Advances in Filtration/Separation Media

The American Filtration & Separations Society held its 2004 Fall Topical Conference, November 14-16 th in Baltimore, MD. The topic of Advances in Filtration and Separation Media, struck a responsive cord as the Conference sold out.

The Conference Chairman, Scott Yaeger commented, "We had a diversified program and from the feedback I've received, the Conference has to be classified as one of the best events the Society has ever held."

Supporting Yaeger's comments were the facts; a sell out audience along with many of the industries leading technologists presenting innovations and advances in the art of filter and separation media to an audience of engineers and end-users interested in advanced solutions and know-how.

The Conference began with a comprehensive overview of past, present and future industry trends, along with fundamental characteristics, including company margins being defined as higher than the average S&P 500 company and world-wide industry acquisitions totaling $20 billion over the past 10 years.

The importances of value-added performance opportunities were explained along with examples of the risk/reward of changing media sources. Speakers representing 7 countries included Europe, Asia and the Australian continents sharing the program with a host domestic presenters and innovative media and test procedure advances. 25 papers ranged from nanofibers and RO and UF membranes to pre-coats, the latest in testing methods to a novel arsenic removal sponge media, sintered microporous metal and ceramic membranes and embedded fluoropolymer membranes into the cross-section of needlefelt fabrics and porous plastic filter media.

In addition to many of the recognized industry names, a surprise visitor joined the Conference. Wells Shoemaker, 84, who along with Dr. Frank Tiller, 87, formed the American Program Committee in 1973, leading to the formation of the AFS showed up demonstrating to everyone the filtration spirit never fades. This visit followed Shoemaker's travels to the AFS sponsored World Filtration Congress held in New Orleans, LA earlier this year where he received the AFS Lifetime Achievement Award. At the awards luncheon, Dr. Ernest Mayer, DuPont Company, was presented with a special award for his many years of dedicated service in support of local AFS chapters.

The AFS had its usual non-stop receptions, breakfasts, luncheons and cookie breaks where industry newcomers meet journeymen in addition to renewal of many old friendships. If anyone gained less than 5 pounds during the event, it would have been a miracle.

The Conference was specifically directed toward the new AFS strategy with focus on specifiers, buyers and users of filters and filtration and separation equipment. The audience was split relatively evenly four ways; end-users, filter and equipment producers, filter media suppliers and a varied collection of engineers and senior executives from a host of companies from buyers of filters to senior executives of leading filter industry products and equipment.

Proceedings from the 2004 AFS Fall Conference on the topic of Advances in Filtration & Separation Media can be obtained by contacting the AFS headquarters office at 612-861-1277 or by email at afs@afssociety.org

AIChE will be co-locating their 2005 Spring Conference with the AFS Annual Conference & Exposition in Atlanta, GA, April 10-14, 2005. The 2005 Fall Topical Conference, will be held in Ann Arbor, MI, September 19-22 on the topic of Diesel and Gas Emissions, a prelude to the new EPA Tier II requirements for particulate and NOx emissions mandated by law for 2007 in the United States and Europe beginning in 2008. For further information on these events or to present a paper see www.afssociety.org

The American Filtration & Separations Society is the principal educator of the filtration and separation industry and with largest Filtration Society in the world.

AFS Conferences and Events