- 10 December 2007 -

Ahlstrom consolidates US air filtration production

Ahlstrom is to consolidate its air filtration sites in Bellingham, Massachusetts and Darlington, South Carolina to its Bethune plant in South Carolina. The Bellingham and Darlington plants will both be closed by the end of 2008.

Ahlstrom says that 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, and the consolidation of manufacturing lines to the Bethune plant is estimated to create 50 new positions in Bethune.

www.ahlstrom.com