VDMA Pumps + Systems is one of the 36 associations that make up the German Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (VDMA). VDMA Pumps + Systems is the information and networking platform for the pump industry. It represents around 110 European manufacturers of centrifugal pumps, as well as oscillating and rotating displacement pumps for liquids of all consistencies and solids.
WP: What new PFAS regulations are having an impact on the pump sector in Europe?
KMN: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed a comprehensive ban on PFAS, aiming to address the environmental and health risks associated with these forever chemicals. The dossier was prepared by authorities in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. ECHA is reviewing more than 5,600 comments and aims to complete this by the end of 2025, followed by an expected one to two years for the EU Commission regulation process.
The effects of this waiting phase could include investment uncertainty which may accelerate EU deindustrialization, regulator uncertainty in respect of PFAS, and a regulatory patchwork if countries bring in their own PFAS bans (France and Sweden both proposed their own PFAS bans in mid-2024).
However, the waiting phase could also allow more time for research into alternative materials to replace PFAS-based solutions.
WP: What problems are these regulations causing the pump industry?
KMN: The proposed PFAS ban presents significant challenges for the pump and sealing industry. While substitutes exist, materials in the group of flour-elastomers or plastics like FKM, FFKM PTFE, PVDF or PFA containing PFAS are preferred for their superior properties.
In safety-critical applications, no leakage is allowed, especially when handling, for example, phosgene or hydrofluoric acid (HF). These materials are essential for producing everyday products like steel, computer chips, and solar modules.
For extremely demanding conditions, PFAS products may be the only viable option. Their unique ability to withstand high temperatures and remain inert over long periods is often essential for safety. A broad restriction could lead to rapid failures and leaks, releasing hazardous substances. Some processes can only occur in a PTFE environment, crucial for manufacturing critical components. Are we prepared to forego the chips in our cell phones, cars, and computers?
Anyhow, PTFE for example, meets demanding design criteria, but users and manufacturers should reassess if extreme conditions actually occur in practice. Maintenance intervals for wear parts are often shorter than the product’s lifespan – do these parts need to last as long as the product?
WP: What impact would a full PFAS ban have on the pump sector?
KMN: A complete ban on PFAS is unfeasible for all stakeholders, including suppliers, producers, customers, and end users. In many applications, PFAS products are currently the only safe option for production and may remain so for the foreseeable future.
We advocate for a risk-based approach with clear and enduring regulations. While uncontrolled PFAS release is unacceptable, many pump industry systems operate as closed-loop systems, preventing PFAS expulsion.
In the pump industry, PFAS itself is not a challenge, it is essential for functionality. Challenges arise during (fluoropolymer) production and at the end of product lifecycles, such as waste management. PFAS coatings and sealings are essential safety components in the production/manufacturing processes of basic chemicals (e.g. acids and brines). For the appropriate handling of PFAS-containing components, it needs closed-loop systems, innovative recycling, overhaul services, and waste management strategies. A study by Hans-Joachim Gehrmann et al. (KIT, Germany) indicates that almost all PFAS compounds degrade under standard hazardous waste combustion conditions.
WP: Which pump materials are there no viable PFAS alternative for?
KMN: The term PFAS covers more than 10,000 substances, many of which are used in proprietary material recipes to produce PTFE, FKM, or FFKM. These materials are then molded or machined into pump parts like seals, housings, impellers, stators, fittings, and pipes. It’s challenging to say substance “6543” has no alternative, as it depends on the application. While it might be replaceable in a wastewater pump, its unique properties may be essential for pumps in the chip industry.
If I have to name alternatives: platin, gold and ceramics would be my first choice – however, availability and the cost structure are challenging and as soon we have moving and static parts, also those components need a proper seal. So, on second thoughts, innovations will win the race: decontamination, recycling, waste management, alternative designs will be the key.
Without PFAS, several product lines could be disrupted:
- Wind turbines and trains rely on PFAS-containing components for cooling pumps in converters and power electronics.
- Submersible pumps use PFAS for electric isolation and sealing, essential for wastewater pumps, flood protection, and river water intake stations.
- In medicine, steel, and chemical production, harsh materials like hydrofluoric acid (HF), nitric acid (HNO3), and phosgene can only be handled by PTFE or FFKM. Without these, chip production, special steel production, wastewater treatment, and pharmaceuticals would be impacted.
- Due to the aggressive nature of highly concentrated, hot hydrochloric acid (HCl), safe conveyance is assured with PFAS products. HCl is used in the pharmaceutical industry for producing medications, in the food industry for cleaning equipment, and in plastic manufacturing, especially for PVC.
WP: How are pump manufacturers working to reduce their use of PFAS?
The complete lifecycle is investing in R&D. Recently, for example, a start-up called Oxyle developed a decontamination method using a nano-structure catalyst for water. Pump and sealing manufacturers are also intensively researching alternative materials and designs. However, these alternatives must be tested and reliable. Trust between customers and suppliers is crucial, ensuring the product is safe and effective. The HSEQ requirements of the pump user industry set impressive worldwide standards.
Or in other words: Would you use a stroller made with components near your child with a tested PFAS-free alternative material for anti-sticking or impregnating behavior but with unknown long-term effects?
WP: Tell us more about your work in this area.
KMN: We represent German pump manufacturers in association-related work, including consulting, regulatory, standards, and technology. With nearly two decades of experience in leading seal and gasket R&D, I am well-equipped to engage in the socio-economic discussion about PFAS. Our goal is to shift this dialogue to a technical, risk-based conversation between the government, NGOs, and industry. To reverse Germany’s deindustrialization, we must protect and develop nature conservation and industrial communities in a reliable, plannable, and sustainable manner.
WP: Is there anything else you would like to add?
KMN: The existing approach not only fails to solve the issue but also creates even bigger problems. The current approach is not a solution to the PFAS problem. It needs to be transformed into a risk-based strategy that includes researching alternative materials, ensuring non-contaminating production and usage, and implementing safe, complete disposal methods, all based on technical, economic, and environmental considerations. The new approach must be discussed between policymakers, industry, and R&D from the beginning.
*Part of this interview was first published in World Pumps, November/December 2024 issue as part of a focus on PFAS restrictions. Read the full story here: The Big Debate.
