Growing stronger together: How Stevens Point is expanding Ahlstrom's vision for food packaging

When Ahlstrom acquired the Stevens Point mill, the objective extended well beyond adding manufacturing capacity. It was about strengthening the company's long-term position in one of the fastest-evolving segments of the specialty paper market and creating new opportunities for customers around the world.

By bringing together complementary technologies, specialized expertise, and customer relationships, the acquisition has created a stronger, more agile food packaging platform; one capable of accelerating innovation, expanding market reach, and supporting customers as the industry transitions toward more sustainable packaging solutions.

Food packaging is evolving rapidly. Regulatory changes, sustainability ambitions, and shifting consumer expectations are driving brands to rethink packaging materials and redesign existing structures.

Against this backdrop, Stevens Point represents an important strategic addition to Ahlstrom's global Food Packaging business. It strengthens the company's ability to combine regional manufacturing with a global technical network, allowing customers to benefit from local expertise backed by international resources and decades of specialty paper know-how.

More importantly, it enables Ahlstrom to support larger and more strategic customer programs by offering a broader portfolio through a single trusted partner.

The acquisition significantly expands Ahlstrom's capabilities in coated and functional specialty papers while complementing its existing food packaging portfolio.

Together, the combined offering now serves a wider range of applications, including snacks, bakery, confectionery, dry mixes, quick-service restaurant packaging, food processing, and flexible packaging. Customers benefit from a more comprehensive portfolio that supports the transition from plastic-, foil-, and wax-based packaging toward renewable paper-based alternatives.

Rather than simply adding products, the integration creates opportunities to develop new solutions by combining the strengths of both organizations.

Accelerating innovation through collaboration

One of the greatest advantages of the combined platform is the ability to innovate more quickly.

Stevens Point contributes extensive expertise in specialty papermaking, coating technologies, and barrier development, supported by in-house pilot capabilities and close collaboration between R&D, manufacturing, and commercial teams. Combined with Ahlstrom's global application knowledge and customer network, these capabilities enable faster product development, more efficient customization, and stronger technical support throughout the innovation process.

The result is a collaborative approach that helps customers move from concept to commercialization with greater speed and confidence.

Supporting the transition to sustainable packaging

The industry's shift toward more sustainable packaging is creating demand for paper solutions that combine performance with recyclability and compostability.

The addition of Stevens Point significantly strengthens Ahlstrom's ability to support this transition. Its expertise in coated barrier papers complements Ahlstrom's existing technologies, enabling the development of high-performance paper packaging that meets demanding food protection requirements while supporting customers' sustainability objectives.

Together, the combined organization is better positioned to help customers navigate evolving regulations, reduce reliance on fossil-based materials, and bring scalable paper-based solutions to market.

Customers now benefit from increased regional production capacity, local technical expertise, and a more resilient supply network. The expanded manufacturing base provides greater flexibility, improved business continuity, and shorter supply chains for coated food packaging papers, while leveraging the broader capabilities of Ahlstrom's global organization.

Looking ahead

The integration of Stevens Point represents more than the combination of two organizations. It reflects Ahlstrom's commitment to building a stronger platform for long-term growth—one that brings together complementary technologies, experienced teams, and shared expertise to create greater value for customers.

As demand for sustainable food packaging continues to grow, the combined strengths of Ahlstrom and Stevens Point position the company to deliver broader capabilities, faster innovation, and scalable paper-based solutions that help shape the future of food packaging.