Ahlstrom Starts Temporary Layoffs at its Head Office and Sales Office in Helsinki


Helsinki, Finland, 26 February 2009 -- Ahlstrom Corporation, a leading supplier of nonwovens and specialty papers, will start negotiations with personnel on temporary layoffs at its head office and sales office in Helsinki, as part of the restructuring program announced earlier this year to adjust its operations to the current business environment. The negotiations will concern the whole personnel of these units, a total of 76 people.

The company plans to hold the negotiations during March. The potential temporary layoffs are estimated to begin in April 2009 and would be carried out step-by-step by the end of this year.

Earlier this year, Ahlstrom made adjustments at its manufacturing plants and other operations globally, by reducing production, the number of shifts, and at some locations, the number of personnel. In Finland, the company has concluded cooperation negotiations with personnel at its plants in Mikkeli, Karhula, and Tampere.

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. Ahlstrom's 6400 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2008, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company Web site is www.ahlstrom.com.