Ahlstrom to start glassfiber tissue production in Russia
Ahlstrom, a leader in high performance fiber-based solutions, today announced that it will invest approximately EUR 38 million in a new glassfiber tissue production plant in Russia. The investment further strengthens Ahlstrom's position as a leading developer and manufacturer of specialty glassfiber tissues for building and composites materials industries. It is in line with Ahlstrom's strategy to invest in organic growth in the emerging markets.
The new plant, located in Redkino, Tver Region, approximately 120 km North-West from Moscow, will in the first phase concentrate in specialty glassfiber tissue production, but the site also enables future expansions of Ahlstrom businesses in Russia. The investment consists of a new state-of-the-art glassfiber tissue line, as well as the building and necessary infrastructure. The new plant will be in production during the fourth quarter of 2007. When fully operational, the plant will employ approximately 70 people.
"Over the last five years we have considerably increased the capacity of our glassfiber tissue line at the Karhula, Finland plant. The Russian production plant will primarily serve the growing local markets, but the plant will also be a production platform for certain other European and emerging markets. This investment will also enable us to further intensify our innovation activities and to continue to maintain a strong production base at the Karhula, Finland plant", comments Tommi Björnman, Senior Vice President, Glass Nonwovens.
The Glassfiber Tissues product line is a part of Ahlstrom's Glass Nonwovens business area, which belongs to the company's FiberComposites segment.
For further information, please contact:
Jukka Moisio, President and CEO, tel. + 358 10 888 4700
Tommi Björnman, Senior Vice President, Glass Nonwovens, tel. +358 50 526 1607
Tommi Björnman, Senior Vice President, Glass Nonwovens, tel. +358 50 526 1607
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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, e.g. in filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. The company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates, built upon the company's unique fiber expertise and innovative approach. Ahlstrom's 5,525 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2005, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.55 billion. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.