FAQ
1. What business is Ahlstrom in?
Ahlstrom is a high performance materials company, partnering with leading businesses around the world to help them stay ahead. Our products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wallcovers, flooring, labels and food packaging. We have a leading market position in the businesses in which we operate.
2. Where do I see Ahlstrom’s products in daily life?
Ahlstrom's name does not feature on consumer branded products. But our materials are used in many well-known consumer products and industrial applications, such as:
• teabags, meat casings
• labels for beverage, food and cosmetics packaging
• pet food containers
• wallcoverings, sandpaper, masking tape
• engine filters, air filters
• surgical gowns and drapes, face masks
• windmill blades, boat hulls
• roofing and flooring materials
• furniture laminates
• fast food packaging
3. What size of a company Ahlstrom is?
Ahlstrom’s net sales amounted to approximately EUR 1,9 billion in 2010, and the company has operations in over 20 countries on six continents. At the end of 2010, Ahlstrom employed approximately 5,700 people.
4. How is Ahlstrom structured?
Ahlstrom has four Business Areas: Building and Energy, Filtration, Food and Medical, and Label & Processing.
5. Who are Ahlstrom’s customers?
Our biggest customers are healthcare and consumer goods suppliers, but we serve also many other industries, such as transportation industry suppliers, air and liquid filter manufacturers and the packaging industry.
We have a large customer base and none of our customers have a dominating position. Ten biggest customers constitute 20% of our net sales.
7. What is Ahlstrom's vision and strategy?
Ahlstrom’s vision is to be the preferred global source for fiber-based materials.
Ahlstrom’s strategy is to offer price competitive and value-added fiber-based materials to create sustainable and profitable relationships with its customers.
In line with the strategy, Ahlstrom's operations are based on two distinct business clusters resulting from different competitive situations, market growth potential and possibilities to differentiate in various product lines. The other cluster is based on providing customers with added value products and the other on operational excellence.
The value-added cluster is the company's primary growth engine, developing through organic growth and possibly by small acquisitions. Innovative new products that help Ahlstrom’s customers become more competitive will create the foundation for success.
The role of the operational excellence cluster is to support the growth of the company. In this cluster, the main focus is on developing cost effective products through for instance, alternative raw materials or new technological solutions.
The long-term target of the strategy is to strengthen Ahlstrom’s competitive position and generate returns that are in line with the company's financial targets. One of the most important indicators is return on capital employed (ROCE), which should reach its target level of 13%.
8. What are Ahlstrom's key strengths?
• Deep understanding of customer needs
• Broad technology base
• Global network
• Total quality management
• Technical understanding
9. What are Ahlstrom’s financial targets?
• Return on capital employed (ROCE) minimum of 13%
• Annual net sales growth at least 5% at constant currency rates, including acquisitions
• Gearing ratio 50 - 80% (interest-bearing net debt to equity)
• Dividend policy: Ahlstrom will aim to pay a dividend of not less than one third of the net cash from operating activities after operative investments, calculated as a three-year rolling average to achieve stability in the dividend payout. Operative investments include maintenance, cost improvement, and efficiency improvement investments.
10. What are Ahlstrom's growth targets?
In line with the strategy, Ahlstrom targets profitable growth in its value added businesses though organic growth and possibly by small acquisitions. In terms of geographical areas, the focus will be on Asia.
11. What are Ahlstrom’s main markets?
In 2010, Ahlstrom’s biggest geographical market area in terms of net sales was Europe (52%). In other regions, net sales distribution was as follows: North America (24%), South America (11%), Asia-Pacific (10%), and the rest of the world (2%).
12. How big are the markets for Ahlstrom’s products?
It is estimated that the total value of the fiber composites and specialty papers markets amounts to EUR 30 billion.
13. There are two other companies bearing the Ahlstrom name. How are they related?
In 2001, Ahlstrom Corporation was created as part of a thorough industrial restructuring which split the previous Ahlstrom conglomerate company into three distinct entities and strategic directions. Ahlstrom Corporation is the publicly listed industrial manufacturing company, which markets products under the Ahlstrom brand name.
Ahlström Capital Oy is a private investment company, created to continue the Ahlström family's entrepreneurial tradition and to invest in new growth and future-oriented business opportunities.
Ahlström Osakeyhtiö's businesses are forestry and real estates. The company is also responsible for managing the historical Noormarkku manor area in Finland.
Both Ahlström companies are privately owned.
14. Who should I contact if I want to do business with Ahlstrom?
For more information, see Sales contacts.