Fibertex Nonwovens SA – high efficiency E-Flow air filtration media for HVAC systems

Energy consumption can be reduced by approximately 67% when using Fibertex® E-Flow filter media, rather than a traditional glass fibre media with the same efficiency rating and the same filter size. The Fibertex® E-Flow material is carefully constructed to control the deposit of dust particles, which prevents a rapid pressure drop. Alternatively, it is possible to reduce the amount of filter media in the final filter and achieve the same performance as glass media.

Fibertex Nonwovens – global innovators in advanced nonwovens and high-performance solutions – has developed a new fully synthetic nonwoven air filter media to enhance energy efficiency and operational sustainability in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Maintaining optimal indoor air quality within HVAC systems – which are critical for controlling temperature, humidity and air purity – presents a significant energy challenge. Given that HVAC systems contribute substantially to a building’s energy consumption, a key factor in efficient operation is minimising the energy required for supply air fans to overcome filter airflow resistance.

Traditional filter media often exacerbates this resistance, driving up energy costs. Furthermore, growing environmental concerns necessitate the elimination of potentially harmful substances, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from building materials. Therefore, there is a critical need for advanced filtration solutions – produced using sustainable, PFAS-free technologies – that deliver superior filtration efficiency while minimising the energy burden on HVAC systems.

New to the market is the Fibertex patent-pending E-Flow filter media, which forms part of the company’s strategic focus on sustainability, operational efficiency and the development of innovative products that contribute to cleaner environments and more energy-efficient systems.

The new E-Flow filter media effectively addresses the urgent need for eco-friendly, high-efficiency air filter media, with performance standards comparable with – and, in certain metrics, outperforming – traditional high-efficiency filter media.

Conventional air filter media, given its nonwoven structure, is susceptible to a phenomenon known as pore bridging. As the media is loaded with particulate contaminants, this pore bridging leads to increased resistance to airflow, resulting in a demand for greater energy to maintain airflow.

Fibertex E-Flow filter media has been designed to counter these issues through its advanced nonwoven structure, which ensures lower pressure drop and consistent airflow over prolonged usage.

Extensive laboratory testing shows that E-Flow filter media delivers approximately 67% lower energy consumption when compared with traditional alternatives of similar size and efficiency.

E-Flow filter media – which is manufactured to stringent quality and environmental specifications at Fibertex nonwoven and nanotechnology production facilities – utilises the Fibertex Pleatex design, developed to enhance mechanical filtration. By incorporating nanofibres into its pleatable nonwoven structure, the E-Flow filter media ensures high performance, without relying on the delicate and potentially hazardous fibres used in conventional filter media. 

Traditional high-efficiency filter media can degrade in energy efficiency over time due to moisture and particulate contaminants, thus increasing airflow resistance. In contrast, E-Flow filter media provides stable filtration performance throughout its design lifetime, achieving Eurovent 4/21’s highest energy efficiency rating of A+. This translates to substantial reductions in both energy costs and carbon footprint.

Fibertex E-Flow filter media offers up to 50% longer filter service life – even with a reduced amount of filter media, compared with conventional glass fibre media. These results are achievable due to the advanced Pleatex nonwoven structure, which has a high dust-holding capacity. By minimising the rate of pressure increase as dust accumulates, E-Flow filter media reduces the energy required for maintaining airflow.

Fibertex Nonwovens invests substantially in research and development to deliver air filtration solutions that address critical global challenges. Through advanced products, like the new E-Flow filter media, Fibertex Nonwovens continues to set new benchmarks for high performance and environmental responsibility.

The global team of Fibertex experts works closely with customers to design filtration systems that suit exact requirements in many industries, including automotive, industrial, commercial, and residential applications. Customised solutions are achieved by combining quality filter media with the latest filtration technologies and advanced manufacturing processes.