Frost & Sullivan Cites Kimberly-Clark for Unique Filter Media Structure for HVACs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) air filtration media market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Kimberly-Clark with the 2010 North America Frost & Sullivan Product Leadership of the Year Award. As end users become increasingly aware about the importance of indoor air quality, there has been a rise in the demand for high-efficiency filter media in HVAC filters. Kimberly-Clark has responded quickly to this opportunity by introducing a new line of high-efficiency media for HVAC air filters. While most competing filter media loses efficiency over time, Kimberly-Clark's filter media offers high particle capture efficiency all through the life of the air filter.

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The company's unique non-woven media combines the advantages of a mechanical structure and an enhanced charge to provide optimum efficiency. To further ensure unparalleled efficiency, Kimberly-Clark's media consists of a mix of fiber diameters in a gradient density structure, with loosely-packed fibers on the upstream side and densely-packed fibers on the downstream side.

While manufacturers continue to look for high-efficiency filter media, purchase decisions are also influenced by energy consumption concerns, since HVAC systems account for approximately 40.0 percent of the energy used in commercial and residential buildings in the United States.

The company has acknowledged this need by developing a range of filter media with a low resistance to airflow, offering substantial energy cost savings.  Moreover, Kimberly-Clark filter media is offered in a range of minimum efficiency reporting values (MERV), from 7 to 15. With this high-efficiency filter media, manufacturers can build air filters that meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System requirements.

"Over the past few years, providing filter media that fulfills end-user requirements in terms of efficiency and application flexibility has become essential," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Alejandra Lozano. "Kimberly-Clark has designed its new filter media to maintain a low airflow resistance, understanding the importance of providing filter media that not only delivers the highest levels of indoor air quality and sustains high-efficiency over the filter lifecycle, but also enables end users to reduce their energy costs."

Because Kimberly-Clark's media offers low airflow resistance, the HVAC system requires less power to deliver the required amount of air to the building or home. Another value-added feature of this filter media is that it can be used in various filter types, including mini-pleats, v-banks, bags, rigid cells, and aluminum separator filters. This allows the company to position itself as a one-stop shop for filter manufacturers.

An existing large customer base, extensive market experience, and the company's strategy of educating not only the air filter manufacturers and distributors, but also the facility managers, facility engineers, and building owners have gone a long way in improving its product acceptance. The company also provides information about how to select and properly maintain a filter, health and productivity benefits of superior IAQ, as well as energy efficiency.

However, the intense competition in the North American HVAC air filters media market has made product differentiation difficult. Market participants are, therefore, focusing on supplying high-quality and high-efficiency air filtration media. With a clear understanding of the end users' needs, Kimberly-Clark has led the industry by introducing its patented synthetic media technology. Using a distinctive media structure, the company has improved the quality and efficiency of its products.

"Kimberly-Clark also ensures the highest quality by using ISO-certified equipment to manufacture its media, and by establishing clear and careful procedures for managing its manufacturing processes," notes Lozano. "In addition, its background in the personal products market has enabled the company to improve the overall quality of its media."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new product development and launch within its industry. The recipient company has shown innovation by introducing a broad line of products and technologies.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products is a leading manufacturer of air and liquid filtration media. The company's air filtration media is used in a wide range of applications, including residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC, as well as vacuum cleaner and appliance, and transportation applications. In addition, its liquid filtration media is used in a number of applications, including food and beverage manufacturing, water treatment, chemical processing, and metal working. For more information, visit http://www.kcfiltration.com and http://www.kcfiltration.com/F&Saward.

About Frost & Sullivan

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan