Membranes have had a tremendous impact on this industry. Pall is the world leader in cartridges and derives a significant portion of its revenue from membrane cartridges. Millipore has grown through its development of membrane cartridges. Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare are high growth segments. U.S. companies dominate the cartridge business.
Japanese companies are also major suppliers.
Government regulations are helping to boost cartridge sales. FDA scrutiny of viral clearance is expanding the pharmaceutical part of the market. Regulations dealing with bottled beverages and other food products are also a positive force. The biggest driver is the greater purity demanded by industry. Cuno supplies filters for paint systems which allow the paint particles to pass through but capture the unwanted agglomerates.