Cylindrical Humidifier Filter (Spunlace Non-woven Fabric)

Oltaven's cylindrical humidifier filter is a self-priming evaporative filter made from spunlace non-woven fabric, designed to draw water upward and release it as moisture. It filters airborne dust and intercepts calcium and magnesium ions in the water to help prevent white powder, while its antibacterial and anti-mold treatment resists sour odors. It is intended for humidifiers, air purifiers with humidification, and commercial or industrial humidity-control equipment, and is available as a finished filter with full OEM/ODM customisation.

From Media to Finished Filter

A humidifier filter's job sounds simple: move water into the air. In practice, the result depends on how the media is chosen and how it is formed into a finished part. At Oltaven, we sell finished filters, not just rolls of fabric. The same spunlace non-woven can behave very differently once it is pleated, shaped into a cylinder, and fitted with end caps. Our role is to match the material and the forming process to the device, the water quality, and the target market.

Spunlace non-woven is made by entangling fibres with high-pressure water jets. This gives a dense, uniform web with strong capillary action, so water climbs quickly and spreads across a large surface. The fabric also keeps its wet strength: it does not soften or collapse after long immersion. Those two properties—capillary rise and wet strength—are the foundation of a self-priming filter. Without them, a filter may hold water but fail to release it efficiently, or it may release water but break down in the tank.

Forming turns that foundation into a working filter. Pleating multiplies the surface area within a compact cylinder, so more water can evaporate at once. The cylindrical shape creates a large contact area with the airflow while keeping the footprint small. End caps and a central core hold the pleats in place and connect the filter to the device. Each of these steps is a chance to improve performance—or to lose it. That is why we treat media selection and forming as one continuous process.

What Decides Finished Performance

Three outcomes matter most to a humidifier designer: efficiency, resistance, and capacity. Efficiency describes how much moisture the filter can add to the air under given conditions. Resistance is the pressure drop across the filter—higher resistance makes the fan work harder and can increase noise. Capacity is the amount of water the filter can hold and release before it needs attention. Media choice and forming both influence all three.

Media choice sets the baseline. A heavier spunlace fabric (higher grams per square metre) generally holds more water and can last longer, while a lighter fabric may offer lower resistance and faster wet-out. Fibre fineness and web uniformity affect capillary action: a uniform web wicks evenly, avoiding dry patches that reduce efficiency. Our standard spunlace non-woven is available in a range of weights, and we can add antibacterial or anti-scale treatments when the application calls for them.

Pleating and cylinder geometry then fine-tune the balance. More pleats or a larger cylinder height increase surface area and evaporation capacity, but they can also raise resistance if the airflow path becomes too tight. The outer diameter, inner diameter, height, and pleat count therefore need to be matched to the device's fan curve and tank size. Wet strength is another forming consideration: the pleats must stay open and the cylinder must stay rigid after weeks in water. Our filters are built to resist collapse and delamination in long-term immersion.

Sealing and end-cap construction complete the part. A secure bond between media and end caps prevents bypass, where air or water escapes without passing through the filter. It also keeps the cylinder from unwinding. We select end-cap materials and bonding methods to suit the customer's housing and assembly process, so the finished filter arrives ready to install and performs as specified.

Applications

These filters are used in household cold-evaporation humidifiers, where they draw water from the tank and release it without a mist. They also fit high-end air purifiers that include a humidification function, combining particle filtration with moisture control. In commercial and industrial humidity-control equipment, the same cylindrical format supports larger air volumes and longer service intervals.

Because every device has its own dimensions and airflow pattern, we customise the filter to the application. For humidifiers with hard water, an anti-scale treatment can help reduce white dust. For devices that sit idle for long periods, enhanced antibacterial protection helps prevent odors. The finished filter is designed around the device, not adapted from a catalogue item.

Technical Specifications

The Oltaven Factory and Certifications

Oltaven is built around OEM/ODM capability. We have developed more than 1,000 filtration solutions, and we apply that experience to every custom humidifier filter, from the first drawing to mass production. Our plant covers 50,000 m², including six cleanrooms totalling 20,000 m², so filters are made in a low-dust environment. A CNAS-accredited laboratory supports testing and verification, and we hold IATF 16949 (achieved in 2024) together with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. Our products meet REACH and RoHS requirements, and we can provide compliance documents for your market. With more than 20 years of filtration manufacturing and continuous export to Europe, the United States, Japan, and Korea, we understand the standards our customers need to meet.

OEM/ODM Workflow

1. Inquiry and requirements: Share your device model, target performance, water quality, and estimated annual volume.
2. Drawing and proposal: We review your dimensions or create a drawing, then recommend media weight, pleat count, end-cap material, and any antibacterial or anti-scale treatment.
3. Sampling: Custom samples are typically produced within 7–10 working days after specifications are confirmed.
4. Validation: You test the samples in your device; we adjust the design if needed and provide test data from our laboratory.
5. Production: After approval, mass production follows with IQC, IPQC, and OQC checks at each stage.
6. Delivery: Standard lead time is 25–35 days after deposit, with planning available for peak seasons or large orders.

Start a Custom Project

To move quickly, please tell us the device or vehicle model, the size or drawing, the airflow or water flow involved, the operating conditions (water hardness, temperature, duty cycle), and your required quantity. With those details, we can recommend a filter construction and prepare a quotation. We invite you to contact our team to begin.