Top 10 Companies in the Pleated Membrane Filtration Industry (2026): Market Leaders Driving Pure Water and Process Filtration

In Business Insights
January 11, 2026

The Global Pleated Membrane Filtration Market was valued at USD 1.49 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2.10 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.1% during the forecast period (2024–2032). This robust growth is fueled by escalating global demand for high-purity water, stringent regulatory standards in pharmaceuticals and food & beverage industries, and the accelerating adoption of advanced filtration technologies for environmental sustainability.

As industries worldwide prioritize contamination control and resource efficiency, the focus intensifies on the key manufacturers driving innovation in filtration media and systems. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Pleated Membrane Filtration Industry—a combination of global science giants, specialized filtration experts, and chemical processing leaders shaping the future of purification and separation technologies.


🔟 1. Merck Millipore (Merck KGaA)

Headquarters: Darmstadt, Germany
Key Offering: MilliporeExpress® PES Membranes, Polypro (PP) Filters, PTFE Membranes

Merck Millipore, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, stands as a world leader in life science products and filtration technologies. Their pleated membrane portfolio is critical for biopharmaceutical processing, offering high-flow rates and superior particle retention for critical applications like vaccine manufacturing and sterile filtration.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Leading R&D in single-use filtration systems for bioprocessing

  • Commitment to carbon-neutral operations by 2040

  • Expansion of manufacturing capacity in Singapore and the United States

Download FREE Sample Report: Pleated Membrane Filtration Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Pall Corporation (Danaher)

Headquarters: Port Washington, New York, USA
Key Offering: Ultipleat® High-Flow Filters, Supor® PES Membranes, PTFE Filters

Pall Corporation, part of Danaher’s Life Sciences segment, is a premier supplier of filtration, separation, and purification solutions. Their proprietary Ultipleat® technology maximizes filtration area, providing longer service life and higher throughput for industrial and life science customers.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Pioneering high-efficiency filters for microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing

  • Development of sustainable filter solutions with reduced environmental footprint


8️⃣ 3. Sartorius Group

Headquarters: Göttingen, Germany
Key Offering: Sartopore® Pleated Filters, Sartobran P Capsules

Sartorius Group specializes in pharmaceutical and laboratory equipment, with a strong focus on filtration and fluid management. Their pleated membrane products are essential for sterilizing-grade filtration in biopharmaceuticals, ensuring product safety and regulatory compliance.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Significant investments in single-use technologies for vaccine production

  • Focus on reducing water and energy consumption in filtration processes


7️⃣ 4. 3M Company

Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: 3M™ Liquid Filtration Products, PTFE Membranes, PES Filters

3M’s separation and purification sciences division leverages its material science expertise to produce high-performance pleated membrane filters. Their products serve diverse markets, from industrial water treatment to food and beverage processing, known for reliability and innovation.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Launch of advanced multi-layer pleated membranes with antimicrobial properties

  • Commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050

Download FREE Sample Report: Pleated Membrane Filtration Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions

Headquarters: Paris, France (Global HQ in Trevose, Pennsylvania, USA)
Key Offering: MEMCOR® CP/XP Membranes, ZeeWeed® Filters, Pleated Cartridge Filters

SUEZ is a global leader in water and wastewater treatment solutions. Their pleated membrane offerings are integral to municipal water plants and industrial facilities, providing robust filtration for challenging water sources and process streams.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of low-energy membrane systems for municipal water treatment

  • Focus on circular economy solutions for membrane recycling and reuse


5️⃣ 6. Thermo Fisher Scientific

Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: Nalgene™ Rapid-Flow™ Filters, PES Membrane Filters, Nylon Membranes

Thermo Fisher Scientific provides a comprehensive range of laboratory and bioprocessing products, including high-quality pleated membrane filters. Their solutions are critical for pharmaceutical quality control, research laboratories, and biomanufacturing applications.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Integration of digital monitoring technologies for filter performance tracking

  • Expansion of bioprocessing container and single-use system portfolios


4️⃣ 7. Donaldson Company, Inc.

Headquarters: Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Ultra-Web® Pleated Filters, Synteq® XP Media, Process Filtration Solutions

Donaldson is a leading manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts. While renowned for air filtration, their industrial process filtration division offers advanced pleated membrane solutions for chemical processing, power generation, and industrial fluids.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Proprietary nanofiber technology for enhanced filtration efficiency

  • Sustainability goals focused on waste reduction and energy efficiency


3️⃣ 8. Parker Hannifin Corporation

Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Key Offering: Balston® Pleated Membrane Filters, PTFE Membrane Cartridges, HPLC Filters

Parker Hannifin’s filtration group provides high-performance pleated membrane products for critical applications in healthcare, aerospace, and industrial markets. Their Balston® filters are widely used for sample preparation and process filtration.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Development of filters for challenging applications in energy and transportation

  • Focus on durability and extended service life to reduce waste


2️⃣ 9. Sterlitech Corporation

Headquarters: Kent, Washington, USA
Key Offering: Polypropylene Pleated Filters, PES Membranes, Laboratory Filtration Equipment

Sterlitech specializes in laboratory-scale and pilot-scale filtration equipment and membranes. They serve research institutions and industrial laboratories with a wide array of pleated membrane options for R&D and process development.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Custom membrane fabrication services for specialized research applications

  • Focus on providing solutions for emerging water treatment technologies


1️⃣ 10. Graver Technologies (Filtration Group)

Headquarters: Glasgow, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Poly-Pro® Pleated Filters, SpectraPure® PES Membranes, Ultraviolet Systems

Graver Technologies, part of Filtration Group, manufactures filtration and separation products for power generation, microelectronics, and chemical processing. Their pleated membrane filters are known for high dirt-holding capacity and chemical compatibility.

Innovation and Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Specialization in high-purity water treatment for power plants and electronics

  • Development of integrated filtration systems for complex industrial processes

Get Full Report Here: Pleated Membrane Filtration Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Pleated Membrane Filtration Is Smarter and More Sustainable

The pleated membrane filtration market is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional filtration methods remain essential, the industry is investing heavily in smart filtration technologies, advanced materials science, and sustainable manufacturing processes.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rapid adoption of single-use pleated filters in biopharmaceutical manufacturing

  • Increasing regulatory requirements for water purity driving municipal adoption

  • Digitalization of filtration monitoring with IoT and real-time analytics

  • Strategic partnerships between membrane manufacturers and end-users for customized solutions

Get Full Report Here: Pleated Membrane Filtration Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies featured above are not only providing essential filtration solutions—they’re pioneering the clean technology revolution across multiple industries.