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Developments in the Filters Market Developments in automotive filters have in recent years been dominated by environmental considerations. Key developments include the creation of filters with the potential to optimise the air fuel mixture in order to improve fuel consumption and to reduce emissions. Similarly, filters have been developed where only the insert is changed. Additionally, environmental pressures have forced the development of rechargeable and recyclable filters, with some companies such as Filtrauto providing filters with a system function by combining heat exchange and filtration.
Every rule has an exception, of course, and in this case it is the cabin filter market: an increasing number of vehicles are being fitted with cabin filters as standard equipment, leading Mann & Hummel to forecast nearly exponential growth. Oil Filters New engines – particularly those from Vauxhall, Rover and several German manufacturers – have integrated housing oil filters with metal-free elements instead of spin-on filters. Furthermore, oil filters are becoming more durable: by 2000, the interval between oil filter changes is expected to average 20,000 miles. By 2005, however, the average may climb to 25,000 miles. These factors, Mann & Hummel believe, will lead to a general decline in oil-filter demand after 2006. Spin-on filters will also gradually decline in importance, while metal-free elements may experience growth. Tighter implementation of oil filter disposal regulations is also expected in the foreseeable future, particularly as it becomes more common to separate household wastes by material for recycling. This wall reinforce the industry trend towards recyclable metal-free elements, and may see the growth in retrofitting services to replace spin-on filters in older vehicles without integrated housing oil filters.
"While almost all used oil filters were simply discarded only a few years ago, we now recognise them as a valuable resource," said Brent Hazelett, executive director of the FMC and director of Environmental Affairs for the Motor & Equipment Manufactures Association Environmental Institute. "We have certainly come a long way, from nearly zero used oil filters recycled to over 100 million annually, but we still have a great challenge ahead". Steel scrap, including recycled oil filters, is a vital ingredient in the steelmaking process. According to the FMC, approximately 200,000 tons of steel would be recovered if all the filters sold annually in the United States were recycled. To increase the filter recycling rate, the FMC is attempting to raise consumer awareness. The FMC established a Used Filter Recycling Hotline to provide support information to business owners establishing filter recycling collection programs, specifically regulatory information, and a list of companies offering recycling services. Three brochures are also available from the FMC, published in cooperation with the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI). The partnership was developed to provide home mechanics and oil change businesses with information on used oil filters. The first brochure details steps for recycling oil filters for "do-it-yourself" mechanics, while the second provides tips for businesses to establish an oil filter collection and recycling program. The third brochure is entitled "How to choose a filter management service," and gives tips on how to choose a proper filter transporter, processor, or recycler for your business. Air Filters Environmental considerations also dominate developments in the air filter sector. Complex, efficiency-improving intake systems are now popular replacements to conventional air filters. Such filters are designed optimise air-fuel mixture, reduce fuel consumption, exhaust gas emissions, and engine noise.
As engines become more compact and under-bonnet space becomes increasingly crowded, geometrically irregular shapes are becoming more common for air filters. Like oil filters, air filters are becoming more durable: estimates by Mann + Hummel suggest that the change interval for air filters can be expected to average 40,000 miles by 2005. The company therefore expects demand for such filters to gradually decline after 2005. Nevertheless, Mann + Hummel expects its air filter volume to grow steadily from 16.7 in 1998 to 18.5m in 2002. This also represents an £11m increase in annual revenue. Fuel Filters Current trends in this area of the filter market are the inclusion of lifetime petrol filters on some new vehicles and the integration of petrol filters into fuel tanks. This, Mann & Hummel believe, will lead to some long-term decline in aftermarket demand which will, however, be offset by overall increases in demand as all fuel-injected cars require petrol filters. Cabin Filters Cabin filters are designed to catch particles contained in the outside air, including dust, spores, soot, and tire wear. They are increasingly being fitted as standard equipment in new cars. Mann & Hummel have projected the cabin filter market to grow tremendously. After selling 630,000 units in 1998, the forecast that this figure would more than double in 1999 to 1.3m. By 2002, the company believes, half the cars in the UK car parc will come with cabin filters as standard, and they hope to sell 5.9m units. Currently, about 20 percent of cars in UK are sold with standard cabin filters. Mahle’s LAK models, the new generation of their KNECHT range of cabin air filters, feature an additional activated-carbon shield to protect against unpleasant odours as well as gaseous and aerosol toxins. These new cabin filters can also render even high ozone values harmless. In March 1999, Dana Corporation’s Wix Filtaration Products group introduced a new combination cabin air filter that reduces odours from the air brought into the passenger compartment while removing pollen, dust, and other small particulates. The new filter can be adapted to automakers’ apecific requirements, such as high odour absorption, particle collection effiency, or very low airflow restriction. (10/99) |
Long-term
expectations in most parts of the filter sector appear mixed, even
contradictory. On one hand, companies are projecting growth for the
next five years. Simultaneously, however, they are concerned with
the increased durability of this consumable product which will see
overall demand gradually fall in the long term future. The German
filter manufacturer Mann & Hummel estimate that the 1998 UK aftermarket
automotive filter sector is worth £250m at retail selling prices.
Environmental
considerations have also brought about another development: a new
management industry focused on transporting and recycling used oil
filters. The Filter Manufacturers Council, which represents 25 manufacturers
of vehicular and industrial filtration products in North America,
has undertaken several environmental initiatives, including the most
comprehensive study of used oil filters to date, and continues to
encourage the recycling of used oil filters. 
For
example, Mahle’s range of filter systems – which are made
of recyclable synthetic material – suppress intake and noise.
Their metal-free filter cartridges boast dust separation rates of
up to 99.9%.