09.11.24
Helsinki, Finland
www.ahlstrom.com
2023 Nonwovens Sales: $1.6 billion
Key Personnel
Helen Mets, president and CEO; Jorn Jensen, CFO; Daniele Borlatto, EVP Filtration division; Emanuelle Picard, EVP Building Materials division; Mark Ushpol, EVP Food & Consumer Packaging division; Sophie Haan, EVP Technical Materials
Plants
Belgium: Malmedy; Brazil: Louveira; China: Binzhou, Longkou; Finland: Karhula, Mikkeli, Tampere; France: Bousbecque, Brignoud, Orleans, Pont-Audemer, Saint-Severin; Germany: Osnabrück, Bärenstein; India: Mundra; Italy: Turin, Fabriano; Russia: Tver; South Korea: Hyon Poong; Sweden: Ställdalen, Falun; U.K.: Chirnside, Radcliffe; U.S.: Bethune, SC; Madisonville, KY; Mt. Holly Springs, PA; Taylorville, IL; Windsor Locks, CT
Investment continues to be strong within Ahlstrom’s filtration business. In June, the company completed a €2 million investment for a new laminator at its Louveira, Brazil, plant, marking a significant expansion of its product offerings to the South American market for industrial air, industrial liquid and fuel filtration, including products currently produced in Europe and North America. Combining filtration materials by lamination offers several advantages: enhanced efficiency, extended service intervals and reduced energy consumption of filtration units.
Additionally, in January Ahlstrom invested in karen. The new line is being designed to produce the highest-performance adsorbent materials for premium filtration applications, including next-generation cabin air and fuel cell air intake, as well as a complete range for HVAC and cleanrooms. It will enable Ahlstrom to support its customers’ filtration application development as well as the transition to electric vehicles.
According to the company, this investment is made in synergy with Ahlstrom’s Fine Fiber platform in Turin, which will be upgraded to produce HEPA filtration layers. Fine Fiber media can be combined with molecular filtration materials also to deliver the best protection against the finest particles.
“This new capability to produce molecular filtration solutions comes on top of recent investments in Europe, which reinforce our ability to better serve our customers by combining materials and technologies in multi-layer concepts,” states Giuseppe Costa, vice president, filtration EMEA & Asia.
In South Korea, Ahlstrom completed new calendaring and embossing capabilities in September 2023, allowing it to deliver synthetic filtration media with extended lifetimes. A longer filter lifetime combined with outstanding durability is a key feature helping to sustain filter operations and boost performance. This not only saves costs associated with frequent filter replacements but also reduces energy consumption and minimizes environmental impacts by lowering emissions.
“The new calendering and embossing capabilities further advance synthetic filter media solutions. They improve durability and open a wide range of possibilities for extended performance, as well as improving the sustainability of filtration units,” comments Kathrin Hueppe, head of Filtration, Asia.
These investments continue to allow Ahlstrom to focus on new product development within the ever-changing market for filtration. The global water purification market sees continuous advancements in technologies and applications, creating an increased focus on more sustainable solutions to address the growing concerns about water quality and the need for reliable water purification solutions.
Ahlstrom’s new water filtration solution for enhanced particulate removal in pre-filtration applications addresses this need. It can be used as a stand-alone or as a complement to the existing Ahlstrom Disruptor and Hollytex ranges and is suitable for both residential and industrial uses. It removes contaminants such as rust, sand and other debris that may end up in water pipelines, ensuring the highest quality of water. The pre-filter delivers superior performance and quality consistency when used as a pleated filter design.
In the engine filtration market, Ahlstrom has introduced a new dual-layer filter media technology, available globally, that is a perfect solution to comply with future market needs. The dual-layer design offers up to double dust holding capacity compared to the single-layer design, as each layer serves a distinct purpose to optimize the overall retention of particles in the depth of the material.
In automotive engine air intake applications, the technology has proven to extend by over 50% the filter lifetime in the same configuration. It also offers the possibility to reduce both size and weight of the filter element in vehicles where these parameters are important.
“Leveraging our advanced manufacturing processes and know-how, Ahlstrom’s dual-layer filter media are setting new standards for filtration performance on the market,” says Tamara Quatrano, vice president, research and development and product development for the Filtration division. “They can be adapted to different environments, and they not only purify and protect but also contribute to a more sustainable future,” she continues.
In other recent new product introductions, in June, Ahlstrom launched sustainable, fluoro-free solutions for fiber-based solutions into a wide range of industrial air filtration applications to support filter manufacturers in creating products with long-lasting filtration performance without the use of fluorochemicals. These materials are ideal for gas turbine air intake, air pollution control, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. The new range of materials offers water-repellent properties, which increase the durability and stability of the final filter in wet conditions. In global filtration markets, hydrophobic properties are essential to maintaining the highest filtration performance in challenging environments.
Another important focus area for investment and innovation has been Ahlstrom’s medical business. The company recently received the FDA 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Reliance Fusion, a next-generation sterilization wrap that helps increase efficiency in the sterilization of surgical equipment trays at hospitals. This material allows a significant reduction in drying time, reduces the likelihood of wet packs, and leads to increased efficiency in the sterilization of trays at hospitals’ Central Sterilization Service Department (CSSD), thanks to higher throughput and savings in energy and labor.
Ahlstrom is also a leading provider of sustainable specialty materials for the food and beverage markets. Its PureLid product is a fiber-based lid offering for single-serve coffee capsules, which acts as a high-performing, home-compostable alternative to aluminum or plastic lids used in coffee capsules. “It was a substantial challenge to transition from industrial compostable solutions to home compostable ones while maintaining the high-performance standards of our coffee capsule lidding solutions and the crucial oxygen barrier,” says Philippe Sevoz, vice president of the Beverage & Casing business.
As market demand for high-performance, sustainable building materials is increasing, Ahlstrom also continues to grow its glass fiber tissue business and strengthen its manufacturing platform globally by completing a major investment at its plant in Madisonville, KY, U.S.
www.ahlstrom.com
2023 Nonwovens Sales: $1.6 billion
Key Personnel
Helen Mets, president and CEO; Jorn Jensen, CFO; Daniele Borlatto, EVP Filtration division; Emanuelle Picard, EVP Building Materials division; Mark Ushpol, EVP Food & Consumer Packaging division; Sophie Haan, EVP Technical Materials
Plants
Belgium: Malmedy; Brazil: Louveira; China: Binzhou, Longkou; Finland: Karhula, Mikkeli, Tampere; France: Bousbecque, Brignoud, Orleans, Pont-Audemer, Saint-Severin; Germany: Osnabrück, Bärenstein; India: Mundra; Italy: Turin, Fabriano; Russia: Tver; South Korea: Hyon Poong; Sweden: Ställdalen, Falun; U.K.: Chirnside, Radcliffe; U.S.: Bethune, SC; Madisonville, KY; Mt. Holly Springs, PA; Taylorville, IL; Windsor Locks, CT
Investment continues to be strong within Ahlstrom’s filtration business. In June, the company completed a €2 million investment for a new laminator at its Louveira, Brazil, plant, marking a significant expansion of its product offerings to the South American market for industrial air, industrial liquid and fuel filtration, including products currently produced in Europe and North America. Combining filtration materials by lamination offers several advantages: enhanced efficiency, extended service intervals and reduced energy consumption of filtration units.
Additionally, in January Ahlstrom invested in karen. The new line is being designed to produce the highest-performance adsorbent materials for premium filtration applications, including next-generation cabin air and fuel cell air intake, as well as a complete range for HVAC and cleanrooms. It will enable Ahlstrom to support its customers’ filtration application development as well as the transition to electric vehicles.
According to the company, this investment is made in synergy with Ahlstrom’s Fine Fiber platform in Turin, which will be upgraded to produce HEPA filtration layers. Fine Fiber media can be combined with molecular filtration materials also to deliver the best protection against the finest particles.
