Ahlstrom to double its production capacity

Ahlstrom, a global leader in high performance fiber-based materials, has announced that it plans to double its production capacity for specialty glassfiber reinforcements in the USA to meet the fast growing demand especially within the wind energy markets. The capacity increase will be implemented in two phases by the end of 2011, and the total investment value is estimated to be approximately EUR 7 million.

In the first phase Ahlstrom will invest approximately EUR 3 million in 2008 and install new machinery at the facility. The second phase, in 2009-2011 will include new production lines, and the investment value is estimated to be approximately EUR 4 million. In North America, the annual growth in demand for reinforcements is expected to be 20% for the wind energy sector and 5% in the marine markets. The Bishopville facility currently serves both the North and South American reinforcement markets and will support the expansion of Ahlstrom´s glass nonwovens production into Asia.