Industries Partmo

In 1962, with just four machines and eight employees, founder Álvaro Duarte Mora started a company in Bucaramanga, Colombia, to manufacture oil, fuel, and air filters for vehicles and machinery. This was the beginning of Industries Partmo. The company focused on producing quality, affordable filters, which allowed it to grow steadily through the 1960s and 70s. The 1980s saw the company specialize in filters for diesel engines, establishing a leadership position in the region. After navigating a crisis in the 80s that included a fire at its production plant, Partmo entered a period of technological restructuring and expansion in the 90s. By 2001, it became the first filter company in Colombia to receive an ISO 9000 quality certification and opened a new manufacturing plant to meet domestic and international demand, exporting to more than 12 countries. A significant turning point came in September 2016, when Industries Partmo was acquired by the Donaldson Company, a global leader in the filtration industry. This acquisition was a strategic move for Donaldson to expand its engine filter business in South America, making the Partmo plant its first for engine liquid filters on the continent. The deal, valued at approximately $12.1 million, integrated Partmo's well-recognized brand and distribution network into Donaldson's global operations, aiming to strengthen its presence in the Latin American replacement parts market.