The Global Support Materials for Water Treatment Membrane Market was valued at USD 351 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 684 Million by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.5% during the forecast period (2024-2032). This growth is driven by increasing water scarcity, stringent wastewater regulations, and rising adoption of membrane filtration technologies across industrial and municipal applications.

Support materials serve as critical structural backings for thin-film membranes used in reverse osmosis (RO), nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), and microfiltration (MF) systems. As demand grows for advanced water purification, manufacturers rely on specialized support materials to enhance membrane durability and performance. This analysis profiles the Top 10 Companies in the Support Materials for Water Treatment Membrane Industry—the key innovators shaping global water infrastructure.

Download FREE Sample Report: Support Materials for Water Treatment Membrane Market – View in Detailed Research Report

---

🔟 1. Awa Paper & Technological Company

Headquarters: Tokushima, Japan
Key Offering: Non-woven polyester substrates for RO/NF membranes

Awa Paper leads the Asian market with high-performance polyester supports offering exceptional mechanical strength (tensile strength >100 N/cm) and chemical resistance. The company specializes in precision-engineered materials for seawater desalination applications.

Technical Advantages:

• 100% pure polyester composition for dimensional stability
• Custom porosity options (0.1-5 micron range)
• Thermal bonding technology prevents fiber shedding

---

9️⃣ 2. Miki Tokushu Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Hyogo, Japan
Key Offering: Wet-laid nonwovens for industrial UF/MF membranes

Miki Tokushu Paper supplies high-consistency materials to global membrane manufacturers, specializing in uniform fiber distribution critical for consistent filtration performance in wastewater treatment plants.

Material Properties:

• Grammage range: 80-200 g/m²
• pH stability range: 2-12
• Smooth surface texture (Ra < 5μm) for coating adherence

---

8️⃣ 3. Freudenberg Filtration Technologies

Headquarters: Weinheim, Germany
Key Offering: Spunbond nonwoven supports for harsh environments

Freudenberg’s materials provide dimensional stability under pressures exceeding 50 bar, making them ideal for industrial wastewater applications. Their global production capacity exceeds 80 million m² annually.

Performance Characteristics:

• Operating temperature range: -40°C to 130°C
• Custom thickness options from 0.2mm to 1.5mm
• Zero binder formulations for clean water applications

7️⃣ 4. Mitsubishi Paper Mills Group

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Composite multilayer supports for high-pressure RO

Mitsubishi’s patented composite materials combine nonwoven fabrics with microporous films, delivering superior mechanical properties for seawater desalination membranes (burst strength >500 kPa).

Innovation Highlights:

• Integrated polymer coatings enhance membrane adhesion
• 3D pore structures optimize flux performance
• Low elongation (<5%) under operational stresses

Download FREE Sample Report: Support Materials for Water Treatment Membrane Market – View in Detailed Research Report

---

6️⃣ 5. Changzhou Kangjie Membrane Separation Technology

Headquarters: Jiangsu, China
Key Offering: PET nonwoven supports for Chinese membrane producers

Changzhou Kangjie dominates China’s domestic market (35% share) with cost-effective polyester nonwovens, producing over 50 million m² annually for municipal and industrial applications.

Market Position:

• 30% lower cost than imported alternatives
• Quick turnaround prototypes (2-4 weeks)
• Formulations optimized for Chinese membrane manufacturers

---

5️⃣ 6. Hokuetsu Group

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Hydrophilic surface-modified materials

Hokuetsu’s plasma-treated supports improve membrane wettability (contact angle <30°), reducing fouling tendencies by 20-30% in wastewater reuse applications compared to standard materials.

Specialty Treatments:

• Permanent hydrophilic modification
• Low protein binding formulations
• Uniform surface energy distribution

---

4️⃣ 7. Zhejiang Qinglan Environmental Technology

Headquarters: Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: Ultra-thin supports (80-100μm) for compact modules

Qinglan’s thin materials enable 15-20% higher membrane packing density compared to conventional supports while maintaining mechanical strength (MD tensile >50 N/cm).

Compact Design Benefits:

• Reduces overall system footprint
• Lowers capital costs for space-constrained installations
• Compatible with spiral-wound and flat-sheet configurations

---

3️⃣ 8. Guangdong Baohong New Materials

Headquarters: Guangdong, China
Key Offering: Hybrid PET/PP composite materials

Baohong’s hybrid solutions combine polyester’s dimensional stability with polypropylene’s chemical resistance, serving challenging industrial applications including electroplating wastewater.

Composite Advantages:

• 30% higher oxidant resistance than standard PET
• Withstands 1 million fatigue cycles
• Graduated pore structures for optimized flow

---

2️⃣ 9. Hirose Paper

Headquarters: Kochi, Japan
Key Offering: Specialty paper-based supports for niche applications

Hirose Paper maintains a unique position with natural fiber materials preferred for food/beverage processing and pharmaceutical water purification systems.

Specialized Solutions:

• FDA and EU food contact compliant
• Biodegradable options available
• Natural antimicrobial properties

---

1️⃣ 10. Hangzhou First Applied Material

Headquarters: Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: Budget-friendly supports for cost-sensitive projects

Hangzhou First supplies reliable materials at 25-30% lower costs than premium imports, primarily serving Chinese membrane manufacturers in secondary cities and smaller industrial plants.

Value Proposition:

• MOQs as low as 3,000 m²
• Rapid domestic delivery (3-5 days)
• Technical support in local languages

Read Full Report: Support Materials for Water Treatment Membrane Market – View in Detailed Research Report

---

🌐 Market Outlook: Advanced Materials Driving Next-Generation Water Treatment

The support materials sector is evolving to meet demands for higher efficiency membranes, with key innovations focused on durability, sustainability, and system optimization.

📈 Key Industry Trends:

• Growing desalination capacity in Middle East (projected 50% increase by 2030)
• New regulations on PFAS removal driving membrane adoption
• Development of thinner (<50μm) yet stronger support layers
• Bio-based and recyclable material options gaining traction

Read Full Report: Support Materials for Water Treatment Membrane Market – View in Detailed Research Report