MINNETONKA, Minn., August 11, 2003 - The new Z.Plex(tm) filter technology developed by GE Osmonics for manufacturing polypropylene melt blown, depth cartridge filters has now produced ROsave.Zs(tm) filters engineered for reverse osmosis (RO) pretreatment. ROsave.Zs filters reduce the total cost of operation by reducing filter costs, change-out labor costs, equipment downtime and waste disposal. The filters made with Z.Plex technology have up to 100 percent greater filter life and dirt holding capacity than conventional melt blown depth filters.

RO pretreatment is key to extracting the longest life out of crossflow spiral-wound RO elements by removing membrane-plugging contaminants from source water. Effective pretreatment also minimizes wear-and-tear on the investment in membrane elements by reducing the Silt Density Index (SDI) to levels recommended by RO suppliers. With ROsave.Zs filters, end users can achieve high efficiency pretreatment and still realize cost savings thanks to significantly improved filter performance that results in lower filter consumption.

"Knowing that ROsave.Zs was engineered specifically for RO pretreatment applications takes the guess-work out of selecting the best filter for the application," says Roger Miller, high purity industry group, GE Water Technologies. "Having it made with Z.Plex filter technology and benefiting from up to twice the filter life and dirt holding capacity than conventional melt blown depth filters makes the ROsave.Zs truly unique."

Proven in multiple field trials, ROsave.Zs filters produced with Z.Plex technology are substantially out-performing competitive filters. In addition to longer filter life, ROsave.Zs filters decrease pressure drop by up to 50 percent, which saves energy costs. The new technology enables end users to reduce costs of filter change-outs, equipment downtime and waste disposal.

For further information on GE Osmonics' Z.Plex technology, call (800) 848-1750 or (952) 933-2277; e-mail zplex@gesm.ge.com; write to GE Osmonics at 5951 Clearwater Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343-8995; or visit the web site at www.zplextechnology.com.

GE Osmonics is a leading manufacturer and worldwide marketer of high-technology water purification and fluid filtration, separation and handling equipment. GE Osmonics also manufactures replaceable components used in purification, filtration and separation equipment. These products are used by a broad range of industrial, commercial, household and institutional customers.