- Email: [email protected]
Minntech reports first quarter results
Chemical treatment of waste set to grow Tel/Fa~ +44 (0) 1865 316452 E-mail: dmon,[email protected] Production Coordinator: Sheri Hill Editorial advkoty board: Dr P Ball(PallEuropeL Dr D B e ~ (Universityo~Stellenbosch), Prof. M Chcryan(Universityoflllinoksat Urhana-ChampaignL Prof.A Fan¢{Universityof'NewSouthWalesL Dr T Franken{Membrane ApplicationCentreTwente), Dr E Gobina(RobertGordonUrfiversity), Dr A Merry(PCIMembraneSystems), Prof. MNystrara ,'~peenranta UniversityofTechnology), Dr G Pearce{Kalsep). Dr P Pfromm(Instituteof PaperScience& Technolog$,GA,USA), Dr R Philpott~ t m a n International). Dr A Turner(AEATechnology), Prof.RWakeman (LoughboroughUniversityofTechnology), Prof.A Yaroshchuk , . ~ a n AcademyofSciences). Permissgonsmay be sought directUyfrom Elsevier Scien~ Rights & PermissionsDepartment.PO Box 800, Oxtord OX5 IDX, UK; tel- +44 (0)1865 843830, tax: .44 (0)1865 853333. e-mail: •ermlssions@elsevier,co.uk.You may also contact I~ights & Permissions directlythrough Etsevier's home page (h tp://www.elsevier.rd) selectingfirst 'CustomerSupport',then 'GeneralInformation~,t~n 'PermissionsQueryForm'. In the USA.usersmay clear permissionsan~ make paymentsthrough the CopyrightClearanceCe~er, Inc 222 RosewoodDrive,DanversMA 01923,USA; tel: 978 /'508400,fax:+1 978 7504744,and in theUK through the Copyright Licensing Agency Rapid ClearanceService(CEARCSL90 Tott~ham Court Road, LondonWlP OLP,UK; tel: +44 (0) 171 430 5931;fax:~ (0)171436 3986.Othercountriesmay havea localr~rographicrightsagencyfor payments. Subscribers may reproducetables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal c rouiaton within the r net tutions
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A forthcoming report from Business Communications C o m p a n y Inc o f Norwalk, Connecticut claims that the US market for advanced chemical waste treatments is forecast to increase to US$8.5 billion by 2005. The report, "Advanced Chemical Treatment of Waste" (Report RC212), says that the US market for advanced chemical waste treatment is estimated to be worth nearly $5.5 billion in 1999, and that it is forecast to grow at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 7.6% during the sixyear period. The past 25 years have seen enormous growth in the waste treatment market, says BCC. Increased generation of waste by industry and individuals and the government-mandated remediation of Superfund and "brown-field" sites have added to this increase. The market for chemical treatment of waste is a diverse and fragmented one, and is made up of a variety of dissimilar segments. Technologies that comprise this segment include ion exchange, oxidation, and thermal and electrically driven technologies. Ion exchange is currently estimated to be a $605 million dollar industry. The mature market for ion exchange resins accounts for nearly half of this total, says the company, and about 80% of that amount is, in turn, shared between only two manufacturers. Ion exchange technology is expensive, and together with the competitiveness of other methods for waste treatment, this results in an AAGR of 5.8%. : Oxidation ,methods, currently estimated at $4.5 billion, and growing at an AAGR of 7.7%, account for nearly 83% of the total market. Thermal waste treatments are expected to generate $300 million in 1999. About 92% of this is attributable to sales of waste vitrificationS'which is primarily used at government sites for hazardous/ radioactive waste clean-up. : With the exception of
electrodialysis, the electrically driven treatment technologies are the most recently developed chemical waste management methods, says the company. Growing at an AAGR of 8.2%, this market is expected to increase from $14.5 million in 1999 to $23.3 million in 2005. The market for electrodialysis in wastewater treatment and resource recovery suffers from the same problems as ion exchange membrane technology, says the report, and that is over-capacity in a highly competitive area. The $10 million industry can expect growth at only 2% over the next 5 years. In other, unrelated, news, and by way of a reminder, the 17th Annual Membrane Technology/Separations Planning Conference, organised by BCC, is scheduled to held on 6-7 December 1999 at the Marriott Hotel in Newton, Massachusetts. According to the company, the conference comprises a set of sessions that analyse the technical, financial and marketing forces which are shaping the industry, Highlights for 1999 include successful strategies, technological troubleshooting, economic projections, market place realities, materials research, systems design, regulatory requirements and novel applications. These will be applied to the dynamic membrane/separation sectors of fuel cells, water, wastewater treatment, module design, biomedical materials, chemical processes, food processing, semiconductors, manufacturing, reverse osmosis, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ceramics and liquid membranes. For m o r e information, contact: Business Communications Company Inc, 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855, USA.Tel: +1 203 853 4266, Fax: +1 203 853 0348.
