Heritage
Our Story
Filtrona has a long and distinguished history, dating back to 1854 when Moritz Bunzl opened his haberdashery business in Bratislava under the brand name “Bunzl”.
In the early 1920s, Bunzl began commercial filter production and, by 1927, had formalised its manufacturing process.
In the 1940s, a dedicated commercial filter manufacturing facility was established in Jarrow, UK. Bunzl continued to grow the business organically, as well as through acquisitions. Filtrona Corporation and the P.P Payne tapes business were 2 of these acquisitions. This eventually led to the creation of the market-leading RippaTape® solution in the 1950s.
With continued success, Filtrona became the market leading brand of the fibers division. In 2005, Filtrona was separated from Bunzl as a standalone business.
In 2013, the company rebranded as Essentra plc to reflect its diversification into the manufacturing of other industrial components. In December 2022, the Filters division of Essentra was sold to Centaury Management Limited. The company was subsequently rebranded back as Filtrona to acknowledge its rich heritage.
Today, Filtrona currently has 11 manufacturing facilities, 3 Innovation Centres, 1 accredited laboratory, and a Centre of Excellence focused on sustainability. We are truly a global partner in helping our customers with their filter and tape solutions.
Our history is distinguished and our future is promising.
Our Story Timeline
Moritz Bunzl opens haberdashery business in Bratislava.
Filtrona’s journey was anything but easy. It all began in Bratislava with a small business in haberdashery.
Filtrona’s journey was anything but easy. It all began in Bratislava with a small business in haberdashery.
After entering the rag trade, Bunzi family moves headquarters to Vienna, changing name to Bunzl & Biach.
The business was originally known as Emmanual Biach’s and became Bunzl & Biach under Bunzl’s three sons, after moving to Vienna in 1883. By then, Bunzl & Biach had moved into the rag trade.
The business was originally known as Emmanual Biach’s and became Bunzl & Biach under Bunzl’s three sons, after moving to Vienna in 1883. By then, Bunzl & Biach had moved into the rag trade.
Paper production is launched.
The rag trade led the family into developing businesses producing textiles, as well as pulp and paper, with the opening of the company’s first paper mill at Ortmann in 1888.
The rag trade led the family into developing businesses producing textiles, as well as pulp and paper, with the opening of the company’s first paper mill at Ortmann in 1888.
First filter-tipped cigarette launched in Switzerland.
The first move into cigarette filter production came in the 1920s. Perfection in production came by 1927 when Bunzl & Biach agreed to allow Aivaz (Boris Aivaz was the inventor of the cigarette filter device using crepe paper) to further develop his idea at the company’s Ortmann factory.
The first move into cigarette filter production came in the 1920s. Perfection in production came by 1927 when Bunzl & Biach agreed to allow Aivaz (Boris Aivaz was the inventor of the cigarette filter device using crepe paper) to further develop his idea at the company’s Ortmann factory.
Bunzl & Biach (British) Ltd established in UK
Within a few years, world wide sales network boomed and the company was selling paper to 15 countries at 370 tons / year.
Within a few years, world wide sales network boomed and the company was selling paper to 15 countries at 370 tons / year.
The Bunzl’s establish a new business in London, called Tissue Papers Ltd.
The upheaval in Central Europe forced the Jewish Bunzl family to flee Austria in the late 1930s. Most of the family emigrated to the United Kingdom and United States. Forced to rebuild from nothing, the Bunzls, then led by Hugo, George, and Martin Bunzl, founded a new company, Tissue Papers Ltd. in 1940.
The upheaval in Central Europe forced the Jewish Bunzl family to flee Austria in the late 1930s. Most of the family emigrated to the United Kingdom and United States. Forced to rebuild from nothing, the Bunzls, then led by Hugo, George, and Martin Bunzl, founded a new company, Tissue Papers Ltd. in 1940.
Cigarette Component Ltd.
The year when Cigarette Component Ltd was formed as a subsidiary of Tissue Papers Ltd to concentrate on the filter business.
The year when Cigarette Component Ltd was formed as a subsidiary of Tissue Papers Ltd to concentrate on the filter business.
Jarrow's first filter manufacturing plant was opened in the UK
Bunzl Pulp & Paper launches production of cellulose acetate-based cigarette filters; founding of American Filtrona by a branch of Bunzl family.
