01.01.04
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Sales: $728 MILLION
Description: Key Personnel
Jukka Moisio, CEO; Business Area Leaders: Randy Davis, consumer and medical; Claudio Ermondi, Filtration; Jean-Marie Becker, industrial; Tommi Björmann, glass.
Ahlstrom
FiberComposites division
Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 81-3-3442-1611
Web: www.ahlstrom.com/fibercomposites
E-mail: fiber.composites@ahlstrom.com
Key Personnel: Sachi Nagatsuka
Ahlstrom
FiberComposites division
Edinburgh, Scotland
Telephone: 44-131-458-2000
Web: www.ahlstrom.com/fibercomposites
E-mail: fiber.composites@ahlstrom.com
Key Personnel: Karen Renton
Ahlstrom
FiberComposites division
Windsor Locks, CT
Telephone: 860-654-8300
Web: www.ahlstrom.com/fibercomposites
E-mail: fiber.composites@ahlstrom.com
Key Personnel:Ellen Miles
Plants
Barcelona, Spain; Brignoud, France; Chirnside, U.K.; Groesbeck, TX; Hyun Poong, Korea; Karhula, Finland; Louveira, Brazil; Madisonville, KY; Malmedy, Belgium; Mikkeli, Finland; Mt. Holly Springs, PA; New Windsor NY; Ställdalen, Sweden; Tampere, Finland; Taylorville, IL; Turin, Italy; Windsor Locks, CT.
The completion of a large-scale composite line and the acquisition of a filtration manufacturer are the latest affirmations of Ahlstrom Corporation’s mission to be a top player in the nonwovens industry. Last month, the company held a ceremony dedicating its new $40 million production line in Windsor Locks, CT. This line is based on spunlaced composite technology and will mainly produce high-performance, value-priced disposable wipes. Executives have called this investment proof of both Ahlstrom’s commitment to the nonwovens industry and the continued growth of the wipes market. This and a spunbond composite line, added in November 2001, have contributed to making Windsor Locks, once the home of Dexter Corporation Nonwoven Materials, the largest Ahlstrom facility dedicated solely to nonwovens production.
Also this summer, Ahlstrom acquired Hollinee LLC’s filtration division in the U.S. which mainly included products for the HVAC market and gives Ahlstrom immediate access to this key market. This investment was part of Ahlstrom’s goal of becoming a leading supplier in the $500 million U.S. HVAC market.
Expansion and acquisition is nothing new to the Helsinki-based company, whose nonwovens business is known as the FiberComposites division. Ahlstrom has followed its 2000 purchase of Dexter, once the world’s seventh largest nonwovens producer, with a string of investments in its nonwovens business. Company executives have even indicated that their goal is to remain among the leading suppliers in the world and advance Ahlstrom’s position anyway they can.
Given the strength of the top players in nonwovens, this goal may seem a little lofty, but Ahlstrom has been able to grow its business nearly every year since the Dexter acquisition. Last year, volumes grew 8% in nonwovens, which were offset by adverse currency effects, leaving sales more or less flat at E645 million. Nearly 60% of the FiberComposites division’s sales are in non-euro currencies so the effect of this has been significant.
As it waits for this currency situation to right itself, Ahlstrom is relying on several key strategies to help it grow. Avoiding high volume/low price markets, such as absorbent hygiene products, is among them. “We are interested in being in wipes because it is not yet fully commoditized,” said global marketing and communications manager Jerome Barrillon. “You still have to offer differentiated products like our new spunlaced composite material to allow the end use manufacturer to offer a differentiated factor to the product.”
Stepped-up marketing efforts have also become a focus. Since 1999, Ahlstrom has moved from a straight, wetlaid producer to a diversified nonwovens producer. Now that it’s making the right products, it wants to convey the right message. Both Ahlstrom and Dexter were once primarily focused on wetlaid technology, making the merged company the number one global producer of the material. Ahlstrom saw no need to expand in wetlaid. Instead, the focus has been on diversifiying nonwovens technology platforms, enabling the company to offer a wider range of products to the market.
