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FiberComposites streamlines its Swedish operations
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industrial news FiberComposites streamlines its Swedish operations The FiberComposites division of Ahlstrom Corp has announced it is to streamline its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Stalldalen, Sweden. The reorganization will involve closing the medical products converting department, opening a new, centrally-located European distribution centre in Belgium and reducing nonwoven production output to match market conditions says the company. FiberComposites claims that it is making these changes in response to a number of factors in the global nonwovens market place that have influenced the company and which are reflected in the current performance of the Stalldalen plant. Speaking about the changes, Patrick Jeambar, vice president, Industrial Nonwovens, said: “We have been concerned about the competitiveness of the Stalldalen plant for some time. Our conclusion is that in order to maintain a successful operation and to ensure the continued employment of the remaining personnel, changes have to be made. We continue to invest in the production equipment in Stalldalen to further improve product quality and manufacturing productivity and, in this way, secure the future of the plant. This will also reestablish Stalldalen as a competitive nonwovens supplier.” In the staged reorganization, approximately 25 people may be made redundant following the closure of the medical converting facility, as part of the division-wide
streamlining, and around 70 workers may lose their jobs through a reduction in manufacturing operations. The conversion of medical products will be shifted to the division’s Windsor Locks plant based in Connecticut, USA, where medical roll goods are produced and an efficient conversion facility is in operation. Contact: Ahlstrom Corp, FiberComposites division, 1 Mid New Cutlins, Edinburgh, EH11 4DH, UK. Tel: +44 458 131 2000; Fax: +44 131 458 2020; Website: www.ahlstrom.com
Albany combines French engineered fabrics businesses Albany International Corp’s affiliate Albany International France SAS is to consolidate its engineered fabrics businesses. Under the proposed plan, production at two existing manufacturing sites, located in Selestat and St-Junien, France, are to be combined into a single operation that is currently being constructed in St-Junien. The facility is expected to begin operating by the end of the first quarter of 2004. The Selestat facility, which manufactures forming fabrics for the paper industry, machinery for internal use, and engineered fabrics for the nonwoven, pulp and filtration industries, employs 420 people. About 95 workers at this plant will be affected by the proposed plan, says the company. A number of workers and staff will be offered positions at the new St-Junien site, while others that are affected will be offered severance packages and transition assistance. Albany also intends combining the management of its Cofpa SA and A I France Engineered Fabrics businesses, while maintaining separate and distinct brands for existing and new customers. Concurrently, the company has announced a planned investment of approximately 6 million (US$7 million) to modernize forming fabric production at its Selestat plant. Contact: Albany International Corp, PO Box 1907, Albany, NY 12201-1907, USA. Tel: +1 518 445 2200; Website: www.albint.com
In brief Mississippi’s first immersed membrane plant
RES No.504 – USE THE FAST NEW ENQUIRY SERVICE @ www.filtsep.com
6 November 2003
The City of Jackson, the state capital of Mississippi, USA, is expanding the O B Curtis water treatment plant using Zenon Environmental’s ZeeWeed® membranes. The contract is valued in excess of US$15 million and will be the first immersed membrane plant in the state treating surface water. In addition, to its ability to remove manganese, the ZeeWeed technology is a physical barrier to pathogenic organisms. Construction on the project is expected to begin early 2004 and is slated for completion by the end of 2005.
www.filtsep.com
30/10/2003
12:13
Page 6
industrial news FiberComposites streamlines its Swedish operations The FiberComposites division of Ahlstrom Corp has announced it is to streamline its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Stalldalen, Sweden. The reorganization will involve closing the medical products converting department, opening a new, centrally-located European distribution centre in Belgium and reducing nonwoven production output to match market conditions says the company. FiberComposites claims that it is making these changes in response to a number of factors in the global nonwovens market place that have influenced the company and which are reflected in the current performance of the Stalldalen plant. Speaking about the changes, Patrick Jeambar, vice president, Industrial Nonwovens, said: “We have been concerned about the competitiveness of the Stalldalen plant for some time. Our conclusion is that in order to maintain a successful operation and to ensure the continued employment of the remaining personnel, changes have to be made. We continue to invest in the production equipment in Stalldalen to further improve product quality and manufacturing productivity and, in this way, secure the future of the plant. This will also reestablish Stalldalen as a competitive nonwovens supplier.” In the staged reorganization, approximately 25 people may be made redundant following the closure of the medical converting facility, as part of the division-wide
streamlining, and around 70 workers may lose their jobs through a reduction in manufacturing operations. The conversion of medical products will be shifted to the division’s Windsor Locks plant based in Connecticut, USA, where medical roll goods are produced and an efficient conversion facility is in operation. Contact: Ahlstrom Corp, FiberComposites division, 1 Mid New Cutlins, Edinburgh, EH11 4DH, UK. Tel: +44 458 131 2000; Fax: +44 131 458 2020; Website: www.ahlstrom.com
Albany combines French engineered fabrics businesses Albany International Corp’s affiliate Albany International France SAS is to consolidate its engineered fabrics businesses. Under the proposed plan, production at two existing manufacturing sites, located in Selestat and St-Junien, France, are to be combined into a single operation that is currently being constructed in St-Junien. The facility is expected to begin operating by the end of the first quarter of 2004. The Selestat facility, which manufactures forming fabrics for the paper industry, machinery for internal use, and engineered fabrics for the nonwoven, pulp and filtration industries, employs 420 people. About 95 workers at this plant will be affected by the proposed plan, says the company. A number of workers and staff will be offered positions at the new St-Junien site, while others that are affected will be offered severance packages and transition assistance. Albany also intends combining the management of its Cofpa SA and A I France Engineered Fabrics businesses, while maintaining separate and distinct brands for existing and new customers. Concurrently, the company has announced a planned investment of approximately 6 million (US$7 million) to modernize forming fabric production at its Selestat plant. Contact: Albany International Corp, PO Box 1907, Albany, NY 12201-1907, USA. Tel: +1 518 445 2200; Website: www.albint.com
In brief Mississippi’s first immersed membrane plant
RES No.504 – USE THE FAST NEW ENQUIRY SERVICE @ www.filtsep.com
6 November 2003
The City of Jackson, the state capital of Mississippi, USA, is expanding the O B Curtis water treatment plant using Zenon Environmental’s ZeeWeed® membranes. The contract is valued in excess of US$15 million and will be the first immersed membrane plant in the state treating surface water. In addition, to its ability to remove manganese, the ZeeWeed technology is a physical barrier to pathogenic organisms. Construction on the project is expected to begin early 2004 and is slated for completion by the end of 2005.
www.filtsep.com