Cigarette filter became increasingly important as part of the group’s operations due to market trend and demand. By 1954, the American branch of the Bunzl family joined in, forming American Filtrona Corporation. Simultaneously, the development of a new cellulose acetate-based filter provided a new boost for the market and demand skyrocketed.
Cigarette filter became increasingly important as part of the group’s operations due to market trend and demand. By 1954, the American branch of the Bunzl family joined in, forming American Filtrona Corporation. Simultaneously, the development of a new cellulose acetate-based filter provided a new boost for the market and demand skyrocketed.
Bunzl lists as a public company on the London Stock Exchange
Consistent investment in production and innovation enabled the company to position itself as the world’s leading filter manufacturer. The company controlled a near-monopoly on the production of filters in the United Kingdom alone. With a strong positioning, the company went public to spur its growth exponentially.
Consistent investment in production and innovation enabled the company to position itself as the world’s leading filter manufacturer. The company controlled a near-monopoly on the production of filters in the United Kingdom alone. With a strong positioning, the company went public to spur its growth exponentially.
American Tobacco Company introduced dual filters.
Cigarette Component Ltd started dual rod manufacturing offering various models to the market.
Cigarette Component Ltd started dual rod manufacturing offering various models to the market.
Bunzl acquires parents company, Bunzl & Biach.
As the recognition of the danger posed by smoking became more widely accepted, diversification into the packaging industry began in the 1960s. Additionally, as part of Bunzl’s effort to reduce its reliance on cigarette filters, the company took over its parent company in the 1970.
As the recognition of the danger posed by smoking became more widely accepted, diversification into the packaging industry began in the 1960s. Additionally, as part of Bunzl’s effort to reduce its reliance on cigarette filters, the company took over its parent company in the 1970.
A new manufacturing plant in Thailand.
In 1971, Filtrona established a new Thailand plant. A few years later in 1977, a new Indonesia plant was built. Both plants were upgraded between 1987 to 2011.
In 1971, Filtrona established a new Thailand plant. A few years later in 1977, a new Indonesia plant was built. Both plants were upgraded between 1987 to 2011.
Company begins developing plastics packaging and outsourcing services operations.
Bunzl is a diversified business with a fine paper distribution and manufacturing arm as the future Filtrona began to take shape.
Bunzl is a diversified business with a fine paper distribution and manufacturing arm as the future Filtrona began to take shape.
Scientific Services laboratory was established in the UK to support product development.
Spinoff of Filtrona
The strong growth of Bunzl’s outsourcing services division led the group to split up its operations, spinning off its fiber and plastics technologies into a new publicly listed company, Filtrona.
The strong growth of Bunzl’s outsourcing services division led the group to split up its operations, spinning off its fiber and plastics technologies into a new publicly listed company, Filtrona.
Commitment to the Tobacco Industry
Extensive investments in new, efficient manufacturing equipment were made in the 1990s to 2000. Multiple plants were opened in Greensboro, India, Jordan, Venezuela, New Richmond and Paraguay.
Extensive investments in new, efficient manufacturing equipment were made in the 1990s to 2000. Multiple plants were opened in Greensboro, India, Jordan, Venezuela, New Richmond and Paraguay.
Bunzl acquires American Filtrona
Acquisition of American Filtrona Corporation which delivered significant extra filter and bonded fibre technology and an extrusion business.
Acquisition of American Filtrona Corporation which delivered significant extra filter and bonded fibre technology and an extrusion business.
Multiple acquisitions and restructuring to boost growth again.
Bunzl's acquisitions spanning across Netherlands, United States, and Switzerland greatly boosted the growth in the paper and plastics divisions.
Simultaneously, new plants were opened in the early 2000s at Greensboro and Paraguay.
Bunzl's acquisitions spanning across Netherlands, United States, and Switzerland greatly boosted the growth in the paper and plastics divisions.
Simultaneously, new plants were opened in the early 2000s at Greensboro and Paraguay.
Filtrona plc to re-brand to Essentra plc
The name change realigns the company with its parent, which changed its name from Filtrona PLC to Essentra PLC. In a press note announcing the name change, EFP, which has its headquarters in Singapore, described itself as the world’s leading independent provider of special filters and scientific services to the tobacco industry.
The name change realigns the company with its parent, which changed its name from Filtrona PLC to Essentra PLC. In a press note announcing the name change, EFP, which has its headquarters in Singapore, described itself as the world’s leading independent provider of special filters and scientific services to the tobacco industry.
Change of ownership of the former filters and tapes division of Essentra plc, resulting in rebranding as Filtrona.
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