“This new capability to produce molecular filtration solutions comes on top of recent investments in Europe, which reinforce our ability to better serve our customers by combining materials and technologies in multi-layer concepts,” states Giuseppe Costa, vice president, filtration EMEA & Asia.
In South Korea, Ahlstrom completed new calendaring and embossing capabilities in September 2023, allowing it to deliver synthetic filtration media with extended lifetimes. A longer filter lifetime combined with outstanding durability is a key feature helping to sustain filter operations and boost performance. This not only saves costs associated with frequent filter replacements but also reduces energy consumption and minimizes environmental impacts by lowering emissions.
“The new calendering and embossing capabilities further advance synthetic filter media solutions. They improve durability and open a wide range of possibilities for extended performance, as well as improving the sustainability of filtration units,” comments Kathrin Hueppe, head of Filtration, Asia.
These investments continue to allow Ahlstrom to focus on new product development within the ever-changing market for filtration. The global water purification market sees continuous advancements in technologies and applications, creating an increased focus on more sustainable solutions to address the growing concerns about water quality and the need for reliable water purification solutions.
Ahlstrom’s new water filtration solution for enhanced particulate removal in pre-filtration applications addresses this need. It can be used as a stand-alone or as a complement to the existing Ahlstrom Disruptor and Hollytex ranges and is suitable for both residential and industrial uses. It removes contaminants such as rust, sand and other debris that may end up in water pipelines, ensuring the highest quality of water. The pre-filter delivers superior performance and quality consistency when used as a pleated filter design.
In the engine filtration market, Ahlstrom has introduced a new dual-layer filter media technology, available globally, that is a perfect solution to comply with future market needs. The dual-layer design offers up to double dust holding capacity compared to the single-layer design, as each layer serves a distinct purpose to optimize the overall retention of particles in the depth of the material.
In automotive engine air intake applications, the technology has proven to extend by over 50% the filter lifetime in the same configuration. It also offers the possibility to reduce both size and weight of the filter element in vehicles where these parameters are important.
“Leveraging our advanced manufacturing processes and know-how, Ahlstrom’s dual-layer filter media are setting new standards for filtration performance on the market,” says Tamara Quatrano, vice president, research and development and product development for the Filtration division. “They can be adapted to different environments, and they not only purify and protect but also contribute to a more sustainable future,” she continues.
In other recent new product introductions, in June, Ahlstrom launched sustainable, fluoro-free solutions for fiber-based solutions into a wide range of industrial air filtration applications to support filter manufacturers in creating products with long-lasting filtration performance without the use of fluorochemicals. These materials are ideal for gas turbine air intake, air pollution control, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. The new range of materials offers water-repellent properties, which increase the durability and stability of the final filter in wet conditions. In global filtration markets, hydrophobic properties are essential to maintaining the highest filtration performance in challenging environments.
Another important focus area for investment and innovation has been Ahlstrom’s medical business. The company recently received the FDA 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Reliance Fusion, a next-generation sterilization wrap that helps increase efficiency in the sterilization of surgical equipment trays at hospitals. This material allows a significant reduction in drying time, reduces the likelihood of wet packs, and leads to increased efficiency in the sterilization of trays at hospitals’ Central Sterilization Service Department (CSSD), thanks to higher throughput and savings in energy and labor.
Ahlstrom is also a leading provider of sustainable specialty materials for the food and beverage markets. Its PureLid product is a fiber-based lid offering for single-serve coffee capsules, which acts as a high-performing, home-compostable alternative to aluminum or plastic lids used in coffee capsules. “It was a substantial challenge to transition from industrial compostable solutions to home compostable ones while maintaining the high-performance standards of our coffee capsule lidding solutions and the crucial oxygen barrier,” says Philippe Sevoz, vice president of the Beverage & Casing business.
As market demand for high-performance, sustainable building materials is increasing, Ahlstrom also continues to grow its glass fiber tissue business and strengthen its manufacturing platform globally by completing a major investment at its plant in Madisonville, KY, U.S.
