History

Growth Through Innovation

A diverse market presence

Long before Filtrona Porous Technologies’ growing portfolio of products, our diverse market presence started with bonded fiber. It began in 1960 with the production of writing instrument reservoirs for ink management and continued with pregnancy test wicks for the healthcare market in 1984. For the next 24 years, innovation evolved at a faster rate with entry into other consumer-oriented markets, the professional healthcare market, and industrial markets, with products from liquid air freshener wicks to inkjet printer ink absorption pads and make-up delivery components for eyeliners and lipliners. 

Today, Filtrona Porous Technologies’ range of expertise and technologies enables a growing number of industries and applications to thrive from our high-quality fluid handling components.

History timeline

Filtrona Porous Technologies has been known by several different names since its start in 1952.

• Brothers Robert and Hugo Bunzl founded U.S. Filter Corporation in Virginia and Filtrona Filter GmbH in Germany, both of which later operated under Bunzl plc.
• U.S. Filter Corporation changed its name to American Filtrona Corporation (AFC) in 1965 and was later listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1972.
• In 1984, the cross-ownership between AFC and Bunzl plc was dissolved. The relationship between the two was reestablished in 1997 when Bunzl plc acquired AFC.
• The non-tobacco fiber products of AFC and Filtrona Filter GmbH were then combined under Bunzl’s Filtrona International division.
• The fiber products division of Filtrona International became Filtrona Fibertec in 2003.
• Two years later, Filtrona Fibertec’s parent division, Filtrona International, demerged from Bunzl to form Filtrona plc and became a separate, publicly traded company listed on the FTSE 250.
• The present day Filtrona Porous Technologies was created in 2008 when polyurethane foam maker Lendell Manufacturing, Inc. was acquired and added to the bonded fiber business.
• Filtrona Porous Technologies introduced porous plastic in 2010, growing the portfolio of technologies.
• The 2012 acquisition of Korea-based Jae Yong Co., Ltd expands Filtrona Porous Technologies' portfolio of writing instruments components.
• The 2012 acquisition of Lymtech Scientific expands Filtrona Porous Technologies' technology solutions to include specialty cleanroom products.

Learn more about each of our core technologies »

Our Business