Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Food and beverage processing is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in
the U.S., accounting for more than 10% of all manufacturing shipments. The
industry also has considerable presence in the global economy, with more than
one-third of the top 50 food and beverage industry processors located in the
U.S. Leading processors include Archer Daniels Midland, Kraft Foods, Cargill,
Pepsico, Tyson Foods, Coca-Cola, Mars, ConAgra, Anheuser Busch, and General
Mills. These compete with major overseas companies, including Nestle
(Switzerland), Unilever (U.K.), Groupe Danone (France), Diageo (U.K.), Kirin
Brewery (Japan), SABMiller (South Africa), Cadbury Schweppes (U.K.), Heineken
(Netherlands) and Asahi Brewery (Japan).
Separation science is essential to manufacturing food and beverage products.
Evaporation, centrifugation, media filtration, distillation, and solvent
extraction are just a few of the traditional processes used in solid/liquid
and liquid/liquid separations needed in the sector. Since their debut in the
food industry about 30 years ago, membranes have found both large-volume and
niche applications across a range of food and beverage industries, including
fluid milk, cheese, and other dairy products; grain and oilseed products;
beer, wine, and soft drinks; frozen, canned, preserved, and juiced fruit and
vegetables; sugar and other sweeteners; meat, poultry, and seafood products;
and various miscellaneous foods and food additives.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
This study has been compiled to review the state of the art of membrane
technology as applied to food and beverage processing, offer a valuation of
the current market, and provide estimates of future growth for a market that
has developed rapidly, but which also is becoming more fragmented.
The report will examine the crossflow membrane technologies: reverse osmosis
(RO), nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), and microfiltration (MF), as
well as dead-end UF/MF filtration. The smaller markets relating to
ion-exchange membranes and membrane contactors also will be evaluated.
The market for membrane applications in process water and process fluids,
wastewater treatment and water reuse, product recovery, and cleaner recycling
will be considered. Membrane gas separations as needed in food and beverage
manufacture will not be covered.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
The use of membrane technology in the food and beverage industries was
dominated for many years, and to a large extent still is, by applications in
the treatment of milk and whey. This market, although large (and still
increasing), has little published information relating to market size and
growth. Application areas such as juice and wine clarification, and protein
processing are also relatively undocumented from a marketing perspective. The
primary reason for the dearth of information is likely the competitive nature
of the business, which has increased with maturation of the market and as some
degree of commoditization has become accepted.
Most companies are unwilling to share any dollar amount or market share
information for fear of encouraging ' poaching' by their competitors. This has
become more critical as standard products (e.g., spirals for dairy
applications) have become widespread, along with multiplication of the number
of suppliers of these standard products and the increased experience of users
with the technology. All of the above point to a need for objective analysis
of the field.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDY AND FOR WHOM
With the issues mentioned above as a background, this comprehensive report
aims to better define the market and its opportunities for existing suppliers;
those interested in investment, acquisition, or expansion into the membrane
market; and end-user companies in the food industry. It seeks to provide these
users with specific, detailed information crucial to making educated
decisions. This study is an information source on the industry and a reference
manual on this advanced technology, and a resource that provides information
to decision makers who need to stay abreast of the state of the art.
This report is designed to be as comprehensive as possible, and to be useable
by a broad audience of business, technical, and regulatory practitioners on a
global scale. Senior marketing personnel, venture capitalists, executive
planners, research directors, government officials, and suppliers to the
membrane industry who want to discover and exploit current or projected market
niches should find this report of value. Novice readers who wish to understand
how regulations, market pressures, and technology interact in the membrane
arena also will find this study worthwhile.
SCOPE AND FORMAT
Technology basics will be reviewed so that every reader begins with some level
of technical understanding. The report moves on to an analysis of applications
of the technology in nine fields of food and beverage manufacture, and finally
presents predictions for emerging applications in the industry. The report
also contains some background on regulatory requirements for both membranes
and modules used in sanitary applications.
Where appropriate, detailed information on specific products, supplier
companies, and market information will be detailed for the specific
application in order to present a complete and stand alone analysis. Five-year
projections are provided for market activity and value. Industry structure,
trends, pricing considerations, R&D, government regulations, company profiles,
and competitive technologies are included.
METHODOLOGY
Research for this report began with a re-analysis of the available technical
and business literature, as well as an evaluation of the personal records of
the membrane industry available to the author. Conversations with industry
experts and company representatives, and a review of their published works
provide the backbone for the market evaluation. Other sources of information
include product literature from system suppliers, patent information, annual
reports, and BCC Research' s monthly newsletter, Membrane & Separation
Technology News. Forecasts in this report are based on announced projects and
anticipated capacity additions over the next 5 years. Costs are based on
published data and interviews with industry participants.
The term "membranes" refers to sheet, hollow fiber, or tubular membrane
material enclosed in housings (where relevant), which are packaged into
modules, capsules, cartridges, or cassettes. Membranes used in crossflow
systems, dead-end systems, and electrochemical systems are included.
Calculations are based on the retail price of products rather than the
discounted costs available to large-volume users and OEMs (original equipment
manufacturers). Sales of replacement membranes are included in market sizes
and forecasts.
INFORMATION SOURCES
The information sources for this study include online research, patent
literature, technical journals, and interviews with principals in the
industry. The monthly BCC newsletter, Membrane & Separation Technology News,
provides regular updates on industry and technology news events influencing
the membrane industry.
ANALYST' S CREDENTIALS
During the past 6 years, Susan Hanft has authored more than 12 BCC Research
reports in the fields of membrane technology and water/wastewater treatment.
Hanft also serves as editor of the BCC newsletter, Membrane & Separation
Technology News.
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