WFI 2025 Presentations

While urbanization drives economic prosperity, it comes with a high cost: intensifying air pollution that compromises public health and our quality of life. Traditional urban planning has largely neglected to incorporate effective natural and technological solutions, leaving cities vulnerable. This presentation offers a modern perspective for integrating filtration systems into sustainable urban design, turning our most polluted environments into thriving, resilient communities.

The presentation explores how cities can successfully embed filtration technologies into the very fabric of their urban landscapes. Drawing on real-world case studies, the presentation will demonstrate that the focus should extend beyond just cleaning the air to include protecting our shared environment, creating healthy economic opportunities, boosting biodiversity, and enhancing the well-being of residents. This lecture serves as a practical guide for a fundamental shift in urban development—a move from a legacy of pollution to a future of prosperity by placing ecological health at the core of our city planning, where filtration technologies can play a pivotal and responsible role.

From Pollution to Prosperity: Integrating Filtration into Sustainable Urban Design

Dr. Iyad Al-Attar

Strategic Director, WFI, CA
Visiting Academic Fellow
Cranfield Univ., UK

Odors in indoor environments are critical determinants of occupant well-being, influencing both psychological comfort and physiological health. While malodors can lead to discomfort, distraction, and reduced cognitive performance, certain airborne substances—such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur-containing gases, and other chemical emissions—may pose direct health risks, including mucosal irritation, headaches, and fatigue. Although odor perception is inherently subjective, its effects are consistently observed across enclosed spaces, impacting mood, stress levels, and overall satisfaction with the indoor environment.

A key challenge in odor management arises from the rapid olfactory adaptation of the human nose. Continuous exposure to an odor typically results in desensitization within minutes, diminishing the ability to detect potentially harmful or disruptive compounds. This sensory limitation can lead to prolonged exposure without awareness, emphasizing the importance of continuous air quality monitoring and control.

Furthermore, air filtration systems may alter the composition of indoor air in ways that affect odor perception. When specific gases are removed, the remaining compounds may interact to produce new, perceptible odors. This phenomenon complicates odor control strategies and may necessitate active odorization techniques. The deliberate introduction of controlled fragrances can help mask undesirable smells and enhance perceived air quality, provided that such interventions are carefully designed to avoid additional sensory or health burdens.

Understanding the complex interplay between odor sources, human perception, and air treatment technologies is essential for creating healthier, more comfortable indoor environments.

Odor Control and Fragrance enhancement in Residential Buildings and Occupied Spaces

Dr. Thomas Caesar

Vice President Global Filter Engineering
Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, DE

The global filter industry is at the intersection of powerful megatrends that are reshaping expectations for indoor environments. Climate change, sustainability, and neo-ecology are driving stricter regulations and a demand for energy-efficient solutions. At the same time, heightened health awareness—accelerated by recent global health crises—has positioned indoor air quality as a critical factor for well-being and productivity. Digitalization and smart technologies are enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, while urbanization and demographic shifts increase the complexity of building environments. Geopolitical dynamics further influence supply chains and material availability, adding pressure for resilient solutions.

Against this backdrop, the concept of Healthy Buildings is emerging as a key priority. Beyond filtration efficiency, stakeholders now expect systems that balance air quality, energy performance, and sustainability. This presentation analyzes the current situation, explores how these megatrends converge to create rising demands for advanced filtration technologies, and provides an outlook on how the industry can innovate to deliver healthier, more resilient, and sustainable indoor spaces.

Filter industry Megatrends and Rising Demands for Healthy Buildings

Dr. Marc Schmidt

Vice President
AAF International, DE

Nanofiber materials are redefining the possibilities of modern filtration. Driven by stricter regulatory standards, the need for enhanced health protection, and increasing demands for industrial efficiency, the global nanofiber filtration market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of more than 15% through 2030. This presentation highlights recent advancements in nanofiber technology, with a focus on innovative designs and production methods that make high-performance filtration solutions more widely accessible.

