A pleated cartridge folds a flat medium into a concertina so a large surface area fits inside a standard housing. That surface area is the reason to buy one: more dirt held before the differential pressure climbs, and finer absolute ratings than a depth cartridge of the same size can reach.

We manufacture pleated cartridges in three media — polypropylene, PES membrane and PTFE membrane — at our own factory in Zhengzhou, China. The medium decides what the cartridge can survive; the micron rating decides what it removes.

Choose the Medium First

Media	Micron range	Best for	Notes
PP pleated	1 – 20 μm	General water and mild chemical duty, pre-filtration	Lowest cost per cartridge; the default choice for water
PES membrane	0.22 / 0.45 μm	Pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, buffer preparation	Low protein binding, high flow at low pressure drop
PTFE membrane	0.22 – 20 μm	Hot and chemically aggressive streams	Chemically inert; published rating to 260 °C

Maximum continuous temperature depends on the medium and the end cap material, not just the membrane. PTFE membrane is published at 260 °C. For PP and PES duties, tell us your operating temperature and cleaning cycle and we will confirm which configuration holds.

Specifications

Parameter	Value
Length	10" (250 mm) · 20" (500 mm) · 30" (750 mm) · 40" (1000 mm)
Outer diameter	2.5" (63 mm) standard · other on request
Inner diameter	1.1" (28 mm)
Micron ratings	0.22 / 0.45 / 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 μm
Media options	PP pleated · PES membrane · PTFE membrane
Filtration area (20")	>0.5 m², varies with pleat count
Max differential pressure	3.4 bar (50 psi) at 25 °C
End caps	DOE · SOE-222 · SOE-226 · SOE-120
O-ring material	Silicone · EPDM · NBR · Viton (to order)
Core material	PP standard · SS304 optional

Typical Applications

Application	Typical rating	Why pleated
RO pre-treatment	5 – 20 μm	High dirt holding extends the interval between changes
Pharmaceutical & biopharma	0.22 / 0.45 μm	Low protein binding, absolute-rated membrane
Food and beverage	1 – 5 μm	Absolute rating for clarity and microbiological control
Chemical and solvent filtration	0.22 – 1 μm	Chemically inert PTFE media, high temperature
Electronics and battery electrolyte	0.22 – 1 μm	PTFE membrane, no extractables in aggressive fluids
Cooling water and process water	5 – 20 μm	Surface area gives longer service life than depth media

Absolute vs Nominal, and Why It Matters

A nominal rating means "most particles above this size are retained". An absolute rating means "essentially all particles above this size are retained", verified by a defined test. Pleated membrane cartridges are normally specified absolutely, which is why they are used where a downstream component cannot tolerate breakthrough — a 0.22 micron sterilising filter, or a membrane element that costs more than a year of pre-filters.

If you are comparing a pleated cartridge against a depth cartridge on price alone, compare absolute against absolute. A cheap nominal 5 micron cartridge and an absolute 5 micron cartridge are not the same product and should not be quoted as though they were.

OEM, Custom Sizes and Samples

We manufacture at our own factory, so custom lengths, non-standard end caps, specific O-ring materials and private-label packaging are all possible without a trading intermediary in the chain. Minimum order is 100 pieces per model, production runs 7-15 days after deposit, and free samples are available — you cover the courier.

See also: PTFE membrane cartridges, PES membrane cartridges, PP melt blown depth cartridges, and the PP vs PES selection guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pleated filter cartridge?

A pleated cartridge folds a flat filter medium into a concertina so that a large surface area fits inside a standard housing. That extra area is the whole point: compared with a depth cartridge of the same dimensions, a pleated cartridge holds more contaminant before the differential pressure rises, and it can be made in finer absolute ratings.

What is the difference between PP, PES and PTFE pleated cartridges?

The medium changes what the cartridge can survive rather than what it removes. PP pleated is the economical general-purpose choice for water and mild chemical duty. PES membrane is used where low protein binding and high flow matter, typically pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical work. PTFE membrane is chemically inert and rated to 260 C, so it is the choice for hot, aggressive streams such as solvents, amines and lithium battery electrolyte.

What micron ratings are available?

Membrane media run from 0.22 and 0.45 micron for sterile and bioburden duties, through 1, 5, 10 and 20 micron for particulate and pre-filtration work. The rating you need follows from what you are protecting downstream, not from the cartridge itself.

What end caps do your pleated cartridges use?

DOE, SOE-222, SOE-226 and SOE-120 as standard, in 10, 20, 30 and 40 inch lengths with a 2.5 inch outer diameter and 1.1 inch inner diameter. Non-standard end caps and custom lengths are available to order.

Can pleated cartridges be cleaned and reused?

A pleated membrane cartridge is a consumable, not a cleanable element. Backwashing or chemical cleaning damages the pleats and the membrane, and a cartridge that has been cleaned will not hold its rated efficiency. Change on differential pressure - a 1.0 to 1.5 bar rise above the clean figure is the usual trigger.

Do you supply pleated cartridges with OEM branding?

Yes. Custom lengths, micron ratings, end cap configurations, O-ring materials and private-label packaging are all available. Minimum order is 100 pieces per model and free samples are available - you cover the courier.