Food industry membrane processes detailed Module 13, which is part of a series of lectures that are run under the "Advanced Course on the Use of Membrane Technology in Environmental Applications"
(ACUMTEA), put together by the University of Twente, The Netherlands, is scheduled to be held on 17-18 November 1999 in Toulouse, France at Universit6 Paul Sabatier. The first day of the module course, which is entitled "Membrane processes in the food industry", will be used to introduce delegates to the principles of membrane technology. Day two will focus on specific applications of membrane technology, and will cover fruit juice concentration by membrane distillation; flavour recovery by membrane processes; membrane bio-reactors for waste-water treatment; enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins; and problems of safety in the food industry. The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the food industry also will be covered. According to the organiser of the course, it will be of interest to people involved in research and production within the food industry sector; authorities responsible for environmental programmes; and academic researchers and students working in this area at universities. ACUMTEA is financially supported by the European Commission within the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. For m o r e information, contact: Dr H616ne Roux-de Balmann.Tel: +33 5 61 55 88 49, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Annemieke Olde Hampsink or Dr Geert-Henk Koops, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands.Tel: +31 53 489 2950, Fax: + 31 53 489 4611, Email: [email protected] iiiiinlp
Minntech reports first quarter results Minntech Corporation says that its performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 was below expectations. The company, which is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, believes that the factors which influenced revenues are transitory and should not have a significant effect on long-term growth plans.
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Membrane Technology No. 114
NEWS Revenues for the first quarter ended 30 June 1999 totalled US$18.8 million, while for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 the company posted a figure of $18.7 million. Fiscal 1999 first-quarter revenues included an extraordinary item of $360 000 in contract revenues related to the company's licensing and development agreement with Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a division of Ethicon Inc, a Johnson & Johnson company. Net earnings amounted to $1.2 million, or $. 17 per diluted share, for the first quartet of fiscal 2000, compared with net earnings of $1.5 million, or $.21 per diluted share, a year ago. According to Minntech, first quarter revenue growth was restrained by the delayed release of RenaClear, its new dialyser cleaning system, which is now slated for market introduction late in the second quarter. Revenues were also affected by first quarter sales of the company's first-generation endoscope reprocessor to ASP, which were lower than anticipated. Minntech says that its product sales increased by 2.5% overall. During the quarter, a 40% increase in dialysis concentrate sales was offset by a decrease in dialyser reprocessing sales. Although sterilant unit sales increased for the quarter, these revenues were flat. Sales of the company's filtration and separation product line, part of its developing business group, achieved 52% growth in the first quarter, fuelled in part by growing interest in the new FiberFlo capsule filter line. Separately, Minntech has announced that it has signed a letter of intent to transfer all assets and rights related to its Biocor oxygenator and new Enguard PHX cardio-plegia system to LifeStream International LLC, a newly-formed cardio-pulmonary products company, in exchange for $7.2 million in cash and warrants. Under the terms of the agreement Minntech will continue to manufacture moulded plastic components of the Biocor and Enguard PHX and other ancillary cardio-surgery products for LifeStream. For more information, contact: Minntech Corporation, 14605 28th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55447, USA.Tel: +1 612 553 3300, Fax:+1 612 553 3387.
Membrane Technology No. 114
Whatman adds to VectaSpin range UK company Whatman International Ltd has extended its range of VectaSpin 3 centrifuge tube filters to include a new version specifically designed for the removal of protein contamination, cell debris and larger biological molecules. The protein precipitation VectaSpin 3 consists of a polypropylene tube with re-sealable cap, which contains a removable filtering insert of 3 ml capacity. This comprises three layers - a meltblown polypropylene pre-filter, a fine oleophobic 0.7 }am filter and a polypropylene layer that acts as mesh support for the filter stack. In use, a 200 pm serum sample, diluted in acetonitrile and TCA, can be pipetted into the filter insert, and the whole assembly spun in a standard laboratory centrifuge at up to 5000g. The centrifugal force pushes the sample through the filter stack, after which the filtrate can either be decanted from the outer tube for further analysis, or alternatively it may be stored (in the outer tube) at temperatures as low as -70°C. VectaSpin 3 protein precipitation devices are sold in packs of 25 units. For more information, contact: Whatman International Ltd, Whatman House, St Leonard'sRoad,20/20 Maidstone,Kent ME16 0LS,UK.TeI:+44 1622 676670, Fax:+44 1622 677011. VII.....
