Smith Filter

The company was established by Orbin Smith and his son Glenn with four employees producing metal mesh filters for local businesses and schools. Glenn's son Roger assumed leadership in 1965, expanding the operation into a multi-million dollar manufacturing plant and adding a disposable filter line through acquisition. The third generation entered the business in the 1980s: Jana Smith Lecander joined full time in 1983 after graduating from Luther College, and Sharilyn Smith Solis followed in 1985. In 1994, when Moline redeveloped its Mississippi River waterfront, Smith Filter relocated from its original downtown plant to the current 85,000-square-foot facility in the city's Industrial Park.

Smith Filter's catalog covers permanent metal mesh, disposable, and high-efficiency air filters in aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless steel, electrostatic, foam, pleated fiberglass, and polyester constructions, plus UL-listed grease baffle filters for commercial kitchen hoods. The manufacturer produces filter holding frames including the galvanized steel S-76 Pad Holding Frame and MERV-rated pleated options from MERV 10 to MERV 14 in synthetic and fiberglass media. For OEM and reseller customers, Smith Filter engineers original and replacement custom filters to specification.

Smith Filter maintains a dedicated product line for cryptocurrency mining and data center applications. Its washable MERV 8 metal filter, engineered for dust-heavy, high-heat environments, carries a pressure drop of 0.14 in. w.g. at 1,180 CFM, sustaining cooling system airflow during continuous operation. The company publishes a Bitcoin mining case study on its site and markets to operators seeking to extend the lifespan of existing HVAC equipment inside mining facilities. The manufacturer reports shipping over 95% of orders on time and completing most custom sizes within two to three weeks. Certified Air Filtration Specialists (CAFS) on staff handle specification and quote requests at (800) 447-4009. Distribution runs through regional representative Fischer-Robertson and stocking distributors including Filter Sales & Service and Filter Equipment Co.

In October 2023, Rensa Filtration, a consumable air filtration manufacturer and distributor backed by Audax Private Equity since 2022, acquired Smith Filter Corporation. The transaction was Rensa's tenth acquisition and its fifth under Audax, extending Rensa's portfolio into metal filters for high-temperature and harsh-environment commercial and industrial applications. Rensa now operates ten manufacturing sites and multiple distribution centers across North America. Smith Filter continues to produce from Moline under the Rensa platform.