Auburn University and Ashish Bandekar, University of Akron
3rd Place: Seungkoo Kang, University of Minnesota, Stuti Rajgarhia, University of Akron, and Ahmed Saleh, Virginia Commonwealth University
New Product of the Year
New products, new ideas, new ways to look at old problems are key to the future. To encourage innovative and technological advances in filtration and separation the AFS Users Committee initiated an annual New Product of the Year and Engineering Merit award for the company making the most significant new product introduction in the previous year. Award winners are recognized at the FILTCON Awards Luncheon.
Any new technical product that was first marketed between January 1, and December 31 of the previous year may be entered. Products that will not be mass-produced must have become available for contract or licensing during that period.
Entries may be submitted by individuals or organizations one entry per product. There is no limit to the number of products that may be entered.
Past Recipients:
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Atmus Filtration Technologies - NanoNet® N3 Filter Media Technology
2026 New Product for 2025
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H&V - Nanowave ESA®
2025 New Product for 2024
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GKD-USA - Filter Concept Using VORTEX
2024 New Product for 2023
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MayAir - Constant-Efficient Intelligent HEPA Box and Return Air Inlet
2024 Engineering Merit Award of 2023
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Ahlstrom, Ahlstrom ECO
2023 New Product Award for 2022
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Spectubular Technologies - Precision Micro-Cut Filter Tubes
2023 Engineering Merit Award for 2022
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Parker Hannifin Corp, BHA® Wicked High Temp™ Pleated Filter
2023 Engineering Merit Award for 2022
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Porometer, Porolux™ 50
2021 New Product Award for 2020
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Dorstener Wire, RoSL 700 - Assonic DST
2021 Engineering Merit Award for 2020
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Filtration Technology Corp., Invicta®
2020 New Product Award for 2019
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Ahlstrom-MunksjÖ, Extia®1000
2018 New Product Award for 2017
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Croft Filters, Quick Release Filter
2018 Engineering Merit Award for 2017
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GKD, Porometric Woven Wire Mesh
2017 New Product Award for 2016
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Cummins, Fleetguard® Centrifuge Rotor, Part Number CS41018
2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016
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Parker Hannifin, Parker Zander OFAS Dryer
2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016
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Hollingsworth & Vose, FS6786, FS 6783, FS6781 High Efficiency Fuel Media
2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016
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BHS Sonthofen, BHS Concentrating Filtration System
2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016
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Delta Pure, Delta Pure Filtration FF Series
2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016
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Hollingsworth & Vose, FS6786, FS 6783, FS6781 High-Efficiency Fuel Media
2017 Engineering Merit Award for 2016
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AAF, ePTFE Technology
2015 New Product Award for 2014
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Parker Hannifin, Zander HDK-CNG Dryer
2015 Engineering Merit Award for 2014
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Parker Hannifin/Hiross Zander Division, Biogas Filtration and Cooling System
2014 New Product Award (Filtration System) for 2013
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GKD-USA,Inc., Volumetric Woven Wire Mesh
2014 New Product Award (Filtration Media) for 2013
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Parker Hannifin, HarvestClear Filtration System
2014 New Product Award (Biotechnology) for 2013
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Clarcor/Purolator, Poroplate® MaxPore™
2013 New Product Award (Liquid Filter Element) for 2012
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Cummins, Fleetguard NanoNet® Media
2013 New Product Award (Filter Media) for 2012
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Parker Hannifin, Anteras Tandem Technology ATT
2013 New Product Award (Filter System) for 2012
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WL Gore, Gore(R) V-Panel Filters
2013 New Product Award (Air Filter Elements) for 2012
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Parker Hannifin, Parker Zander GL Filter Series
2011 New Product Award for 2010
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WL Gore, Turbine Filters
2010 New Product Award for 2009
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Pall Corp, FlexBowl Pressure Vessel System
2010 Engineering Merit Award for 2009
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Porex/Filtration Division, Tubular Membrane Module
2008 New Product Award for 2007
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Donaldson Company, Torit WSO Mist Collector
2008 Engineering Merit Award for 2007
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Dana Corporation, Multiwister Crankcase Ventilation System
2007 New Product Award for 2006
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Cummins Filtration, Inc., Cummins Filtration Crankcase Ventilation System
2007 Engineering Merit Award for 2006
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KX Industries, LLC, Microbiological Barrier Filter
2004 New Product Award for 2003
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Donaldson Company, PowerCore™ Technology Power Intake Filter Kit
2004 Engineering Merit Award for 2003
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Pall Corporation, New Magnum high capacity filtration systems
2003 New Product Award for 2002
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Baker Hughes Corp., Bird Machine Company for its Ultradry Centrifuge
2003 New Product Award for 2002
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U.S. Filter, Haynes HR-160 New Alloy Filtration Media
2002 New Product Award for 2001