A Journey Through Time

Our history

A Journey Through Time

Filtrona’s legacy began in 1854 when Moritz Bunzl founded his haberdashery in Bratislava under the name “Bunzl.” By the late 1920s, Bunzl pioneered commercial filter production, refining the manufacturing process by 1927.

In 1948, the company opened its first dedicated facility in Jarrow, UK, and expanded globally, establishing a presence in the US during the 1950s and advancing into Asia in the 1970s and 1980s. The name Filtrona was adopted in 1979 and became the identity of the manufacturing group that separated from Bunzl in 2005.

In 2013, the company rebranded as Essentra plc to signify its expansion into industrial components. In November, Centaury Management Limited acquired the successful Filter division and reinstated the Filtrona name, honouring its storied heritage of innovation.

Today, Filtrona stands as a global leader with nine manufacturing facilities, two Innovation Centres, an accredited laboratory, and a Centre of Excellence in sustainability. We offer an extensive array of solutions in filters and scientific services, continuing our tradition of excellence and innovation.

Our distinguished history propels us into a future filled with promise and opportunity.

1927

The first filter-tipped cigarette was introduced in Switzerland. The journey into cigarette filter production began in the 1920s, with a significant milestone reached in 1927 when Bunzl & Biach partnered with Aivaz (Boris Aivaz, the inventor of the crepe paper cigarette filter) to refine and advance his innovative concept at the company’s Ortmann factory.

1932

Bunzl & Biach (British) Ltd was founded in the United Kingdom. Within a few years, the company experienced a surge in global sales, distributing up to 370 tons of paper annually to 15 countries.

1940

The Bunzl family, driven out of Austria by the turmoil in Central Europe during the late 1930s, sought refuge in the United Kingdom and the United States. Rebuilding their lives from scratch, Hugo, George, and Martin Bunzl established a new business in London in 1940, naming it Tissue Papers Ltd.

1945

Cigarette Component Ltd was founded as a subsidiary of Tissue Papers Ltd, to specialise in the filter business.

1948

The first dedicated filter manufacturing plant was established in Jarrow, United Kingdom.

1954

Cigarette Components obtained a license from Eastman to produce acetate filter rods.
American Filtrona was established.

1970

In 1971, a new manufacturing plant was set up in Thailand.
In 1977, a new manufacturing plant was established in Indonesia.

1979

Cigarette Components was renamed Filtrona.

1983

Scientific Services was established in the United Kingdom to offer commercial testing services, helping customers to meet regulatory and product development requirements.

1993-2001

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, extensive investments were made in new, efficient manufacturing equipment.
Several plants were opened in Greensboro (1993), India (1994), Jordan (1995), Venezuela (1999), Richmond (2000), and Paraguay (2001).

2005

Filtrona plc was spun off as an independent company. P.P. Payne was also demerged from Bunzl and became part of the Filtrona Group, where it was renamed Payne.