M&I Materials
M&I Materials is a UK-headquartered specialty materials manufacturer producing Apiezon vacuum sealants, Metrosil silicon carbide varistors, Wolfmet tungsten heavy alloys, and MI240 performance biolubricants for aerospace, power, scientific research, and industrial customers in 65+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1901
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What M&I Materials does
M&I Materials Limited is a UK-headquartered specialty materials manufacturer, founded in 1901 in its original form and reconstituted in 1993 via a management buyout from GEC Alsthom. Operating from a 13,000 m² purpose-built facility in Salford, Manchester, with a representative office in Shanghai, the company develops and manufactures four retained product lines: Apiezon high-vacuum sealants and greases (in continuous production since 1926), Metrosil silicon carbide varistors for overvoltage surge protection (since 1937), Wolfmet tungsten heavy alloys including 3D-printed pure tungsten components, and Performance Biolubricants (MI240), a range of synthetic ester-based environmentally acceptable lubricants launched in 2021. These products are sold into aerospace, power generation and transmission, scientific research (including particle physics, fusion, and cryogenics), semiconductor fabrication, and industrial manufacturing — applications demanding decades-long in-service validation and certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and AS9100D.
The company operates a direct sales model supported by a worldwide distributor network and a multilingual applications-engineering team providing technical support to enterprise customers across 65+ countries. Named end-users include Boeing, NASA, CERN, ITER, Siemens, ABB, Oxford Instruments, and the Three Gorges Dam. Pricing is product-line specific — small-pack vacuum sealants sold through distributors and direct to research labs, tungsten alloy components quoted by specification, and industrial lubricants sold through both direct OEM engagement and channel partners (including the OMS LubriTek agreement for MI240 in plastics manufacturing). Revenue mechanics are weighted toward repeat specification-driven orders on long product lifecycles rather than transactional volume.
M&I Materials is privately held by the Salt family with no external equity backing. In December 2023 the company sold its MIDEL synthetic ester transformer fluid and MIVOLT dielectric immersion cooling fluid businesses to Shell Lubricants, materially refocusing the portfolio on the four retained product lines. The 2026 leadership transition moved Steve Burns (CFO for nearly ten years) to Group CEO, with Giles Salt becoming Executive Chairman. The company has recorded staff attrition below 4% for over 20 years, reflecting deep institutional knowledge in niche material chemistry and applications engineering. EcoVadis progression from Bronze (2021) to Silver (2022) signals ESG-procurement readiness for European utilities and Tier-1 OEM customers.
M&I Materials firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- M&I Materials
- Legal name
- M&I Materials Limited
- Website
- https://mimaterials.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1901
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- M&I Materials is a UK-headquartered specialty materials manufacturer producing Apiezon vacuum sealants, Metrosil silicon carbide varistors, Wolfmet tungsten heavy alloys, and MI240 performance biolubricants for aerospace, power, scientific research, and industrial customers in 65+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
M&I Materials industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Industrial Materials
- NAICS
- Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials) (IMAEABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Gear Oils & Transmission Fluids (IMAEAMAE)
Keywords
Where M&I Materials is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
M&I Materials business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Specialist Materials Manufacturing: M&I Materials manufactures and sells specialist materials for industry and science. The company produces Apiezon (vacuum greases, sealants), Metrosil (surge protection), Performance Biolubricants (biodegradable lubricants), and Wolfmet (tungsten alloys). Revenue is generated through direct product sales to industrial and scientific customers globally.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
M&I Materials product offering
Product offeringCore offering
M&I Materials manufactures and sells specialist materials for industry and science across four core product brands: Apiezon (high vacuum greases, waxes, and sealants), Metrosil (silicon carbide surge protection varistors), Performance Biolubricants/MI240 (synthetic ester-based environmentally acceptable lubricants), and Wolfmet (tungsten heavy alloy components for aerospace, radiation shielding, and motorsport). The company develops proprietary formulations in-house and supplies niche, application-specific products to industrial and scientific customers worldwide.
Product overview
M&I Materials is a specialist materials manufacturer offering a portfolio of distinct product brands for demanding industrial and scientific applications. The company operates four core product divisions: Apiezon (high vacuum greases, waxes, and sealants), Metrosil (silicon carbide surge protection varistors), Performance Biolubricants (MI240 environmentally acceptable lubricants), and Wolfmet (tungsten heavy alloys for aerospace, nuclear medicine, and industrial applications). The company also previously owned MIDEL and MIVOLT ester fluid businesses, which were sold to Shell Lubricants in December 2023. M&I Materials serves customers in over 65 countries across aerospace, power infrastructure, scientific research, and industrial sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Apiezon: Range of specialist greases, waxes and oils for industrial and scientific high vacuum process applications and equipment
- Metrosil
- Performance Biolubricants
- Wolfmet
- MI240
Products and services
- Apiezon A range of high vacuum sealants, greases, waxes, oils, lubricants and etch resist products used in aerospace, cryogenics, laboratory, electronics, and semiconductor applications for their quality, consistency and performance in vacuum environments.
- Metrosil Non-linear silicon carbide varistor resistors providing surge protection for substations, power stations, generators and critical electrical infrastructure against overvoltage events, with energy absorption ratings from 10 to 50,000 joules per disc.
