Ahlstrom, a global leader in high performance fiber-based materials, announced that it will invest EUR 38 million in a new medical nonwovens plant utilizing spunmelt technology in India. The investment is in line with Ahlstrom's strategy to grow in the fast growing emerging markets.
The new plant will manufacture a full range of spunmelt fabrics with a main focus on the medical fabrics market and the site also enables future expansions of Ahlstrom businesses in India.
The new facility, using state of the art nonwovens technology, will be located in the Mundra Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the western state of Gujarat and is expected to start production by the end of 2009.
"The investment in India is again a step ahead in Ahlstrom's global growth strategy, following the recent growth investments in Russia, Brazil and China, as well as in other regions.
The new plant will also further strengthen our position among the three leading nonwovens producers in the world", says Jukka Moisio, President and CEO of Ahlstrom Corporation.
"The medical market sector demands continually higher performing products", comments Paul Marold, Vice President and General Manager for Medical Fabrics.
"This investment in state of the art spunmelt technology not only provides us with a strategic and cost-competitive location close to our suppliers and global customers but also positions Ahlstrom well for the emerging medical nonwovens market of India."
The global demand for spunmelt medical fabrics is estimated to grow annually by 9%, and double digit growth rates are seen in emerging markets.
Mundra Special Economic Zone is one of the largest SEZs in India offering significant tax, infrastructure as well as logistics advantages.
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