We will explore the broadening range of applications, from clean air and water purification to energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, emphasizing how nanofibers enable superior particle capture without sacrificing flow performance. Additionally, strategies for improving scalability and reducing energy consumption will be discussed, showcasing how nanofiber-based filters deliver not only efficiency and durability but also measurable sustainability benefits. By examining both current achievements and emerging directions, this session will illustrate how nanofiber technologies are helping industries meet tomorrow’s challenges today.

Outlook of Nanofiber Technologies for Filtration

Dr. Joan Gao

Founder & CEO
NFT Purification Technologies, US

The global demand for advanced filtration materials is accelerating, driven by stricter environmental regulations, rising protection standards, and the pursuit of sustainable solutions. Wetlaid technology has long been a cornerstone of high performance filtration media, valued for its versatility, precise fiber distribution, and ability to integrate a wide range of natural, synthetic, and specialty fibers.
Today, its capabilities are being redefined through innovations that emphasize high synthetic content designs, enabling superior durability, optimized pore structures, and enhanced filtration efficiency. In parallel, the evolution toward engineered multi-layer wetlaid constructions allow distinct layers to be tailored for specific functions—such as fine particulate capture, dust holding capacity, and mechanical strength—while maintaining high productivity. Further advances merge wetlaid with complementary nonwoven technologies, creating hybrid media platforms that deliver exceptional efficiency, durability, and service life.
By leveraging fiber composition, layering strategy, and multi-technology integration, next generation wetlaid nonwovens are meeting the most demanding requirements across transportation and industrial filtration markets. These innovations ensure wetlaid remains a foundational technology, shaping the future of filtration with solutions that balance performance and sustainability.

Next Generation Wetlaid Nonwovens: Shaping the Future of Filtration

Dr. Cedric Vallet

Head of Business Development
Ahlstrom, FR

The presentation outlines the modern Carbon Zero Strategy for the filtration industry, coupled with the advanced automation of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), and the development of sustainable filtration products, including:

Carbon Zero Strategy: A comprehensive approach addressing energy efficiency, renewable energy sourcing, sustainable supply chains, and low-carbon product design across all scopes of emissions.

Digital Transformation in Sustainability: Automation of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) calculations enables scalable, data-driven evaluation of environmental impact across a broad product portfolio.

Material Innovation: Introduction of recycled plastics, lignin-based filter media, and plant-derived polyols significantly reduces CO₂ emissions and fossil resource dependency—without compromising product performance or quality.

Impact Visualization: Case studies and dashboard tools demonstrate measurable CO₂ savings, crude oil reduction, and cost implications of sustainable alternatives.

Together, these initiatives position our program as a key enabler of sustainable mobility, air, and water solutions, helping customers and partners advance toward climate-neutral operations with transparent metrics and scalable, data-driven design.

Data, Design, Decarbonize: Transforming Filtration for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Mr. Martin Klein

Sr. Vice President, Engineering Filter Elements & Filtration Materials
MANN+HUMMEL, DE

Data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities worldwide, with demand accelerating rapidly as AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure scale. Global data center spending is projected to grow from $386 billion in 2025 to over $1 trillion by 2034 (Global Market Insights, 2024). This expansion is transforming the energy landscape: U.S. data centers consumed 4.4% of national electricity in 2023, and forecasts suggest they could account for 9-12% by 2030, ending a decade of flat electricity demand (U.S. DOE, 2023). At hyperscale, individual facilities can require more than 100 MW of continuous power, comparable to the annual electricity use of 350,000 - 400,000 electric vehicles (IEA, 2023).

Industry focus often centers on cooling strategies, renewable sourcing, and power management. Yet one critical factor remains underappreciated: air filtration media. While filters are typically viewed as low-cost consumables, they directly influence fan energy load, total facility emissions, and equipment reliability. Studies show that airflow resistance from filters can account for 2–5% of total data center electricity consumption, making filtration choices a significant lever for operational efficiency (ASHRAE, 2022).