Zenon reports strong rise in net earnings Canadian company Zenon Environmental Inc has announced strong growth in revenue and earnings for the second quarter of 1999. Revenue of C$25.0 million for the three-month period ended 30 June 1999 was 50% higher than last year's figure of C$16.7 million. Net earnings at C$1.4 million, or C$0.06 per share, increased by 37% from C$1.1 million or C$0.05 per share, for the equivalent period in 1998. As a
result, for the first six months of 1999, revenue has grown by 55% to C$45.5 million, compared with the equivalent period of 1998, and net earnings rose slightly to C$1.1 million, or C$0.05 per share. The company has also combined its office in Ann Arbor, Michigan and its Burlington headquarters. This move, it says, will serve to further operational efficiency and contribute to profitability. For more information, contact: Zenon Environmental Inc, 845 Harrington Court, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3P3, Canada.Tel:+1 905 639 6320, Fax:+1 905 639 1812.
Waste-water recovery meeting targets membranes Readers are reminded that speakers from a wide range of industries will present their experiences regarding industrial waste-water recovery and reuse technologies, and their application, at a one-day international meeting on 24 November 1999 at Cranfield University, UK. It is anticipated that the meeting, which is entitled "Industrial Wastewater Recovery and Reuse" (IWRR 1), will focus on membrane technologies. PCI Membranes is sponsoring the event, which is also endorsed by British Water and the IChemE Water Subject Group. According to the organiser, speakers from the UK and mainland Europe will report on the status of technologies for wastewater recovery and reuse as the end of the millennium approaches. Almost all of the speakers are from relevant industries rather than the equipment suppliers, which means that the perspective offered will be that of the user, says Cranfield. Presentations will be based mainly on existing schemes. Specific areas to be covered include the oil, textile, and pulp and paper industries; bulk reuse of municipal waste, recycling of paint waste solvent; and the "Millennium Dome experience". In conjunction with the meeting
30-150 tonnes of water a day, Mitsubishi is targeting first-year sales of 50 units for turnover of about ¥750 million. Diaphragm techno~gy dmsen over membranes
LaRoche Industries' affiliate ChtorA1p SAS, which operates a 240 0~O-tonne chlor-alkali facil@ in Pont-de-Claix, France, has announced that its asbestos-free diaphragm t e c h n o l ~ conversion
installed the first of the new asbestosffree diaphragm cells in 1996. The technology uses an integrated pre-cathode diaphragm design which allows for better control of porosity a n d permeability. The technology has provided the company ~ t h an alternative to converting to membrane technology - one ofthe
According to a report published in the Japanese press, Sanyo Electric Co has developed equipment that offers a cheap way
plants. The company says that it is already using the equipment at its own semiconductor fabrication
a small pump to filter the water through a porous membrane, and
whic~ are based on organic membranes and a centrifuge.
R ghts & Permiss:iOnsOepa~ment,at ~e m~il; ~ :
: : i!