Ahlstrom operates its FiberComposites division through four key businesses: consumer and medical, industrial, filtration and glass. Filtration remains the largest. In addition to the Hollinee LLC filtration division, which will add $32 million to sales, Ahlstrom has benefited from a new media line in its Hyun Poong, Korea site, an expanded filtration line in Louveira, Brazil and a rebuilt line and a new fine fiber line in Turin, Italy. These investments are helping Ahlstrom meet the demand for filtration media around the world.
Big in engine filtration where it holds a significant global marketshare, Ahlstrom hopes to grow its filtration business in other subsegments, particularly HVAC, which will receive a boost from recent acquisitions.
Behind filtration is consumer and medical. This segment’s importance should increase thanks to recent investments including both composite lines in Windsor Locks, which together represent about a $90 million investment. Much of the output on the first line, centering on spunbond composite technology, will target the medical market primarily with innovative drape and gown products using a breathable three-layer composite material.
“This new technology has proven successful for us,” Mr. Barrillon said. “We believe that marrying technologies, such as spunbond and laminates, will assist us in further extending our product portfolio.”
Industrial applications include automotives, wall coverings and many other technical niche markets. These markets give Ahlstrom the chance to explore unchartered territories and new markets. “These niche markets, such as apparel, wood laminates and building materials, require a tailor-made approach to serving customer needs,” Mr. Barrillon said. “One of Ahlstrom’s strengths is its ability to answer the complex needs of each of these niches as well as having the ability to serve larger markets.”
The remaining sales are within glass which is mainly centered in Europe. End uses include wind energy, marine and flooring.
The opportunity for growth in both developed and developing regions is largely what has drawn Ahlstrom to nonwovens. By leveraging its history and knowledge of the paper market, Ahlstrom’s transition into a multitechnology nonwovens manufacturer is a natural fit, according to executives. “We are firmly committed to nonwovens,” said Mr. Barrillon. “There, in part, lies the future of Ahlstrom.”"
Sales: $728 MILLION
Description: Key Personnel
Jukka Moisio, CEO; Business Area Leaders: Randy Davis, consumer and medical; Claudio Ermondi, Filtration; Jean-Marie Becker, industrial; Tommi Björmann, glass.
Ahlstrom
FiberComposites division
Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 81-3-3442-1611
Web: www.ahlstrom.com/fibercomposites
E-mail: fiber.composites@ahlstrom.com
Key Personnel: Sachi Nagatsuka
Ahlstrom
FiberComposites division
Edinburgh, Scotland
Telephone: 44-131-458-2000
Web: www.ahlstrom.com/fibercomposites
E-mail: fiber.composites@ahlstrom.com
Key Personnel: Karen Renton
Ahlstrom
FiberComposites division
Windsor Locks, CT
Telephone: 860-654-8300
Web: www.ahlstrom.com/fibercomposites
E-mail: fiber.composites@ahlstrom.com
Key Personnel:Ellen Miles
Plants
Barcelona, Spain; Brignoud, France; Chirnside, U.K.; Groesbeck, TX; Hyun Poong, Korea; Karhula, Finland; Louveira, Brazil; Madisonville, KY; Malmedy, Belgium; Mikkeli, Finland; Mt. Holly Springs, PA; New Windsor NY; Ställdalen, Sweden; Tampere, Finland; Taylorville, IL; Turin, Italy; Windsor Locks, CT.
The completion of a large-scale composite line and the acquisition of a filtration manufacturer are the latest affirmations of Ahlstrom Corporation’s mission to be a top player in the nonwovens industry. Last month, the company held a ceremony dedicating its new $40 million production line in Windsor Locks, CT. This line is based on spunlaced composite technology and will mainly produce high-performance, value-priced disposable wipes. Executives have called this investment proof of both Ahlstrom’s commitment to the nonwovens industry and the continued growth of the wipes market. This and a spunbond composite line, added in November 2001, have contributed to making Windsor Locks, once the home of Dexter Corporation Nonwoven Materials, the largest Ahlstrom facility dedicated solely to nonwovens production.