This session will examine how filtration media, the performance driver in HVAC filters, impacts energy consumption, life cycle costs, ESG performance, and data center resilience. Attendees will learn why reframing filters as strategic assets, rather than commodities, can unlock measurable sustainability gains, reduce operating expenses, and safeguard uptime. By integrating optimized filtration strategies into facility design and operations, data centers can reduce energy intensity, improve environmental reporting, and strengthen long-term competitiveness in an increasingly resource-constrained world.

Data Center Filtration: The Hidden Lever for Lower Energy Costs

Mr. Bruce Lorange

Global Director
Corporate Marketing & Communications
H&V, US

Increasing the efficiency of filters is a proven way to improve indoor air quality. The problem is that sometimes the building and its associated mechanical systems may not be able to support the filter due to inadequate airflow and other considerations. Also, this may cause an increase in energy usage and cost.

There are many electronic air cleaning technologies available that can enhance filter performance and also possess other contaminant removal capabilities. This presentation will explore these electronic technologies and also present a recent peer review study which shows the results in improved filter performance and improved overall air quality when combining electronic technology with media filtration.

Also discussed will be ASHRAE standard 241 and the development of “equivalent clean air per person” as consideration to delivering healthy air to space occupants.

Plugging into Efficiency – Can Electronic Technologies Improve Filter Efficiency?

Mr. Tony Abate

VP and CTO
AtmosAir, US

The next evolution in gas-phase filtration is being driven by smarter, data-driven technologies. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors are emerging as a powerful tool to provide real-time insight into gas concentrations, media performance, and system reliability. These miniature sensors combine mechanical and electronic components to detect gases with precision and speed, offering capabilities previously impossible in traditional filtration systems.

By integrating sensors into modular units, commercial markets can benefit from improved performance monitoring and intelligence, particularly in environments where maintaining clean air is critical for people, processes, and equipment.

This presentation will explore how MEMS sensors are transforming gas-phase filtration, highlight practical applications, and examine emerging opportunities for the technology. Attendees will gain insight into how sensor-driven filtration can improve reliability, efficiency, and safety across a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.

Filtration Intelligence: MEMS Sensors in Modular Air Systems

Ms. Ashley Jameson

President
PureAir Filtration, US

The first practical synthetic semi-permeable membranes were developed in the 1950’s from cellulose acetate. A major leap occurred in the 1970s with the invention of Thin-Film Composite (TFC) membranes, which offered superior performance, durability, and energy efficiency, becoming the industry standard.
Today RO membranes are formulated from ceramic materials, use electricity to reduce scaling, and are being biomimicry developed using aquaporins. System flux, recovery rate and salt rejection are increasing and operating pressure, scaling, fouling and cost of production are decreasing.

Low pressure membranes such as microfiltration and ultrafiltration were developed in the 1920’s and became commercially available in the 1960’s. The introduction of crossflow filtration during the 1970s provided an alternative to the "dead-end" or "in-line" process and allowed for greater efficiency in large-scale operations. Initially used in the industrial and medical sectors they are now widely used for water and wastewater treatment.

Advances in membrane technology enabled operators to develop systems that can cost-effectively recycle water in industrial and municipal applications. New system designs encourage circularity not only by reusing water but also by permitting the recovery of materials such as nutrients and metals from waste streams and upcycling this material. New filtration technology will continue this trend and make sewer mining the norm.

This presentation will review the evolution of membrane development and some of the new technologies that are being developed today.

Membrane Filtration Evolution - From Formulation to Application to Form-Factor

Mr. Paul Gagliardo

Founder and Host
The Water Entrepreneur, US

Beginning with the proposal of a “mission statement” for the filtration & separation community – that the essential treatment and purification of water requires more, better, and smarter technical solutions – and a methodology to identify such solutions, a filtration-oriented technological triangle is introduced.

Following this, the procedure of the commonly applied linear economy is compared with the requirements of a circular economy, and potential solutions for water management are outlined.

As a practical example, the development of a reusable, back-washable metal wire mesh filter system is presented, offering an alternative to conventional disposable filter cartridges. Possible future applications include integration into promising submarine reverse osmosis desalination technology. Another forward-looking approach in filtration is a bifunctional system that combines “separation” with the “destruction/elimination” of contaminants – here, microorganisms – using a nanofiber-based filter.

