Ahlstrom, Finland, reports that it has decided to make an investment to increase flexibility of its Binzhou wallcoverings products line in China. Following the modification, the production line will be capable of producing filtration products in addition to wallcovering materials. The annual capacity of the line will be about 20,000 metric tons of wallcovering or filtration products and the re-engineering work is expected to be completed by April 2016.

"This investment reinforces our commitment to our customers in the filtration and wallcovering materials markets in China and elsewhere in the region," saidFulvioCapussotti, EVP, BinzhouBuilding and Energy business area. "It's also vital for us to make the Binzhou line more versatile to ensure business agility."   

The Binzhou wallcoverings production line was inaugurated in May 2014. Ahlstrom also operates another line producing filtration products at the same site in the Shandong Province on China's east coast. Going forward, Ahlstrom will be able to supply the Asian and Chinese markets with a wider product mix and the site will also have a stronger role in research and product development. The two lines in Binzhou will be part of the Filtration & Performance business area from the beginning of 2016.