In 2026, MANN+HUMMEL marks its 85th anniversary globally and 30 years in China. At this intersection of milestones—and amid a rapidly reshaping automotive landscape—the nearly century-old industrial company is not resting on its legacy. Instead, it is actively redefining its value proposition and expanding the boundaries of what filtration can do.
Founded in 1941 as an automotive filtration supplier, MANN+HUMMEL has evolved into a filtration expert spanning mobility, industry, life sciences and environment. What underpins this transformation is not a single technological leap, but a continuous rethinking of filtration itself—from components to integrated solutions, and increasingly, to a cross-industry technology platform.
"Our mission is separating the useful from the harmful," says Kurk Wilks, President and CEO of MANN+HUMMEL. In his view, a company's value lies not in the number of products it sells, but in its ability to solve customer problems and ultimately support their growth. That philosophy runs through every aspect of the business—from adapting to electrification and intelligent vehicles to expanding into clean air, clean water, and advanced material applications.
Over the past decade, electrification, digitalization, and new mobility models have disrupted traditional supply chains. For MANN+HUMMEL, however, disruption has translated into opportunity. In areas such as smart cabins, filtration is no longer a basic function but a critical enabler of safety, health, and user experience. More broadly, the same core technologies are being applied across domains—from in-cabin air to indoor environments, from fuel systems to water and membrane solutions.
This cross-sector capability is reshaping the company's growth model, reducing reliance on any single industry cycle. "Automotive is our foundation—but it's just the starting point," Mr. Kurk notes.
If expanding capabilities defines what MANN+HUMMEL does, China market increasingly shapes how to do. In Kurk's view, "China speed"—shorter development cycles, co-creation with customers, and rapid iteration—is transforming how innovation happens globally. With development timelines cut by 30–50%, China has become not only a key market, but a critical engine for innovation and global rollout.
That transformation is reflected in the company's strategy: from establishing its New Energy Vehicle Technology Center in China to empowering local teams in global roles, and building deep partnerships across the ecosystem. "In China, for Global" is no longer a slogan—it has become a practical path.
At the same time, MANN+HUMMEL's approach to leadership mirrors its global footprint. Diversity, openness, and meritocracy are central. "It's not about where people come from, but who is best suited to solve the problem," Mr. Kurk says.
Looking ahead, one question remains: what role will filtration play in an evolving technological landscape? Kurk is unequivocal—the need for filtration will always be there. And filtration will become smarter, more precise, and more deeply embedded in customer operations, shifting from reactive replacement to predictive, system-level solutions.
From an automotive supplier to a leadership in filtration, MANN+HUMMEL's journey goes beyond its core products. It reflects how a traditional manufacturer can reinvent itself in a time of disruption—and how China's pace of innovation is reshaping global industrial logic.
Check the video above for more insights from the interview.
