Proud of our heritage, LTE Scientific has been operating for over 75 years, continuing to uphold the values passed down through generations. Our commitment to great customer service and the manufacture of top-quality products is at the heart of everything we do. Each of our products is meticulously crafted to last, embodying the durability and excellence that have become synonymous with the LTE Scientific name.
Check out the key dates in our history below or find out all about our rich heritage from inception to current day below.
LTE was originally established in 1947 as a partnership by local businessmen, Herbert Parkin and William Heathcote. Based in Greenfield from the start, LTE was originally known as Laboratory Thermal Equipment, and specialized in the design and manufacture of ovens, incubators and other temperature controlled products. After only a few years, the expanding business soon necessitated larger buildings and in 1957 LTE moved into the premises it still occupies at Greenbridge Lane, Greenfield in the North West of England.
From September 1966, LTE was acquired and became part of the Baird & Tatlock group, an association which was to last for over 20 years. It was during this time that LTE expanded its laboratory and medical equipment product ranges, and in 1973 started to manufacture autoclaves for the life science sector.
In 1992 LTE returned to private ownership under the Perry family.
In December 2001, LTE acquired the business of a Northampton-based sterilizer manufacturer called Autoclave Control and Engineering (ACE), whose operation included a large service business and the design and manufacture of larger capacity steam sterilizers. This acquisition took LTE into the medical market for sterilizers, providing them with the ability to supply machines with a much higher capacity (up to 6000-litres). Renamed LTE Touchclave Systems, production was centralized to LTE’s HQ in July 2004 and since then, growth in the Touchclave brand has been sustained.
In 2007 LTE diversified further into the medical sector with a range of cabinets for the drying and storage of processed endoscopes. LTE’s Scope-Store range has grown in popularity since launch and has established a reputation as the market leader for endoscope drying and storage. The introduction of the new Scope-Store IQ+ took LTE to new levels of performance with its advanced controls and up to 30 days of safe storage for processed endoscopes.
In September 2016 LTE became the exclusive UK supplier of KEN Hygiene equipment, a leading Danish manufacturer of disinfection equipment.
This partnership allowed LTE to branch further into the medical and life-science markets by offering a more robust selection of products for disinfection including the IQ range of washer disinfectors, trolley washers and even an autonomous loading robot for busy CSSD units.
July 2022 marked an exciting year for LTE who, while celebrating their 75th Anniversary were acquired and became part of the SDI Group Plc (SDI) bringing an end to an impressive 30 years of private ownership by the Perry family. This new and exciting acquisition brought LTE into an established group with an outstanding record of growth following acquisitions and development of other businesses in similar sectors, including the life-science and medical markets.
LTE has always prioritized the quality and performance of its products, ensuring exceptional build quality, longevity, and reliability in operation. Our products are compliant with the latest regulatory and performance standards. We have a global network of distributors who share our commitment to providing high-quality equipment and service, ensuring that our customers receive the best possible experience.
We specialize in taking a consultative approach on most projects, working with our clients to create custom equipment tailored to meet specific their requirements, these projects constitute a significant portion of our production. This includes specialized autoclave machines and environmental rooms and demonstrates LTE’s commitment to bespoke solutions.
After-care is just as important as providing you with the best quality equipment, which is why we offer comprehensive product servicing, supported by a nationwide team of service engineers. Based out of our Manchester service center, our HTM and UKAS registered engineers provide maintenance, installation, validation, calibration, and repair services for both LTE and non-LTE brands across the entirety of the UK.
LTE is a great place to work whether you are based at its headquarters or out in the field. As a growing business we regularly have opportunities available, all of which will be advertised here.
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