These examples highlight how innovative filtration technologies can support sustainable water management today and contribute to a circular economy, shaping smarter, more resilient solutions for the future.

Selected Aspects of Circular Economy and Filtration

Dr. Thomas Peters

Sr. Director
Dr.-Ing. Peters Consulting, DE

Environmental product declarations (EPD) provide reliable, third-party verified data about the carbon footprint of a product over its whole lifecycle. Also EPD for air filters for building ventilation are increasingly requested by the market, especially in Europe. In Europe, those EPD for air filters are based on EN15804 (core product category rules for EPD for building materials). As there are currently no specific product category rules defined for air filters, EPD for air filters are often not fully comparable and may therefore confuse the users and lead to wrong conclusions.

To overcome this issue and provide a leveled playing field, CEN TC 195 formed a new working group to create complementary product category rules (c-PCR) for EPD for air filters, complementary to EN 15804. Those c-PCR will take into account the energy consumption needed to operate an air filter as well as the health benefits provided by it. This will allow a fair evaluation of air filter products and drive innovation towards more sustainable air filtration solutions.

New EN Standard and Its Impact on Development of More Sustainable Filtration Solutions

Mr. Tobias Zimmer

Sr. Vice President
Camfil AB, SE

The evolution of U.S. tariff policy has emerged as a powerful force redefining the structure and dynamics of the global economic ecosystem. By imposing duties on imports from strategic partners and rivals alike, policymakers have spurred a wave of adjustments across international supply chains, manufacturing networks, and investment flows. Industries that once relied on predictable trade regimes are now compelled to diversify sourcing, reevaluate market entry strategies, and respond to shifting consumer costs.

This presentation will examine not only the economic consequences but also the political and diplomatic dimensions of these actions. We will explore how tariff policies intersect with domestic politics, influence bargaining power in trade negotiations, and alter longstanding alliances. Particular attention will be given to the evolving geopolitical relationships between the U.S., China, and the European Union. Finally, we will consider possible outcomes following a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision that could further reshape the rules governing global trade.

How Tariffs and Trade are Reshaping the Global Economic Ecosystem

Mr. James Manser

Vice President
Global Government Relations
Johnson Controls, US

What was once the domain of trade lawyers and procurement officers is now a boardroom concern. U.S. trade and tariff policy is evolving into a complex mixture of economic competition, national security, and forced labor concerns, not to mention the unpredictability of the second Trump administration. When President Trump announced plans to implement reciprocal tariff rates on dozens of countries with a 10% minimum baseline in early April, nearly every industry had questions and concerns around the long-term impacts of these tariffs while the courts have grappled with whether the President has the authority to implement such tariffs under emergency powers laws, as well as which courts have jurisdiction over the matter. Since then, tariff rates on certain countries have changed often, sometimes dramatically, and several categories of goods have been targeted for goods-specific duties. The implication of all this activity on U.S.-based manufacturers and importers has been profound.

As U.S. trade policy faces renewed uncertainty, global industries must adapt to a transformative shift in tariff and trade dynamics under the second Trump administration and beyond. INDA Government Affairs Director Wes Fisher will explore the outlook for U.S. trade policy with a focus on unilateral tariff actions, including Section 301 tariffs, IEEPA-based measures, supply chain reshoring, and the future of international trade agreements—all of which carry significant implications for raw materials, equipment imports, and global competitiveness in the filtration industry.

Tariffs and Trade in the Trump 2.0 Era: Implications for Global Filtration Supply Chains

Mr. Wes Fisher

Director, Government Affairs
INDA, US

Over the past five years, the commercial vehicle industry and the broader filtration sector have experienced a level of change unlike any seen in the previous quarter-century. Emissions regulations, once predictable and steady, are now shifting rapidly, creating uncertainty around compliance as standards are revised, delayed, or accelerated with little warning.

