Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy and Fibrocom Oy receive JEC 2004 composite award

Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy, a supplier of high performance glassfiber materials, and Fibrocom Oy, a producer of composite products, have received the JEC Award for their contribution to the Hycoprod project. The JEC Award is a recognition for the best innovation or process in the composites field, and the winners were awarded their prize in a ceremony held during the most important exhibition for the composites industry. The fair was held in Paris, France. Hycoprod is a EUR 5.5 million project funded by the European Commission. The multinational project focused on developing large composite structures for transportation, e.g. for train, bus, trailer and truck manufacturers. 19 European companies and institutes from 11 countries participated in this project. The Hycoprod consortium was established in response to the growing demand for light-weight, more cost effective and more crashworthy vehicles. The consortium strived to find new materials to subsitute traditionally used metal structures. Several types of specially structured composite boards were developed. The series of boards met the project targets and the growing demands of vehicle manufacturers as well. Prototypes of the vehicles and their elements were manufactured, and they represent good examples of new structure solutions from which the transportation industry can benefit in the near future. In addition, new solutions can substitute traditional structures, based on metals. Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy was responsible for the design and specification of the types of glassfibre reinforcements that are suitable for these applications. Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy, part of the FiberComposites division of Ahlstrom Corporation, has two production facilities in Finland (in Kotka and in Mikkeli) and the company employs more than 500 people. Fibrocom Oy designed and manufactured a prototype of a double-decker rail car made from a composite structure as well as collision elements for trains. The prototype of a rail car, that is significantly more lightweight and safer for passengers, was introduced at the JEC Exhibition in Paris, France. The next step is to commercialize the innovations and to build a complete train from composite structures, together with Talgo Oy. Fibrocom Oy is a high-tech composite company that employs 10 people and is located in Mikkeli, Finland. Composite materials developed and manufactured by Fibrocom are used e.g. in Pendolino high-speed trains and ICS double-decker rail cars operated by Finnish Railways. Hycoprod is an excellent example of a target-oriented cooperation supported by the European Union, in which small and large companies, materials suppliers, manufacturers as well as universities and institutes from various countries combine their expertise. The results of the cooperation will make traveling and freight services safer in the future. The project has been coordinated by the Advanced Railway Research Center in the United Kingdom. JEC Composites is an international organization, whose vocation is the promotion of composite materials. JEC organizes annually the JEC Awards, a special event for composite professionals. In 2004, the event was held at the end on March. The criteria for the recognition are quality, innovativeness and the opening of new market opportunities. For further information, please contact: Mr. Rainer Bergström, Research and Development Manager, Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy, tel. +358 (0)15 354 2930 or rainer.bergstrom@ahlstrom.com. Mauri Laitinen, General Manager, Fibrocom Oy, tel. +358 (0)15 410 2121, +358 (0)400 469 467 or mauri.laitinen@fibrocom.fi You may refer also to www.jeccomposites.com Latest Newsletter FiberComposites in brief Ahlstrom´s FiberComposites division manufactures products for engine filtration, nonwoven and reinforcement composites markets worldwide. Ranked among the top 10 nonwoven manufacturers, its engineered fabrics are used in industrial products as well as everyday consumer products, e.g. surgical gowns, tea bags and wipes. The division is a leading supplier of engine filtration products to the transport industries. Its expertise in reinforcement composites, derived mostly from glassfibre, serves the energy, marine, sporting goods and transport sectors. The FiberComposites division employs more than 2,600 people, operates from 16 sites in Europe, the Americas and Asia, and in 2003 had net sales of EUR 645 million. Ahlstrom in brief Ahlstrom is a leader in high performance fiber-based materials serving niche markets worldwide. Our fiber solutions are used in a large variety of everyday products for the environment, health care, transport, packaging and home & office. The company, whose heritage spans more than 150 years, is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, employs approximately 6,500 people and serves customers with sales networks and production facilities in more than 20 countries on five continents. Today, annual net sales of Ahlstrom´s fiber solutions business are approximately EUR 1.6 billion. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.