How to Choose the Right Filtration System for Your Industry

Western Separations™ Resource Series

In every industry — from manufacturing to food processing to pharmaceuticals — clean separation is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. But how do you choose the right filtration system for your specific needs?

Whether you're launching a new facility or upgrading outdated equipment, this guide will walk you through the key factors that ensure long-term performance, cost-efficiency, and compliance.

1. Start With Your Contaminants

What exactly are you removing?

• Solids? Oils? Gases? Biologicals?
  Understanding the particle size, chemical nature, and load is essential. A water treatment facility will have entirely different filtration needs than a chemical processing plant.

2. Define Your Flow Rate & Pressure Requirements

How much material needs to move through your system — and how fast?
Low-pressure gravity systems and high-pressure industrial lines demand different filter designs, from media beds to membranes.

3. Know Your Industry Standards

Different sectors are governed by different standards:

• Food & Beverage: FDA, USDA, NSF

• Pharma: cGMP, ISO 13485

• Manufacturing: ISO 9001, OSHA considerations
  Choosing a compliant system avoids costly rework and ensures long-term trust.

4. Plan for Maintenance & Downtime

No system runs forever without maintenance.
Ask yourself:

• How often does the filter need to be replaced or cleaned?

• Can maintenance be done in-house?

• Is there a fail-safe during downtime?

Smart filtration planning minimizes shutdowns and maximizes output.

5. Don’t Go It Alone

This is where we come in.
Western Separations™ designs, builds, and supports filtration and separation systems across multiple industries — always tailored, never off-the-shelf.

From initial consultation to installation and beyond, we help you make the right decisions upfront to avoid costly mistakes down the line.

💬 Let’s Talk

Need help evaluating your current setup or starting from scratch?
Request a Quote or Contact Us — we’ll walk you through every step.