Our 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 two of these acquisitions. This eventually led to the creation of the market-leading RippaTape® solution in the 1950s.
With continued success, Filtrona became the industry-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
Tapes business established in 1911 by Percy Philip (P. P.) Payne, manufacturing cotton tapes for the local textile industry.
Boris Aivaz patented the first cigarette filter tip, complete with a manufactruing machine. Aivaz approached Hugo Bunzl for assistance, and was given the R&D support of Bunzl’s paper mills.
First filter-tipped cigarette launched in Switzerland.
The first move into cigarette filter production came in the 1920s. Perfection in production was achieved 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 was achieved 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 was established in the United Kingdom. Within a few years, global sales boomed and the company was selling up to 370 tons of paper every year to 15 countries.
The Bunzls established 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 was established.
The year when Cigarette Component Ltd was formed as a subsidiary of Tissue Papers Ltd to focus on the filter business.
The year when Cigarette Component Ltd was formed as a subsidiary of Tissue Papers Ltd to focus on the filter business.
First dedicated filter manufacturing plant established in Jarrow, United Kingdom.
Rippatape® was invented - the first tear tape based on cotton fibres, used for easy opening of boxes and sacks.
- Cigarette Components was licensed by Eastman to produce acetate filter rods.
- American Filtrona established as part of its international expansion.
A new manufacturing plant in Thailand.
In 1971, Filtrona established a new plant in Thailand. In 1977, a new plant was built in Indonesia. Both plants were upgraded between 1987 and 2011.
In 1971, Filtrona established a new plant in Thailand. In 1977, a new plant was built in Indonesia. Both plants were upgraded between 1987 and 2011.
Cigarette Components was renamed as Filtrona.
Scientific Services laboratory was established in the United Kingdom to support product development.
Self-adhesive tear tape was used on cigarette packaging for the first time.
Commitment to the Tobacco Industry
Extensive investments in new, efficient manufacturing equipment were made in the 1990s to early 2000s. Multiple plants were opened in Greensboro (1993), India (1994), Jordan (1995), Venezuela (1999), Richmond (2000), and Paraguay (2001).
Extensive investments in new, efficient manufacturing equipment were made in the 1990s to early 2000s. Multiple plants were opened in Greensboro (1993), India (1994), Jordan (1995), Venezuela (1999), Richmond (2000), and Paraguay (2001).
Bunzl acquired P.P. Payne's tear tapes business as a complementary business to filters.
Spinoff of Filtrona PLC as an independent company. P.P. Payne was also demerged from Bunzl and formed part of the Filtrona Group where it was renamed to Payne.
Established a new plant in Hungary. In 2010, the Asia Development Centre was set up to support businesses in Asia.
Filters head office established in Singapore.
Filtrona plc re-branded to Essentra plc.
Essentra Dubai was established.
Essentra Dubai was established.
Joint Venture in China began manufacturing operations.
Change of ownership of the former filters and tapes division of Essentra plc, resulting in the rebranding to Filtrona.
Previous
Next
Heritage Gallery
Our People
Our Factories
Our Machines
Our People
Our Factories
Our Machines