Emerging contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics, previously little-known, have become widely recognized and are now subject to growing regulatory oversight. Tariff policies continue to fluctuate, challenging established sourcing and manufacturing strategies. Meanwhile, workforce dynamics have evolved, with organizations navigating new expectations around remote and in-person work.

This presentation examines how these compounding changes are reshaping the filtration industry, driving new approaches to engineering, product development, and compliance.

Engineering & Technology in the Filtration Industry for a Dynamic Global Landscape

Mr. Greg Hoverson

Vice President & CTO
Atmus, US

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has emerged as a critical concern for consumers, especially post COVID, and is now enhanced with wildfires in the US and Canada. This shift has catalyzed demand for smart, personalized IAQ solutions that not only monitor but actively manage air quality in homes and shared spaces. Drawing from consumer research and market insights, the Air Quality Intelligent system incorporates a network of sensors to monitor key pollutants—such as PM2.5, VOCs, CO₂, humidity, etc. and uses machine learning algorithms to optimize IAQ equipment performance. The IAQ intelligent system is built upon the architecture that provides dynamic adjustment of air quality parameters until a desired Air Quality Index (AQI) is achieved.

Additionally, consumer preferences emphasize simplicity, transparency, and actionable insights. Consumers also value proactive guidance—such as alerts for high VOC levels or recommendations to mitigate pollutant situation. The system’s intelligence may further enhanced by its ability to learn from user behavior, environmental conditions, and historical data, enabling predictive maintenance and energy-efficient operation.

Leveraging sensors, machine learning, and proactive guidance of pollutants, the Healthy Air Intelligent system provides the consumer the tools that will deliver healthy air to their homes.

Consumer Centered Indoor Air Quality Intelligent system

Dr. Jatin Khanpara

Sr. Vice President
AprilAire. US

The next frontier in smart filtration extends beyond reducing or removing airborne pollutants; it lies in quantifying their impact on human health with scientific rigour. While traditional performance testing provides valuable benchmarks, it often falls short of capturing the dynamic and biologically complex environments in which filtration systems operate. Bridging this gap requires innovative approaches that integrate aerobiology, advanced sensor technologies, and artificial intelligence.

This presentation explores how chamber-based studies of allergens, pathogens, and pollutants can be combined with real-time indoor air quality sensor data to generate dynamic, high-resolution datasets. Leveraging machine learning and predictive modelling, filtration research can move beyond static capture efficiency to deliver actionable insights into health outcomes, consumer exposure, and system performance in real-world conditions.

The convergence of aerobiology and AI-driven analytics offers manufacturers and researchers a pathway to accelerate regulatory acceptance, substantiate health-related claims, and build greater trust with end users. By linking biological impact with intelligent data, filtration can evolve from a passive barrier into an active, predictive system that safeguards health and drives innovation across the industry.

From Petri Dish to Prediction: AI-Driven Aerobiology for Smarter Filtration

Dr. John Ryan

CEO
iAIR Labs, IE

The design and optimization of filters and filter media have traditionally relied on extensive prototyping and empirical testing. These approaches are both time-consuming and resource intensive. Still, digital modeling and simulation present an efficient alternative, enabling faster innovation, cost reduction, and deeper understanding of microstructure–performance relationships.

This presentation shows how advanced digital tools support a full digital workflow for filter development, starting from virtual 3D modeling of media microstructures to complete filter assembly simulations. Key properties such as pore size distribution, permeability, and pressure drop can be predicted, while particle transport, deposition, and clogging behavior can be analyzed and filter efficiency and filter lifetime can be quantified.

By virtually exploring key design parameters such as fiber diameter, porosity, pleat geometry, and housing effects, digital modeling streamlines development by reducing experimental iterations and accelerating product optimization. Insights from industrial case studies highlight the benefits of simulation in performance prediction, material selection, and lifetime assessment. Filtration R&D is shifting from empirical testing toward a largely digital, data-driven, simulation-based approach for the design of more efficient, durable, and sustainable filtration solutions.

Smarter Filtration Design through Digital Modeling and AI

Dr. Andreas Wiegmann

CEO
Math2Market GmbH, DE