NEWS RELEASE                                   OCTOBER 2009

Cement Industry Purchases to Boost Scrubber Industry to $6.5 billion in 2012

The market for industrial stack gas scrubbers has historically been small compared to those used in coal-fired power plants.  But, thanks to tough proposed regulations for the cement industry, the world industrial scrubber market is now forecasted to reach $6 billion in 2012.  This is the latest forecast of the McIlvaine Company in Scrubber/Adsorber/Biofilter World Markets.

A new proposed air pollution rule in the U.S. would require installation of scrubbers on more than 200 cement kilns.  Some revenues are generated on order placement with the balance generated through the 24 months of a typical project length.

Another big market is waste-to-energy.  There are typically two scrubbers in these plants.  One captures hydrogen chloride and the other captures the SO₂.  China has embarked on a major program to burn its garbage.  The U.S has also awakened to the advantages of using waste as a substitute for coal in energy production.

The biggest growth over the next decade will be in Asia.  Scrubbers are the basic air pollution control device in developing countries.  Foundries, steel mills, mining operations, and pulp mills all use scrubbers whether they are located in a poor Asian nation or in a rich one in the West. However, most of the construction of basic industry is taking place in Asia.

There is major stimulus funding for municipal wastewater treatment plants in China, the U.S. and some other countries.  Sewage treatment generates noxious odors.  A large treatment facility may purchase a number of scrubbers with a total outlay of over $1 million.

Industrial Scrubber System Purchases ($ millions)

Country                                  2012

China                                       672

United States                            473

Japan                                       201

Brazil                                       177

South Korea                            132

India                                        128

Germany                                  104

Canada                                      85

France                                        81

Italy                                           64

China will buy 50 percent more industrial scrubbers in 2012 than the U.S.  Its purchases will equal the U.S. and Japan combined.