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A forthcoming report from Business Communications C o m p a n y Inc o f Norwalk, Connecticut claims that the US market for advanced chemical waste treatments is forecast to increase to US$8.5 billion by 2005. The report, "Advanced Chemical Treatment of Waste" (Report RC212), says that the US market for advanced chemical waste treatment is estimated to be worth nearly $5.5 billion in 1999, and that it is forecast to grow at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 7.6% during the sixyear period. The past 25 years have seen enormous growth in the waste treatment market, says BCC. Increased generation of waste by industry and individuals and the government-mandated remediation of Superfund and "brown-field" sites have added to this increase. The market for chemical treatment of waste is a diverse and fragmented one, and is made up of a variety of dissimilar segments. Technologies that comprise this segment include ion exchange, oxidation, and thermal and electrically driven technologies. Ion exchange is currently estimated to be a $605 million dollar industry. The mature market for ion exchange resins accounts for nearly half of this total, says the company, and about 80% of that amount is, in turn, shared between only two manufacturers. Ion exchange technology is expensive, and together with the competitiveness of other methods for waste treatment, this results in an AAGR of 5.8%. : Oxidation ,methods, currently estimated at $4.5 billion, and growing at an AAGR of 7.7%, account for nearly 83% of the total market. Thermal waste treatments are expected to generate $300 million in 1999. About 92% of this is attributable to sales of waste vitrificationS'which is primarily used at government sites for hazardous/ radioactive waste clean-up. : With the exception of
electrodialysis, the electrically driven treatment technologies are the most recently developed chemical waste management methods, says the company. Growing at an AAGR of 8.2%, this market is expected to increase from $14.5 million in 1999 to $23.3 million in 2005. The market for electrodialysis in wastewater treatment and resource recovery suffers from the same problems as ion exchange membrane technology, says the report, and that is over-capacity in a highly competitive area. The $10 million industry can expect growth at only 2% over the next 5 years. In other, unrelated, news, and by way of a reminder, the 17th Annual Membrane Technology/Separations Planning Conference, organised by BCC, is scheduled to held on 6-7 December 1999 at the Marriott Hotel in Newton, Massachusetts. According to the company, the conference comprises a set of sessions that analyse the technical, financial and marketing forces which are shaping the industry, Highlights for 1999 include successful strategies, technological troubleshooting, economic projections, market place realities, materials research, systems design, regulatory requirements and novel applications. These will be applied to the dynamic membrane/separation sectors of fuel cells, water, wastewater treatment, module design, biomedical materials, chemical processes, food processing, semiconductors, manufacturing, reverse osmosis, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ceramics and liquid membranes. For m o r e information, contact: Business Communications Company Inc, 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855, USA.Tel: +1 203 853 4266, Fax: +1 203 853 0348.
Food industry membrane processes detailed Module 13, which is part of a series of lectures that are run under the "Advanced Course on the Use of Membrane Technology in Environmental Applications"
(ACUMTEA), put together by the University of Twente, The Netherlands, is scheduled to be held on 17-18 November 1999 in Toulouse, France at Universit6 Paul Sabatier. The first day of the module course, which is entitled "Membrane processes in the food industry", will be used to introduce delegates to the principles of membrane technology. Day two will focus on specific applications of membrane technology, and will cover fruit juice concentration by membrane distillation; flavour recovery by membrane processes; membrane bio-reactors for waste-water treatment; enzymatic hydrolysis of food proteins; and problems of safety in the food industry. The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the food industry also will be covered. According to the organiser of the course, it will be of interest to people involved in research and production within the food industry sector; authorities responsible for environmental programmes; and academic researchers and students working in this area at universities. ACUMTEA is financially supported by the European Commission within the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. For m o r e information, contact: Dr H616ne Roux-de Balmann.Tel: +33 5 61 55 88 49, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Annemieke Olde Hampsink or Dr Geert-Henk Koops, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Twente, The Netherlands.Tel: +31 53 489 2950, Fax: + 31 53 489 4611, Email: [email protected] iiiiinlp
Minntech reports first quarter results Minntech Corporation says that its performance for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 was below expectations. The company, which is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, believes that the factors which influenced revenues are transitory and should not have a significant effect on long-term growth plans.
i
Membrane Technology No. 114
NEWS Revenues for the first quarter ended 30 June 1999 totalled US$18.8 million, while for the first quarter of fiscal 1999 the company posted a figure of $18.7 million. Fiscal 1999 first-quarter revenues included an extraordinary item of $360 000 in contract revenues related to the company's licensing and development agreement with Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a division of Ethicon Inc, a Johnson & Johnson company. Net earnings amounted to $1.2 million, or $. 17 per diluted share, for the first quartet of fiscal 2000, compared with net earnings of $1.5 million, or $.21 per diluted share, a year ago. According to Minntech, first quarter revenue growth was restrained by the delayed release of RenaClear, its new dialyser cleaning system, which is now slated for market introduction late in the second quarter. Revenues were also affected by first quarter sales of the company's first-generation endoscope reprocessor to ASP, which were lower than anticipated. Minntech says that its product sales increased by 2.5% overall. During the quarter, a 40% increase in dialysis concentrate sales was offset by a decrease in dialyser reprocessing sales. Although sterilant unit sales increased for the quarter, these revenues were flat. Sales of the company's filtration and separation product line, part of its developing business group, achieved 52% growth in the first quarter, fuelled in part by growing interest in the new FiberFlo capsule filter line. Separately, Minntech has announced that it has signed a letter of intent to transfer all assets and rights related to its Biocor oxygenator and new Enguard PHX cardio-plegia system to LifeStream International LLC, a newly-formed cardio-pulmonary products company, in exchange for $7.2 million in cash and warrants. Under the terms of the agreement Minntech will continue to manufacture moulded plastic components of the Biocor and Enguard PHX and other ancillary cardio-surgery products for LifeStream. For more information, contact: Minntech Corporation, 14605 28th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55447, USA.Tel: +1 612 553 3300, Fax:+1 612 553 3387.
