Value-added Services and Predictive Analytics to Drive Differentiation
The North American market for low pressure membrane systems in water and wastewater applications is poised for consistent growth over the forecast period. Regional issues concerning water scarcity and irregular supply of water have led to a focus on recycling and reuse, which drives investment in wastewater solutions.
Membrane systems have also reached a critical mass that makes the technology more comfortable for the mass utility market. The United States is the largest market in the region, and the municipal market is the main driver of market revenues. These positions are not anticipated to change over the forecast period, but growth trajectories are expected to be faster in the smaller industrial market where new applications are being promoted.
The core technology in low pressure membrane filtration is fairly mature, which drives market participants to look for new differentiators to provide an edge. As a result, incremental improvements are complemented by efforts towards digitalization and analytics, aftermarket services, and material innovations. The bulk of the market, however, is still driven by environmental concerns on water availability and scarcity, increased adoption due to customer confidence, and an improved fiscal and cost outlook for the solutions. Much of the growth is driven by low pressure membranes used in membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment solutions, which has proven to be a reliable and high-quality method of treatment to achieve industry standards.
The competitive landscape is varied overall, but industry leaders have a firm grip on many large accounts in the municipal sector. As a result, competition in the industrial sector is more varied and dynamic. Ceramic membranes still struggle overall to establish a strong foothold in the region. Select companies, however, have made strides in lowering capital costs to increase competitiveness with polymeric membranes. Delivering key site installations over the forecast period will be important to change customer perceptions on materials.
Research Highlights
This study represents an aggregation of primary investigation of leading market participants, industry organizations, and end users in the North American region. Secondary data sources from vendors and third parties, as well as existing internal intelligence have been included to support emerging trends. The data collected has produced a market forecast through 2022 that is broken down in a number of ways including, vertical market, system/module, material, configuration, and country.
