Marathon’s History

Our history in the textiles industry is long established. Since the early days, we’ve grown into a market leader that others now follow.

Our unique history in textiles

Formed in 1976 to fill a small niche as a woven conveyor belt manufacturer, we’ve developed into a multi-faceted textiles specialist that leads in the field of performance textiles for a wide range of demanding applications.

Year 1976

We began trading, initially as a woven conveyor, transmission and lifting belt manufacturer.  While this still forms part of our business, we now provide a much wider range of products and expertise in the field of technical textiles.  The photograph shows a drop stamp, which utilises a high tensile nylon lifting belt, a product and application we still manufacture and supply to this date.

Year 1976

Year 1989

Marathon has always been dedicated to pursuing innovation across its processes and product development programmes. In 1989 we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement.  We currently export to 120 countries across the globe.

Year 1989

Year 1990

In 1990, we started intensive development in our quality system with successful assessment to BS 5750 (Part 2) achieved in 1992. Our system and documentation have subsequently been updated to meet the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001:2015.

Year 1990

Year 1994

Once again in 1994 we were awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement.  We currently export to 120 countries across the globe

Year 1994

Year 1995

Marathon introduced Copsil woven press pads for compensation purposes in short-cycle lamination processes during 1995. The first pads to use elastomer instead of traditional woven textile fibres, it was heralded as an innovation with unsurpassed performance.

Year 1995

Year 1999

1999 was again a great year for Marathon, achieving yet another Queen’s Award – this time for Technological Achievement. Our passion for pursuing new technologies in textiles has kept us at the forefront of the industry.

Year 1999

Year 2007

In 2007 Heimbach, manufacturers of paper machine clothing (PMC), took over the shareholding of Marathon. This considerably expanded their technical textiles product portfolio.  This acquisition resulted in Heimbach being the major manufacturer of Press Pads for the laminate industry.

Year 2007

To the present day

We are now one the most prominent and successful specialist textile businesses in the UK, enjoying considerable success globally and working with customers around the world. 

Our ability to solve problems, create cost effective solutions, and produce abrasion and heat resistant textile solutions and press pads for a range of demanding applications, is unrivalled.

To the present day

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