WFI 2024 addresses challenges and celebrates excellence

The World Filtration Institute’s (WFI) Annual Virtual Conference on 3–4 December 2024, brought together global industry leaders, experts, and innovators to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in filtration and separation.

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With a record-breaking 500 registrants from 27 countries and the highest-ever number of Product of the Year (POY) Award nominations, WFI 2024 provided cutting-edge insights, highlighted new developments, and uncovered some exciting opportunities.

The theme of WFI 2024, "Sustainable Filtration Solutions for a Cleaner and Healthier World," featured 22 topics across six advanced sessions:

  • Sustainable Filtration for a Healthier Indoor Environment
  • Filtration Advances for Emerging Technologies
  • Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Filtration
  • Circular Economy and Sustainable Water Solutions
  • Regulatory Trends and Standards Updates
  • Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Filtration Solutions

Product of the Year 

WFI 2024 also received a record-high number of nominations for the Product of the Year (POY) Awards, highlighting groundbreaking innovations driving the industry forward.

The following products were honored as the 2024 Products of the Year:

Filter Element: T60-Hydro Coalescing Pocket Filter by Freudenberg Filtration Technologies (Germany)

Filter Device: CC X-Series and AirImage 2.0 by Camfil AB (Sweden)

Filter Media: Synthetic HEPA/ULPA Media by NFT Purification Technologies (USA).

 

Emerging Technologies and Innovative Products

In addition to the Product of the Year Awards, WFI recognized advancements in Emerging Technologies and Innovative Products.

Emerging Technology Award: Active Membranes by Active Membranes Inc (USA)

Innovation Product Awards

NXTNano (USA) for nATUR biodegradable air filter media

Hengst (Germany) for its Blue.ion ionizing cabin air filter

Hollingsworth & Vose for PlusZero PFAS-free HEPA media (USA)

Freudenberg FT GmbH (Germany) for its  Chemwatch S Corrosivity Monitor

Ahlstrom (France) for its Dual-Layer Technology

Flory Technology (China) for its Ozone Monitor

MayAir (China) for its Green Visualization system

Freudenberg Apollo (China) for its Indoor Formaldehyde Adsorption process

RePure (USA) for its  RePure Connect Whole-House Air Purifier.

 

Celebrating Excellence: WFI 2024 Class Graduation

The conference concluded with the WFI 2024 Class Graduation Ceremony, where 38 students were honored as Certified Filtration and Separation Specialists (CFSS).

2024 Outstanding Graduate Awards recipients were:

Jeremy Cheong, Camfil (Singapore)

Matt Cox, Superior Felt & Filtration (USA)

Martina Andraghetti, Donaldson Europe BV (Belgium)

Mohamed Ali Haoufa, Siemens Digital Industries Software (Algeria)

Martina Andraghetti was further recognized with the Student of the Year Award for her exceptional dedication and excellence.

“WFI events have grown year-on-year, which demonstrates the increasing appetite and desire for more knowledge and solutions in the areas of filtration and separation,” said Richard Lydon, secretary-general of The Filtration Society and WFI 2024 Co-Chair. “As the world faces challenges with climate change, pollution, and the need for clean water and air, it is inspiring to witness the emergence of innovative technologies that will play a vital role in creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world.”

 WFI 2024 session speakers were:

Sustainable Filtration for a Healthier Indoor Environment

  • Dr Stephanie Taylor, Session Chair, CEO and Founder, Building4Health, USA
  • Dr Iyad Al-Attar, Strategic Director, World Filtration Institute, Canada
  • Dr John McKeon, MD, CEO of iAIR Group, USA
  • Dr Mark Cree Jackson, IEQ Subject Matter Expert, Daikin Comfort Technologies NA, USA

Filtration Advances for Emerging Technologies

  • Dr Bryan Haynes, Session Chair, Senior Technical Director, Kimberly-Clark, USA
  • Dr Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA
  • Dr Ingo Mählmann, Director of Sales and Marketing Nonwoven, Oerlikon Neumag, Germany
  • Dr Pierre-Yves Pontalier, Professor, Toulouse INP, France
  • Dr Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Executive Director and Distinguished Professor, NC State University, USA

Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Filtration

  • Mike Clark, Session Chair, President, Filtration Division, Hollingsworth & Vose, USA
  • Dr Cedric Vallet, Head of Business Development, Ahlstrom, France
  • Dr Qijun Zhang, Research Associate, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
  • Samia Moore, Global Market Manager, Hollingsworth & Vose, USA
  • Dr Vishal Bansal,  CTO and VP of R&D and Sustainability, Glatfelter, USA
  • Mike Malloy, Chair of POY Committee, Communications Director, WFI, USA

Circular Economy and Sustainable Water Solutions

  • Dr Thomas Peters, Senior Director, Dr Peters Consulting, Germany
  • Dr Whitney Gray, SVP Research, International WELL Building Institute, USA
  • Friedrich Edelmeier, VP, Haver & Boecker, Germany
  • Dr Paul Wiper, CTO, Molymem, UK

Regulatory Trends and Standards Updates

  • Dr Jenny Berens, Session Chair, Director of Filter Engineering, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, USA
  • Tobias Zimmer, VP, Camfil, Germany
  • Thomas Caesar, VP, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, Germany
  • Sreenath Kariveti, Global Segment Manager, Mann+Hummel Water and Fluid Solutions, Germany
  • Scott Yaeger, President, FAST, USA

Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Filtration Solutions

  • Dr Ellie Amirnasr, VP, Mann+Hummel, Germany
  • Dr Jatin Khanpara, Chief Technology Advisor, Research Products, USA
  • Dr Kim Chiho, CTO, Matmerize, USA
  • Dr Qisheng Ou, Senior Research Scientist, University of Minnesota, USA
  • Dr Florian Keller, Director of Engineering New Materials & Digitalization, Mann+Hummel, Germany