John Thompson

Five years ago, John Thompson got an idea for a product he wanted to develop at Munters. Fast forward to June 2022, and that vision was finally put into motion. Just ten months later, the first batch of energy-efficient low dew point units rolled off the production line in Amesbury, ready for shipment to customers' gigafactories for lithium battery production.

John Thompson’s journey at Munters spans over 30 years, during which he has worn numerous hats, from providing technical support for the company’s front-end operations to managing product software development. His experience has given him with in-depth knowledge of Munters’ business and its product range. 

Five years ago, Thompson had a vision that centered around the integration of modularization and standardization. But it was first in 2022 when the Amesbury facility was undergoing a restructuring phase and looking for an R&D director, that Thompson’s opportunity to breathe life into his vision arrived. 

Thompson recalls the moment he was asked to step into the role of R&D director. "I was very hesitant," he admits. "I literally stepped out of my comfort zone, but I did it because it was the right thing to do and I'm passionate about Munters." 

In a whirlwind timeframe, Thompson assembled a team of twelve and set up shop in a temporary facility at Ledge Road. Over the next six months, they meticulously refined the concept and tweaked the design. 

Thompson explains the feat, "We built a test unit in just six months. It was an expedited process, made possible by repackaging what we had. While we did develop some new concepts, the majority of the work had already been validated." 

The result surpassed everything Thompson had hoped for. Labor hours were slashed significantly, as were the physical dimensions of the unit, which were reduced by 40% compared to the custom products they had previously manufactured. This space-saving innovation not only delighted their customers but also had cost-saving implications for their factory layouts.  

Thompson was equally focusing on streamlining the design for energy and resource efficiency. "In the end,” he notes, “we removed 7-8000 pounds(about 3,6 tons or 4 short tons) of sheet metal, and our new technology allowed us to build a more efficient unit." 

The initial batch found its way to a major automotive brand’s gigafactories, with an order already placed for the car manufacturer’s second facility.

Thompson elaborates on the appeal of their energy-efficient, space-saving units for car manufacturers grabbling with spatial constraints. “Our compact unit offers a compelling solution, addressing the space issues faced by car manufacturers. This certainly plays to our advantage.” 

Thompson takes immense pride in what his team has achieved and attributes their success to the fact that everyone at Amesbury pitched in, from HR to production. 

"This is a testament to the power of collective brainstorming. The product exceeds my expectations. It may be a simple product, but it is equipped to tackle any challenge our customers present. We have incorporated numerous features and variations to meet diverse customer requirements." 

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