Lontra

About Lontra

Lontra is an engineering technology company that has developed the first major innovation in industrial air compressors in over 80 years. Founded by Steve Lindsey in 2004 and headquartered in the UK, the company designs and manufactures the Blade Compressor®, a patented technology that offers significant energy savings and increased reliability compared to traditional designs. Compressors are a major consumer of industrial electricity, accounting for up to 10% of Europe's usage, and Lontra's technology has demonstrated electricity savings of up to 34%.

The company's core product, the LP2 Blade Blower, is based on a novel rotary design that wraps a traditional piston and cylinder into a toroidal shape, with a rotating blade compressing air in a continuous cycle. This results in lower energy consumption, oil-free operation, reduced noise, and greater durability. Initially, Lontra licensed its technology to partners like global leader Sulzer. However, the company has since transitioned to manufacturing its own branded products. Lontra established a smart factory in Doncaster to scale up production, with plans to quadruple output annually through 2025 to meet growing demand, particularly from the US market which accounts for a significant portion of the global market.

Lontra serves a wide range of essential industries, including water treatment, food and beverage production, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Its business model includes direct sales of its compressor units and a growing focus on digital services. The company has launched a high-value global services business that uses IoT, advanced sensors, and AI to offer remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and complete asset management for its machines worldwide. This service model aims to reduce maintenance costs, prevent unscheduled downtime, and further lower energy bills for its customers.

The company has secured significant funding to support its growth, including grants from the EU's Horizon 2020 fund and investments from private networks and regional authorities, enabling the construction of its manufacturing and digital service centers. The development is part of a larger strategy to expand research, development, and manufacturing capabilities across the UK.