Microtech Filters Ltd. Hall 8 / F16

Microtech Filters supports an innovative air quality improvement product, nominated twice for the internationally renowned Earthshot prize

Microtech Filters is a UK Filter Manufacturer that has been manufacturing high quality, great value filters from its factory in Nottinghamshire for the past 40+ years. During this time, it has manufactured millions of filters of all shapes, sizes and specifications to customers all over the world, from the high-volume, routine filters to the more bespoke filters needed for more innovative and specialised products.

The AirSMART Pillar: One such innovative product is the AirSMART pillar by Tech Air Solutions, who approached Microtech to help them develop a bespoke, high-performance filter to go inside a new product they were developing. This new product sought to address dangerous levels of localised external air pollution, that was negatively impacting people’s lives.

The idea for the product came after one of the founders was sitting outside at a popular drive thru restaurant with his family and realised the large amount of dangerous air pollution they were being exposed to whilst having a meal.

This prompted the development of the AirSMART pillar, which utilises the latest in air quality detection technology and high-performance filtration to dramatically improve external air quality, in localised high pollution areas such as Drive Thrus, Bus stops, outside Hospitals and Care homes.

The AirSMART pillar consists of a robust column secured to the floor, containing a series of wirelessly enabled sensors, a high-powered fan and a high performance, long-life filter, as detailed in the cross-sectional image attached.

When polluted air is detected by the sensor at the base of the pillar, the powerful fan is activated, pulling the polluted air through a high-performance filter manufactured by Microtech Filters. This cleans the air and removes many of the pollutants, including Particulate Matter 2.5 and Nitrous Oxide, which have been proven to be a leading cause of respiratory illness and even death by the World Health Organisation.

Once the air passes through the filter, a sensor at the top of the pillar measures the pollution levels of the cleaned air and communicates with a control unit to switch the AirSMART pillar on and off based on preset air quality levels.

A dramatic reduction in localised external Air Pollution: The result is that the air expelled from the AirSMART Pillar is up to 78% less polluted compared to the air coming in. This technology, when deployed in high pollution, high footfall areas such as Drive Thrus, outside Schools, Hospitals and Care Homes, can dramatically reduce air pollution and significantly improve the health of those individuals in those areas.

Importantly, it also ensures many high pollution areas meet increasingly stringent air pollution standards, which if not met can lead to fines, making the AirSMART pillar a cost-effective solution compared to the fines that could be levied for non-compliance.

EarthShot Prize Nomination: “Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 ‘Moonshot’ to land a man on the moon within a decade, The Earthshot Prize was founded by His Royal Highness, Prince William in 2020 to spark the same spirit of collective ambition for our planet. By spotlighting the best examples of climate leadership and problem-solving from around the world, the Earthshot Prize aims to show that the answers to these problems exist and shine a light on innovative solutions that can help improve the world we all live in and inspire people everywhere.

This year, the AirSMART Pillar has been officially nominated for the Earthshot Prize 2026 in the 'Clean our Air' category, by the team at the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, at the University of Leeds. They recognised the continued development of the AirSMART pillar in combining the latest technology and filtration to clean the air in localised pollution hotspots and reduce the harmful impact of air pollution to human health.

Further recognition for innovation: In addition to the Earthshot nomination in 2024 and 2026, the AirSMART pillar was also selected in 2024 by the international healthcare provider, Bupa’s, eco-Disruptive innovation programme. Eco-disruptive is Bupa’s global talent and innovation programme, connecting BUPA’s people with start-ups working to find solutions to help those in society who face barriers to accessing quality healthcare. During this programme, the AirSMART Pillar was tested in a selection of Bupa’s hospital and care home locations where it realised an almost 80% reduction in air pollution in external air pollution hot spots, dramatically improving the local air quality for patients and care home residents..

Microtech Filters is proud to be supporting such innovative products and Microtech’s Managing Director, Paddy Moore, commented, “Being able to utilise our many years of experience in filtration and manufacturing to support innovative products such as the AirSMART Pillar and it being recognised by international bodies such as Earthshot is fantastic, and really plays to our strengths of being able to manufacture filters for a wide variety of applications.”

This builds on previous innovative projects Microtech have been asked to support on, including a new ‘quick swap’ filtration solution for Aston Martin vehicles, working in conjunction with Castrol, more details of which can be found here: https://www.microtechfilters.co.uk/projects/

Microtech at FILTECH 2026: Microtech filters are exhibiting at the FILTECH 2026 and will be located on stand F16 in Hall 8. They will have members of their expert team, sample filters and the AirSMART Pillar on display to provide clean air (and a cool breeze) to any stand visitors. Also, watch out for the World Cup themed element to their stand, where you can represent your team of choice for some light-hearted fun to break up your time at the event.

About Microtech Filters: Microtech Filters is a UK based filter manufacturer that has been operating since 1984. Working from a purpose-built factory in Nottinghamshire, is an expert team of 20+ employees, who between them have many years of combined experience, making tens of thousands of filters every year that we supply directly to customers and distributors all over the UK and overseas.

In recent years we have invested over half a million pounds in improving our facilities, doubling the size of our factory, purchasing new machinery and training our team. This investment in our facilities is enabling further growth, with Microtech Filters now able to reach new industries and markets. Microtech is also ISO 9001:2015 certified and committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.

Want to know more? If you would like to interview any of the team or would like additional information or imagery, please contact us by email: tom_at_microtechfilters.co.uk or call us on +44(0)1773 862345. There is further information on our website: https://www.microtechfilters.co.uk