History

Filtrona Porous Technologies was created on 26 September 2008, with the Filtrona acquisition of Lendell Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer of hydrophilic foam. Filtrona Porous Technologies represents the expansion of Filtrona Fibertec beyond the boundaries of bonded fiber technology into other liquid handling technologies, with the purpose of serving as the first choice worldwide for custom liquid handling components of multiple technologies and materials for consumer and professional products.

The history of the Fibertec bonded fiber technology division of Filtrona Porous Technologies for many years consisted of two distinct entities that at different moments were either united under common management or operated independently: the Richmond, VA-based U.S. Filter Corporation of 1954, and the German-based Filtrona Filters GmbH, also of 1954.

The seminal event of the Fibertec bonded fiber division occurred in 1997 with the Bunzl plc acquisition of American Filtrona and the incorporation of both companies under Bunzl’s Filtrona International division. In 2003 the organization assumed its current global form with Richmond, Virginia marked as headquarters and construction approval for the Ningbo, China facility granted. The Fibertec bonded fiber group retained this structure with the Filtrona plc demerger from Bunzl plc in 2005. Throughout both the Virginia and German company stories the Bunzl name is ever present, going as far back as a haberdashery business in Slovakia more than 150 years ago.

Since 1954 Filtrona Porous Technologies – doing business as Filtrona Fibertec, Filtrona Filters GmbH, American Filtrona, or Filtrona Richmond Inc. – has been awarded more than 80 U.S. patents.

Chronology

2009

• Filtrona Porous Technologies develops Medisponge RBR, a fiber-reinforced hydrophilic foam that unites the two technologies of the Fibertec business and Lendell Foams.

2008

• Filtrona plc acquires Lendell Manufacturing Inc., a leading manufacturer of hydrophilic foam.
• Filtrona Porous Technologies is created, combining the bonded fiber technology of Filtrona Fibertec and the foam technology of Lendell into a single operating and corporately branded unit.

2007

• Filtrona Fibertec celebrates the expansion of its Ningbo, China facility. The facility's production space is doubled in size and a new analytical laboratory is established.

2005

• Filtrona Fibertec’s plant in Ningbo, China, opens.
• Filtrona Fibertec’s parent division, Filtrona International, demerges from Bunzl plc to form Filtrona plc and becomes a separate, publicly traded company listed on the FTSE (FLTR.L).

2003

• The bonded fiber products division of Filtrona International changes its name to Filtrona Fibertec and combines all bonded fibers businesses into a single enterprise.
• Filtrona International acquires the Fibertec division of Baumgartner S.A.
• Filtrona International approves the construction of a new bonded fibers manufacturing facility in Ningbo, China.

2001

• American Filtrona’s bonded fibers business moves into a new headquarters, research and development technical center, and manufacturing plant in the Richmond, Virginia, area.

1997

• Acquisition of American Filtrona Corp by Bunzl plc occurs.

1994

• R.H. Bunzl retires as chairman of the American Filtrona board.

1992

• American Filtrona opens a new cigarette-filters plant in Virginia.
• American Filtrona enters the printer systems market with inkjet absorptive pad components.

1990

• The household products market segment is entered with liquid air freshener wicks.

1989

• American Filtrona introduces XPE technology to the writing instruments segment, revolutionizing the industry.

1987

• R.H. Bunzl retires as CEO of American Filtrona Corporation.

1984

• The cross-ownership relationship dating to 1967 between American Filtrona Corporation and Bunzl plc is dissolved.
• The medical diagnostics market segment is entered with a reservoir designed for a flow-through immunodiagnostic kit.

1972

• American Filtrona Corporation becomes a publicly held company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Bunzl plc continues to own a minority share of the company.

1968

• Filtrona Filter GmbH begins production of extruded wrapped writing instrument ink reservoirs.

1967

• Control of American Filtrona Corporation is transferred from the United Kingdom to the United States. Joint cooperation with Bunzl plc is maintained.

1965

• U.S. Filter Corporation changes its name to American Filtrona Corporation.

1963

• U.S. Filter Corporation moves into a new building that houses its headquarters and technical and manufacturing operations.

1960

• Transorb® ink reservoirs are introduced by the U.S. Filter Corporation.
• Filtrona Filter GmbH begins reservoir production for writing instruments.

1955

• Filtrona Filter GmbH is founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bunzl Pulp & Paper Ltd., UK. It begins manufacturing cigarette filters in Glinde, Germany.

1954

• Robert and Hugo Bunzl form U.S. Filter Corporation to manufacture cigarette filters in Richmond, Virginia.

1939–1953

• Bunzl Pulp & Paper Ltd. (formerly Tissue Papers Limited) forms a subsidiary called Cigarette Components, Ltd., in London. It uses Filtrona as a trade name.

Note: We would like to thank Rudy H. Bunzl and the Virginia Historical Society for assistance in gathering this information.