Membrane Technology No. 114
Whatman adds to VectaSpin range UK company Whatman International Ltd has extended its range of VectaSpin 3 centrifuge tube filters to include a new version specifically designed for the removal of protein contamination, cell debris and larger biological molecules. The protein precipitation VectaSpin 3 consists of a polypropylene tube with re-sealable cap, which contains a removable filtering insert of 3 ml capacity. This comprises three layers - a meltblown polypropylene pre-filter, a fine oleophobic 0.7 }am filter and a polypropylene layer that acts as mesh support for the filter stack. In use, a 200 pm serum sample, diluted in acetonitrile and TCA, can be pipetted into the filter insert, and the whole assembly spun in a standard laboratory centrifuge at up to 5000g. The centrifugal force pushes the sample through the filter stack, after which the filtrate can either be decanted from the outer tube for further analysis, or alternatively it may be stored (in the outer tube) at temperatures as low as -70°C. VectaSpin 3 protein precipitation devices are sold in packs of 25 units. For more information, contact: Whatman International Ltd, Whatman House, St Leonard'sRoad,20/20 Maidstone,Kent ME16 0LS,UK.TeI:+44 1622 676670, Fax:+44 1622 677011. VII.....
Zenon reports strong rise in net earnings Canadian company Zenon Environmental Inc has announced strong growth in revenue and earnings for the second quarter of 1999. Revenue of C$25.0 million for the three-month period ended 30 June 1999 was 50% higher than last year's figure of C$16.7 million. Net earnings at C$1.4 million, or C$0.06 per share, increased by 37% from C$1.1 million or C$0.05 per share, for the equivalent period in 1998. As a
result, for the first six months of 1999, revenue has grown by 55% to C$45.5 million, compared with the equivalent period of 1998, and net earnings rose slightly to C$1.1 million, or C$0.05 per share. The company has also combined its office in Ann Arbor, Michigan and its Burlington headquarters. This move, it says, will serve to further operational efficiency and contribute to profitability. For more information, contact: Zenon Environmental Inc, 845 Harrington Court, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3P3, Canada.Tel:+1 905 639 6320, Fax:+1 905 639 1812.
Waste-water recovery meeting targets membranes Readers are reminded that speakers from a wide range of industries will present their experiences regarding industrial waste-water recovery and reuse technologies, and their application, at a one-day international meeting on 24 November 1999 at Cranfield University, UK. It is anticipated that the meeting, which is entitled "Industrial Wastewater Recovery and Reuse" (IWRR 1), will focus on membrane technologies. PCI Membranes is sponsoring the event, which is also endorsed by British Water and the IChemE Water Subject Group. According to the organiser, speakers from the UK and mainland Europe will report on the status of technologies for wastewater recovery and reuse as the end of the millennium approaches. Almost all of the speakers are from relevant industries rather than the equipment suppliers, which means that the perspective offered will be that of the user, says Cranfield. Presentations will be based mainly on existing schemes. Specific areas to be covered include the oil, textile, and pulp and paper industries; bulk reuse of municipal waste, recycling of paint waste solvent; and the "Millennium Dome experience". In conjunction with the meeting
30-150 tonnes of water a day, Mitsubishi is targeting first-year sales of 50 units for turnover of about ¥750 million. Diaphragm techno~gy dmsen over membranes
LaRoche Industries' affiliate ChtorA1p SAS, which operates a 240 0~O-tonne chlor-alkali facil@ in Pont-de-Claix, France, has announced that its asbestos-free diaphragm t e c h n o l ~ conversion
installed the first of the new asbestosffree diaphragm cells in 1996. The technology uses an integrated pre-cathode diaphragm design which allows for better control of porosity a n d permeability. The technology has provided the company ~ t h an alternative to converting to membrane technology - one ofthe
According to a report published in the Japanese press, Sanyo Electric Co has developed equipment that offers a cheap way
plants. The company says that it is already using the equipment at its own semiconductor fabrication
a small pump to filter the water through a porous membrane, and
whic~ are based on organic membranes and a centrifuge.