- Performance Biolubricants (MI240) High-performing Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) including the MI240 range of synthetic ester-based fluids for hydraulic systems, industrial chains (bike, forestry), and motor applications, offering biodegradability and low carbon residue properties.
- Wolfmet Tungsten Heavy Alloys High performance 90-97% tungsten heavy alloy components used for mass balancing in aerospace, radiation shielding in nuclear medicine, vibration damping in motorsport, and precision components. Includes Wolfmet 3D printed pure tungsten parts such as collimators and radiation shields.
Companies that use M&I Materials
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
M&I Materials technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
M&I Materials partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Shell LubricantsmajorM&I Materials sold its MIDEL and MIVOLT ester fluid businesses to Shell Lubricants. The sale completed on December 31, 2023. MIDEL was a pioneering synthetic ester transformer fluid developed in the 1970s, while MIVOLT was launched in 2019 for immersion cooling applications. Both brands achieved market-leading positions before the sale.
- OMS LubriTekcorePerformance Biolubricants, a division of M&I Materials, partnered with oil management service provider OMS LubriTek. OMS became an MI240 HYDRAULIC Service Partner, delivering biodegradable hydraulic fluid and sustainability benefits to the plastics manufacturing sector. MI240 is a synthetic ester-based fluid that reduces particle contamination and extends equipment life.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
M&I Materials competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Croda International: UK-headquartered specialty chemicals company serving personal care, life sciences, and industrial markets with engineered ingredients and formulations. Broad incumbent comparable to M&I Materials' specialty engineered materials approach and similar UK independent ownership heritage.
- Kennametal: US-based manufacturer of tungsten carbide tooling, wear-resistant components, and engineered materials for industrial markets. Broad incumbent comparable to Wolfmet in tungsten-based industrial products, with broader market exposure and significantly larger scale.
- Castrol (BP): Major global lubricants brand with industrial and automotive lubricant portfolios owned by BP. Broad incumbent competing indirectly with MI240 in industrial and specialty lubricant segments, though with significantly broader scope and scale.
- Element Solutions: US-listed specialty chemicals platform with electronic materials, industrial, and energy businesses. Broad incumbent comparable to M&I's diversified specialty engineered materials portfolio across multiple niche end markets, though at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Panolin AG: Swiss specialist in Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) for hydraulic systems, forestry, and industrial chains. The closest direct competitor to MI240 in biodegradable lubricants, targeting similar OEM sustainability and regulatory requirements.
- Littelfuse: Global manufacturer of circuit protection products including metal oxide varistors (MOVs), fuses, and surge protection devices for power infrastructure. Directly comparable to M&I's Metrosil silicon carbide varistors used in substation and power station surge protection.
- Plansee Group: Austrian manufacturer of refractory metals (tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum) and components for industrial, medical, and electronics end markets. Direct peer for Wolfmet tungsten alloys across aerospace, motorsport, and radiation shielding uses.
- H.C. Starck Tungsten (Mersen): Manufacturer of tungsten, molybdenum, and refractory metal products serving aerospace, medical imaging, and radiation shielding markets. Directly comparable to M&I's Wolfmet tungsten heavy alloy components in radiation shielding and aerospace balancing applications.
- Fuchs Petrolub SE: German specialty lubricants manufacturer with a global industrial lubricant portfolio including biodegradable and hydraulic fluids. Directly comparable to M&I Materials' MI240 Performance Biolubricants division in industrial and EAL lubricant categories, though at materially larger scale.
- Klüber Lubrication: Freudenberg-owned specialty industrial lubricants manufacturer focused on high-performance synthetic oils, greases, and hydraulic fluids. Directly comparable to MI240 biolubricants for industrial machinery, hydraulics, and chain lubrication applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
M&I Materials social profiles
Digital presenceM&I Materials compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
M&I Materials financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
M&I Materials leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
M&I Materials subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
M&I Materials funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
M&I Materials M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about M&I Materials
What does M&I Materials do?
M&I Materials manufactures and sells specialist materials for industry and science across four core product brands: Apiezon (high vacuum greases, waxes, and sealants), Metrosil (silicon carbide surge protection varistors), Performance Biolubricants/MI240 (synthetic ester-based environmentally acceptable lubricants), and Wolfmet (tungsten heavy alloy components for aerospace, radiation shielding, and motorsport). The company develops proprietary formulations in-house and supplies niche, application-specific products to industrial and scientific customers worldwide.
Is M&I Materials a public or private company?
M&I Materials is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was M&I Materials founded?
M&I Materials was founded in 1901. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is M&I Materials based?
M&I Materials is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does M&I Materials make money?
One revenue line is on record: specialist Materials Manufacturing.
Who are M&I Materials's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Croda International, Kennametal, Castrol (BP) and Element Solutions. Direct peers are Panolin AG, Littelfuse, Plansee Group, H.C. Starck Tungsten (Mersen), Fuchs Petrolub SE and Klüber Lubrication.
Does M&I Materials have an API?
No public API is recorded for M&I Materials.
What industry is M&I Materials in?
M&I Materials's product category is Specialty Industrial Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAK, Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials), with a secondary code of IMAEAMAE, Gear Oils & Transmission Fluids. Its NAICS code is 324191 and its SIC code is 2890.