The General Manager of EDANA, Murat Dogru, shared his reflections on the success of the 10th edition of FILTREX™. He highlighted the significance of the event and its impact on the industry:

“Hosting the 10th edition of FILTREX™ in Vienna was an honour, and I was truly encouraged by the level of expertise and engagement in the room. What stood out to me was the diversity of perspectives — from materials science and testing methodologies to regulatory foresight and sustainability strategies — all contributing to a shared ambition: driving meaningful innovation in filtration.

The structure of the programme built by the EDANA Filtration Committee and Marines Lagemaat, the EDANA Scientific and Technical Affairs Director, encouraged both deep technical dialogue and open exchange. Our intent was to create more than just a conference — we wanted to provide a space where standards are challenged, new ideas are tested, and cross-disciplinary thinking is encouraged. I believe we delivered on that.

FILTREX™ continues to demonstrate its value not only as a barometer for industry trends but as a catalyst for collaboration and long-term impact. EDANA is proud to support this momentum and to help steer the industry toward solutions that will benefit both our environment and our society in the decades to come.'"

Industry insights and key conversations

The FILTREX 2025 conference brought together experts from across the filtration industry to discuss innovation, sustainability, and regulatory challenges shaping the sector. The event opened with a keynote by Dr.-Ing. Frank Möbius, Senior Innovation Advisor at UnternehmerTUM and former BMW Group Manager, highlighting the role of Open Innovation in maintaining competitiveness in an evolving market.

Throughout the sessions, industry leaders addressed major trends influencing filtration. Dr. Marc Schmidt (AAF-Lufttechnik) explored how economic and social shifts are reshaping filtration markets, while Anthony Lawson (Hengst Filtration) examined the impact of evolving air quality guidelines and PFAS restrictions on filter design. Experts such as Cédric Vallet (Ahlstrom) and Christof Keppler (Gessner) presented innovations in filtration efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, and the development of biodegradable filter media. Meanwhile, Dr. Pero Mi?i? (FutureManagementGroup AG) offered a strategic framework for future-proofing businesses against industry disruptions.

Reflecting on the event, Dr. Anthony Lawson, Senior Filtration Specialist at Hengst Filtration, emphasized FILTREX’s unique role in fostering meaningful discussions on critical industry topics. “FILTREX is unique in the calendar of conferences for filtration as it takes a step back and allows for a considered look at the broader aspects of the global issues that affect the entire supply chain from raw materials, through nonwovens to final filters in a single setting. The FILTREX 2025 event allowed for a healthy debate and discussion on the topics of innovation, sustainability, and the critical issue of PFAS use and its replacement. The nature of the conference allows for presentations from all sectors of the industry as well as ensuring maximum participation with round table discussions on the themes presented. As always, this was impeccably organized by EDANA—thank you.”

With its combination of expert insights, interactive discussions, and a strong focus on industry-wide collaboration, FILTREX 2025 once again reinforced its position as a key event for the global filtration community.

Spotlight on sustainability in filtration

Sustainability took center stage at FILTREX 2025, with a dedicated round table that saw insights from Oswaldo Anaya (Freudenberg Performance Materials), Cédric Vallet (Ahlstrom), and Bruce Lorange (Hollingsworth & Vose). The discussions focused on how the industry can reduce its environmental impact while still delivering high-performance solutions. Oswaldo Anaya, Product Marketing Manager at Freudenberg Performance Materials, reflected on the event, saying, “I was glad to join this last edition of FILTREX. It confirmed the great things I’d heard from colleagues about previous events. Highly relevant and timely topics for the filtration industry, plus valuable networking in a relaxed setting.”

FILTREX™ Innovation Award 2025

A major highlight of the event was the FILTREX™ Innovation Award, which this year went to Johns Manville for its Evalith® product. Their groundbreaking recycling process transforms HVAC glass microfiber waste into compounded pellets for injection molding, turning waste into durable, second-life products. The award was presented during a Networking Evening Cocktail at Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, providing an ideal atmosphere for further discussions and potential collaborations.

PFAS-Free filtration and industry innovation

The closing session tackled the critical topic of PFAS-free filtration, revealing solutions like high-performance PFAS-free HEPA media and nanofiber membranes that not only enhance performance but also reduce environmental impact. Industry leaders also discussed upcoming changes in PFAS regulations and the continued push for safer alternatives in the filtration industry.

Looking ahead

FILTREX™ 2025 firmly established itself as the key event for the filtration industry, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation. As Bruce Lorange, Global Marketing Communications Director at Hollingsworth & Vose, put it: “The recent FILTREX event in Vienna presented a unique opportunity to network, learn, see old friends, and make new ones in the filtration and nonwovens space. The quality of presentations was top-notch—informative and thought-provoking—and the venue provided the perfect backdrop for the thought leaders gathered to take our industry to the next level. A sincere thanks to the EDANA FILTREX team for arranging such an impactful event!”