Ahlstrom's personnel negotiations completed in Karhula, Finland - No lay offs required

Ahlstrom Corporation PRESS RELEASE 12.9.2008
 
 
Ahlstrom has concluded the cooperation procedure at its glassfiber plant in Karhula, Finland. As a result of the negotiations, the company will reduce the production of winded roving and change from a two-shift production model to a one shift arrangement. After this change the department will employ three people instead of the previous 10 employees, and the remaining seven employees will be offered work in other departments at Ahlstrom's Karhula plant. As a result, no lay offs will take place.
 
The negotiations started on August 25 and concerned the production people at the plant's department producing winded roving. The reason for the negotiations was Ahlstrom's strategic focus on producing roll goods and the fact that winded roving comprises only a small part of Ahlstrom's Glass Nonwovens business.
 
In line with its strategy, Ahlstrom has during recent years focused on the production of roll goods in its Glass Nonwovens business. The largest product lines of the business area are glassfiber tissue and specialty reinforcements. Additionally the company produces smaller amounts of specific products, which include winded roving. The product is used e.g. as reinforcement in building industry, and accounts for 2-3 percent of the business area's net sales.
 
Ahlstrom's plant in Karhula is part of the company's Glass Nonwovens business area, and it employs over 400 people.
 
 
For more information please contact Ahlstrom's Karhula plant:
 
Product Line Manager Dan Jönsas, tel. +358 50 549 0916
Plant Manager, Karhula Tuomo Mustonen, tel. +358 50 377 0298
Human Resources Director Sirkka Pennanen-Taskinen, tel. +358 50 549 0918
 
Distribution:
OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki
Main media
 
Ahlstrom in brief
 
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of everyday products, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 6,500 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2007, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. Ahlstrom's share is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Helsinki. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.