Our History: Innovation, Quality and Sustainability

Since 1970, Pal International has been at the forefront of hygiene and infection control solutions. What began as a small distributor of disposable headwear has evolved into a globally recognised manufacturer, setting industry standards for quality, innovation, and sustainability.

With a strong commitment to protecting lives, we have developed successful brands that serve diverse industries worldwide. Medipal leads the way in infection prevention for healthcare, PalTX delivers high-performance hygiene solutions for food and industrial sectors, and PalPRO provides advanced technical wipes for specialised applications.

From pioneering food hygiene wipes in the 1990s to expanding internationally and achieving top-tier quality accreditations, our journey has been defined by excellence. Today, with a world-class manufacturing facility and a sustainability-focused headquarters, we continue to drive progress in hygiene and infection prevention.

Advancing Sustainability, Growth, and Excellence

2024: Our new site was developed with sustainability at its core, featuring extensive solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, a high-efficiency HVAC system, and EV charging points. The building achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating, placing it in the top 1% of environmentally performing buildings in the UK.

2022: Pal was acquired by Enact, the SME fund managed by Leeds-headquartered private equity house Endless to secure future growth

2019: The British Retail Consortium (BRC) award us their highest possible accreditation, an AA Grade, for consumer products, adding to a raft of quality and regulatory successes.

2017: Our offices in Dubai moved into the Dubai Airport FreeZone, allowing us to improve services to our Middle East / GCC customers.

Milestones in Wipes Innovation and Growth

2016: Our goal of becoming Europe’s most highly accredited wipes manufacturer in the area of quality management became a step closer through the achievement of British Retail Consortium accreditation (BRC).

2015: This year saw a major investment in new machinery to widen capabilities in the production of flow wrap wipes formats. At the same time, we also launched our PalTech Industrial Wipes Range across all markets worldwide.

2011: Our new range of Infection Control Wipes launched into healthcare markets around the world, under a new brand – Medipal.

2007: Continued growth created the need for new premises that could take the business forward, better responding to the needs of our customers all across the world. Moving our head office and operations to a new site in Lutterworth – our current home – enabled the development of an industry leading wipes manufacturing facility.

2005: We opened our first international office in Hong Kong as a response to strong growth in Asia Pacific, expanding routes to markets in the region. We also introduced a dedicated quality management team in the region.

2001: With an increasingly scientific approach, our R&D and Technical capabilities were improved with the development of our in-house Chemical and Microbiology Laboratories. Chemical formulating widened the development of wipes into new industry sectors.

Foundations of Innovation and Growth

1990: Wet Wipes manufacturing began with the acquisition of Fibre Treatments Ltd. Our first food hygiene wipes range were developed for use within kitchens and food factories, building our reputation for innovation in manufacturing.

1981: After a decade of growth, we moved to a new site, bringing all parts of the business under one roof for the first time. The Protection Works in Oadby would be our home for the next 30 years.

1973: Our own manufacturing began with the first range of specialist Chef’s headwear. We also began exporting, with sales into Europe made for the first time. Pal Wear Disposables began to develop its brand and reputation around great quality, innovative hygiene products.

1970: Pal is first established as Pal Wear Disposables, importing paper and linen headwear from the USA and distributing to food outlets around Leicester, including the Brucciani Coffee Shops.