Also this summer, Ahlstrom acquired Hollinee LLC’s filtration division in the U.S. which mainly included products for the HVAC market and gives Ahlstrom immediate access to this key market. This investment was part of Ahlstrom’s goal of becoming a leading supplier in the $500 million U.S. HVAC market.
Expansion and acquisition is nothing new to the Helsinki-based company, whose nonwovens business is known as the FiberComposites division. Ahlstrom has followed its 2000 purchase of Dexter, once the world’s seventh largest nonwovens producer, with a string of investments in its nonwovens business. Company executives have even indicated that their goal is to remain among the leading suppliers in the world and advance Ahlstrom’s position anyway they can.
Given the strength of the top players in nonwovens, this goal may seem a little lofty, but Ahlstrom has been able to grow its business nearly every year since the Dexter acquisition. Last year, volumes grew 8% in nonwovens, which were offset by adverse currency effects, leaving sales more or less flat at E645 million. Nearly 60% of the FiberComposites division’s sales are in non-euro currencies so the effect of this has been significant.
As it waits for this currency situation to right itself, Ahlstrom is relying on several key strategies to help it grow. Avoiding high volume/low price markets, such as absorbent hygiene products, is among them. “We are interested in being in wipes because it is not yet fully commoditized,” said global marketing and communications manager Jerome Barrillon. “You still have to offer differentiated products like our new spunlaced composite material to allow the end use manufacturer to offer a differentiated factor to the product.”
Stepped-up marketing efforts have also become a focus. Since 1999, Ahlstrom has moved from a straight, wetlaid producer to a diversified nonwovens producer. Now that it’s making the right products, it wants to convey the right message. Both Ahlstrom and Dexter were once primarily focused on wetlaid technology, making the merged company the number one global producer of the material. Ahlstrom saw no need to expand in wetlaid. Instead, the focus has been on diversifiying nonwovens technology platforms, enabling the company to offer a wider range of products to the market.
Ahlstrom operates its FiberComposites division through four key businesses: consumer and medical, industrial, filtration and glass. Filtration remains the largest. In addition to the Hollinee LLC filtration division, which will add $32 million to sales, Ahlstrom has benefited from a new media line in its Hyun Poong, Korea site, an expanded filtration line in Louveira, Brazil and a rebuilt line and a new fine fiber line in Turin, Italy. These investments are helping Ahlstrom meet the demand for filtration media around the world.
Big in engine filtration where it holds a significant global marketshare, Ahlstrom hopes to grow its filtration business in other subsegments, particularly HVAC, which will receive a boost from recent acquisitions.
Behind filtration is consumer and medical. This segment’s importance should increase thanks to recent investments including both composite lines in Windsor Locks, which together represent about a $90 million investment. Much of the output on the first line, centering on spunbond composite technology, will target the medical market primarily with innovative drape and gown products using a breathable three-layer composite material.
“This new technology has proven successful for us,” Mr. Barrillon said. “We believe that marrying technologies, such as spunbond and laminates, will assist us in further extending our product portfolio.”
Industrial applications include automotives, wall coverings and many other technical niche markets. These markets give Ahlstrom the chance to explore unchartered territories and new markets. “These niche markets, such as apparel, wood laminates and building materials, require a tailor-made approach to serving customer needs,” Mr. Barrillon said. “One of Ahlstrom’s strengths is its ability to answer the complex needs of each of these niches as well as having the ability to serve larger markets.”
The remaining sales are within glass which is mainly centered in Europe. End uses include wind energy, marine and flooring.
The opportunity for growth in both developed and developing regions is largely what has drawn Ahlstrom to nonwovens. By leveraging its history and knowledge of the paper market, Ahlstrom’s transition into a multitechnology nonwovens manufacturer is a natural fit, according to executives. “We are firmly committed to nonwovens,” said Mr. Barrillon. “There, in part, lies the future of Ahlstrom.”"