Contacts | Export | Give Feedback
About Marathon Filters Inc. |
|
The Marathon story begins with Mountain Safety Research (MSR), then a subsidiary of Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) the well known Seattle-based international specialty retailer of quality outdoor gear and clothing. REI sales have expanded to $735 million in 2002 serving its 2.1 million members world-wide. MSR continues to build on a reputation for innovative designs of dependable, safe and easy-to-use gear for the backcountry dating back to 1973. During the mid 1990's MSR began a quest to develop a portable water filter system for the mountaineering and outdoor recreation market. Minimum performance requirements included efficiency of operation, microbiological effectiveness on treating waters of unknown quality, and being robust in extreme environments. While MSR evaluated several filtration technologies, research led to the selection of ceramic filter technology to meet the requirements for stringent microbiological retention and fail-safe performance. However, no ceramic filter on the market met MSR's requirements for both consistent quality and related cost. This led MSR to commit a significant R & D effort to optimize ceramic technology to meet these challenges. In cooperation with Professor O.J. Whittemore of the University of Washington Ceramic Engineering Department, MSR developed and patented a new and advantageous ceramic manufacturing process under U.S. Patent No. 5,656,220 born as "Marathon Ceramics". In 1998, the American Ceramics Society recognized the Marathon Ceramics for having developed one of the top ceramic innovations in the last 100 years. The Marathon patented extrusion process maintains the tightest control on dimensional specifications and microbiological performance in the industry. MSR, currently a division of Cascade Designs Inc., is the exclusive licensee of the Marathon Ceramics patent held by REI, for the outdoor backpacking market. MSR continues to utilize the Marathon Ceramic advantage in its current filtration and hydration product family with the MiniWorksąâ and WaterWorksąâ portable filter systems. Marathon Filters Inc., a privately-held Washington company, is the exclusive licensee of the Marathon Ceramic technology for the world-wide household point point-of-use, commercial and industrial cartridge markets. Marathon Filters Inc. and MSR share common production facilities in Seattle, WA. 
Ceramic Innovation innovations in ceramics was selected as one of the most important innovations in ceramics in the last 100 years  At their annual meeting held in Cinncinatti, Ohio. May, 1998.  of The American Ceramic Society with Marathon Ceramics display shown in the background. |
