Ahlstrom-Munksjö
| Company type | Public (formerly listed) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fiber-based materials, Specialty papers, Nonwovens |
| Founded | 1851 |
| Founder | Antti Ahlström |
| Headquarters | Espoo , Finland |
Area served | Worldwide (Europe, North and South America, Asia) |
Key people | Helen Mets (President and CEO) |
| Products | Fiber-based materials including filtration solutions, medical textiles, diagnostic materials, wall coverings, energy storage components, food packaging |
Number of employees | 7,000 (2023) |
| Website | www |
Ahlstrom Oyj (previously known as Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj) is an international producer specializing in fiber-based materials, with renewable fibers making up roughly 95% of its fiber consumption. The company caters to a wide array of sectors including automotive, furniture, construction, healthcare, life sciences, food and beverage, as well as energy industries.
Primarily active across Europe, North and South America, and Asia, Ahlstrom operates 37 manufacturing or converting facilities distributed over 13 countries, predominantly in Europe. Its corporate headquarters is situated in Espoo, Finland. By 2023, the workforce numbered around 7,000 employees, and the company achieved net sales amounting to EUR 3.0 billion.
Led by President and CEO Helen Mets, Ahlstrom concentrates on developing fiber-based products for everyday uses such as filtration solutions, medical textiles, diagnostic materials, wall coverings, energy storage components, and packaging for food.
Munksjö
The Munksjö paper mill traces its origins back to 1862 when inventor Janne Lundström partnered with financier Lars Johan Hierta to establish the facility.
Ahlstrom
Founded in Finland in 1851 by Antti Ahlström—a prominent industrialist of the 19th century—the company initially engaged in timber trade, shipping operations, sawmill management, pulp and paper manufacturing, and machinery production. Later diversification included ventures into glass manufacturing through brands like Iittala and Karhula.
Paper production commenced in Varkaus in 1921 on what was then Europe's largest paper machine. By the 1930s, Ahlstrom had become Finland’s foremost industrial conglomerate. During the Second World War, the company redirected its manufacturing efforts to support national defense. Following the war, Ahlstrom played a pivotal role in Finland’s reconstruction and reparations process, contributing nearly 15% of the total reparations delivered. The 1950s saw advancements in engineering and chemical wood processing technologies within the firm.
International expansion gained momentum in 1963 when Ahlstrom acquired a controlling interest in an Italian paper mill specializing in filter and cartridge papers—marking a significant milestone as the first major foreign acquisition by a Finnish enterprise.
The town of Varkaus grew around the company’s mills. In the 1930s, the Sunila Plant was constructed in Karhula (currently Kotka), designed by renowned architect Alvar Aalto. In the 1980s, operations at Varkaus were transferred to Enso Gutzeit (now Stora Enso).
Throughout the 1980s, Ahlstrom divested from newsprint and magazine paper segments to concentrate on specialty paper production. To strengthen its specialty paper and engineering divisions’ value proposition, it sold off paper manufacturing units in 1987.
During the 1990s, the company ventured into nonwoven materials. In 1996, it acquired French specialty paper and nonwovens producer Sibille-Dalle and established the Ahlstrom Paper Group to oversee fiber-based material activities.
In 2000, Ahlstrom expanded further by purchasing Dexter Corporation’s nonwoven plants located in the United States, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Currently ranked among the largest Nordic firms, significant ownership remains with the Ahlström family.
In 2001, Ahlstrom split into three entities: a publicly traded manufacturing company (Ahlstrom Corporation), a private investment firm (Ahlstrom Capital Oy), and a forestry and real estate enterprise (A.Ahlstrom Osakeyhtio).
Chairman Johan Erik Gullichsen was honored in 2005 with induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame for his contributions to pulp fiber processing innovation.
In 2012, Ahlstrom merged its Label and Processing division with Munksjö Group.
By 2016, plans were announced for a merger between Ahlstrom Corporation and Munksjö Oyj aimed at creating a global frontrunner in sustainable fiber-based solutions.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö
In 2017, the Osnabrück facility in Germany was sold by Ahlstrom to Kammerer.
The integration of Ahlstrom Corporation into Munksjö Oyj was finalized on April 1, 2017, resulting in the establishment of Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj. On the same day, the merged entity commenced trading on Nasdaq Helsinki (AM1) and Nasdaq Stockholm (AM1S).
During 2018, Ahlstrom-Munksjö grew its portfolio by acquiring Expera Specialty Solutions, a U.S.-based company, along with the specialty paper mill located in Caieiras, Brazil.
In September 2020, a group composed of Ahlström Capital, funds managed by Bain Capital, Viknum, and Belgrano Inversiones presented a cash bid to purchase all outstanding shares of Ahlstrom-Munksjö.
By 2021, this consortium successfully completed the tender offer, resulting in Ahlstrom-Munksjö transitioning to a privately held company under the name Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding. Consequently, its shares were removed from trading on both Nasdaq Helsinki and Nasdaq Stockholm.
Ahlstrom
In 2022, Ahlstrom-Munksjö divested its Decor segment to Munksjö AB, a newly established Swedish enterprise. Following this restructuring, the company adopted the name Ahlstrom, maintaining its stock symbol while refreshing its corporate name and logo.
Business divisions
Ahlstrom’s operations are organized into three primary sectors: Filtration & Life Sciences, Food & Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials.
Worldwide presence
With manufacturing facilities in 13 countries encompassing 35 plants and an extensive global sales infrastructure, Ahlstrom’s headquarters remain situated in Helsinki, Finland.