Ahlstrom to further consolidate its air filtration production in the USA
Ahlstrom Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 16.11.2007
Ahlstrom, a global leader in high performance fiber-based materials, announced today that it will consolidate its air filtration sites in Bellingham, Massachusetts and Darlington, South Carolina to its Bethune plant in South Carolina. Following the consolidation, the Darlington plant will be closed by the end of the year 2007. The Bellingham plant will be closed by the third quarter of 2008, as announced earlier. Ahlstrom estimates to book a non-recurring cost of approximately EUR 4 million in its fourth quarter result in 2007.
Ahlstrom acquired the Bethune nonwovens plant from Fiberweb in May 2007. The EUR 8 million investment in a new needlepunch line at the Darlington facility, announced on May 11, 2007, will be redirected to the Bethune plant. In addition, selected manufacturing lines will be transferred to Bethune from Bellingham and Darlington. The consolidation of assets to Bethune is in line with Ahlstrom's strategy to consolidate business to larger sites in order to share the existing infrastructure and reduce fixed costs. After the consolidation, the Bethune plant will have eight production lines, including four air filtration and four wiping fabrics lines, and employ over 300 employees.
The closure of the Bellingham and Darlington plants will affect altogether approximately 150 positions. The consolidation of manufacturing lines to the Bethune plant is estimated to create 50 new positions in Bethune. Ahlstrom strives to ensure that service to its customers will not be disrupted due to the consolidation process.
Ahlstrom Corporation
Jukka Moisio, President & CEO
For further information, please contact:
Jukka Moisio, President & CEO, Ahlstrom Corporation, tel. +358 (0)10 888 4700, jukka.moisio@ahlstrom.com
Randal Davis, Senior Vice President, Filtration, tel. +1 860 997 6131, randal.davis@ahlstrom.com
Distribution:
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com
Randal Davis, Senior Vice President, Filtration, tel. +1 860 997 6131, randal.davis@ahlstrom.com
Distribution:
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com
Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of everyday products, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 6,500 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2006, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.