2024 is a special year for Microtech Filters as it marks their 40th anniversary, not only giving them cause to celebrate, but also giving them the perfect excuse to look back on their history and reflect about what comes next.
This once niche vacuum cleaner filter manufacturer started life back in 1984, under J Parkinson Holdings, until 2011 when it was sold as part of a management buy-out to the current owner directors, Paddy Moore and Sharon Burgin.
Since its inception, Microtech has always been based in it’s purpose-built factory in Pinxton, Nottingham, which has undergone a series of changes over the past 40 years, particularly in the past five years, as Microtech continues to innovate and ensure it delivers filter manufacturing excellence to provide high quality, long-lasting and great value filters.
The Early years (1984 – 1994)
Microtech filters was founded in 1984 where their entire focus was on manufacturing filters for vacuum cleaners, that at the end of every week were collected and supplied directly to a vacuum cleaner manufacturer to install in their new products.
It was also during this period that one of the current owner directors, Sharon Burgin, started work at Microtech, then very much at the start of her career, building up her experience of the filter industry that one day would lead to her taking the helm with her business partner, Paddy.
The Adolescence years (1995-2004)
In 1995, Microtech started to diversify, moving into manufacturing Hydraulic, Fuel and Lube filters, which soon accounted for 30% of sales, yet vacuum cleaner filters still remained their key product.
Fast forward to 1998, and Microtech’s other current owner director, Patrick Moore (or Paddy as he prefers to be called) joined Microtech as a production manager and after just one year was appointed as General Manager to help drive Microtech Filters forward.
Shortly after, at the start of the new millennium, Microtech started to invest in new machinery, including blade pleaters, so that it could further diversify its filter manufacturing capabilities and open up new markets. It also focussed more on its quality and standards, enabling it to achieve ISO accreditation in 2002, which further opened the door to new customers seeking their new range of high quality filters.
Early Adulthood (2005 – 2011)
With all of the investment into new machinery, Microtech added the manufacture of Dust Filters to its catalogue. This increased range and volume of filters transformed Microtech Filters as they started to appeal to new customers, so much so, that by 2009 they decided to stop manufacturing the vacuum cleaner filters they used to exclusively produce for over a decade.
Adulthood: A Change of Direction (2011 – 2019)
In 2011, Paddy and Sharon, undertook a management buyout from J Parkinson Holdings to become owner/directors of Microtech Filters. Keen to make their mark and move Microtech into its next exciting chapter, the new directors embarked on a decade long journey to build on the successes of Microtech’s past to grow even more and provide additional jobs for the local community.
This resulted in the development of a new, modern logo, a new website, the hiring of new staff, including Tom Stone, Microtech’s current General Manager, who was then hired as a Health and Safety officer, as well as the remodelling and modernisation of the whole factory that lead to improved manufacturing methods and becoming more efficient.
There was also new investment into new machinery, including an Ultrasonic Filter Welder, which enabled superior bonding of filter media in a shorter time, resulting in a better-quality product at a lower cost.
All of this new investment and working practices resulted in Microtech Filters reaching a key revenue milestone of £2 million per annum by 2019, which paved the way for further development and expansion come the start of a new decade.
Approaching mid-life: (2020 – 2024)
In 2020, like the rest of the world, Microtech Filters was impacted by Covid. During that time, they worked hard to ensure the safety and security of their staff by utilising furlough schemes, implementing split shifts and changing the factory layout to minimise contact. This meant Microtech Filters could continue producing filters, which were particularly in demand due to the pandemic.
This demand became especially acute when approached by a social entrepreneur who had used crowdfunding to develop a new type of FFP2 mask and wanted Microtech Filter’s help to design and manufacturer bespoke replaceable filters that could be used in the masks to help those working on the front line. By the end of the pandemic, Microtech had manufactured around 10,000 face mask filters and was proud it could contribute in some way in this once in a lifetime event.
The pandemic also gave time to pause and think about what was next, which gave rise to Tech Air Solutions, an innovative startup setup by Microtech Filters to utilise its filters in new and innovative ways. Since its inception, Tech Air Solutions has collaborated with several academic institutions, won several prizes for its idea and was nominated twice for a 2024 Earthshot prize.
After the pandemic, Microtech invested half a million pounds into extending their factory, which increased capacity by 58%. At the same time, new machinery was also purchased, investment was made into staff training and Microtech underwent an update to its communications, including a new, modern website, being more active on social media and attending key shows, such as the Air Pollution Control Expo (Find us at stand AP-E30). This new focus and investment resulted in 2023 being Microtech Filter’s best sales year to date.
The Future: 2024 & Beyond (40+)
As Microtech Filters now celebrates its 40th Anniversary in 2024, it brings into focus the future and what is next. For some, turning 40 can elicit notions of a midlife crisis, which often bring questions over identity and confusion over what comes next, however for Microtech Filters, this could not be further from the truth.
Tom Stone, Microtech’s General manager reflected on this milestone by saying:
“We started our 40th anniversary year with a strong foundation after the recent investments into our facilities and having our best ever sales results, which gives us great confidence for the future. As we continue to innovate, whether this is through new applications of our filters via our startup, Tech Air Solutions, or by introducing new mediums and manufacturing processes, we are able to show that UK manufacturing can compete with the rest of the world by producing high quality products at great value.”
In addition to the operational aspects of the company, Microtech Filters also wants to ensure any future growth is done sustainably. This is why they are committed to being carbon neutral by 2035, with recent investments in an onsite water treatment plant and shift from an oil to LPG heat source.
Other plans include the imminent introduction of solar panels to help power the factory, a move by our senior team to all drive zero emission vehicles and actively working with our delivery partners to continually reduce CO2 emissions when delivering products to customers. And with our recent overhaul of our website and communications, we are now looking brighter, cleaner, clearer and with a sense of purpose, like never before.
However, there is still much more Microtech Filters want to do, but with a great team, excellent facilities and fantastic customers, Microtech Filters has an exciting future ahead of them and they look forward to working with many more customers who want long-lasting, high quality and great value filters.
