{{Short description|Finnish fiber company}} {{Redirect|Ahlstrom}} {{Infobox company | name = Ahlstrom Oyj | type = Private company | traded_as = | logo = Ahlstrom logo PRIMARY RGB.jpg | logo_alt = Ahlstrom logo in purple and red color | logo_size = | genre = | foundation = 1851 | location_city = Espoo | location_country = Finland | location = Keilaranta 18, 02150 | origins = | key_people = {{unbulleted list|Ivano Sessa {{small|(Chairman of the Board)}}|Helen Mets {{small|(President and CEO)}}}} | area_served = Worldwide | industry = Fiber-based materials, including nonwovens | products = Fiber-based materials for everyday applications such as filters, medical fabrics, life science and diagnostics, wallcoverings, energy storage, and food packaging. | revenue = {{unbulleted list|{{increase}} {{€|2900}} million (2025)}} | num_employees = 7000 (2025) | parent = | subsid = | owner = | website = https://www.ahlstrom.com/ | footnotes = }}
'''Ahlstrom Oyj''' (previously Ahlstrom-Munksjö) is a manufacturer of fiber-based products.]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=874908|title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj: Private Company Information - Bloomberg|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022442/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=874908|archive-date=2018-06-29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Renewable fibers represent about 95% of Ahlstrom's total fiber use<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainability data and targets |url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/sustainability/sustainability-data-and-targets/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=Ahlstrom |language=en}}</ref>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/latest/munksj%C3%B6-and-ahlstrom-merge|title=Munksjö and Ahlstrom to merge {{!}} Labels & Labeling|website=www.labelsandlabeling.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022139/http://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/latest/munksj%C3%B6-and-ahlstrom-merge|archive-date=2018-06-29|url-status=live}}</ref>
Ahlstrom operates in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Most production sites are located in Europe and United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/Investors/reports-and-presentations/annualreport2017/|title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö Annual Report 2017|website=www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com|access-date=2018-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022055/https://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/Investors/reports-and-presentations/annualreport2017/|archive-date=2018-06-29|url-status=live}}</ref> The head office is located in Espoo, Finland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kauppalehti.fi/porssitiedotteet/ahlstrom-munksjo-interim-report-january-march-2018-strong-sales-growth-in-constant-currency-and-synergy-realization-to-continue/CpY2JRj7|title=Ahlstrom-Munksjo Interim Report January-March 2018, stock exchange release, published by Kauppalehti.|website=www.kauppalehti.fi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629022008/https://www.kauppalehti.fi/porssitiedotteet/ahlstrom-munksjo-interim-report-january-march-2018-strong-sales-growth-in-constant-currency-and-synergy-realization-to-continue/CpY2JRj7|archive-date=2018-06-29|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref>
Ahlstrom's customers represent several industries, including automotive construction, healthcare and life science, food and beverage and energy sectors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/industries/|title=Industries|website=Ahlstrom|language=en|access-date=15 May 2026}}</ref>
The company has some 7,000 employees worldwide and 36 production or converting facilities in 13 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö to operate under the business name Ahlstrom |url=http://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/releases/press-releases2/2022/ahlstrom-munksjo-to-operate-under-the-business-name-ahlstrom/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=Ahlstrom |language=en}}</ref> The company's net sales in 2025 amounted to €2.9 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/globalassets/investors/reports-and-presentations/2025/ahlstrom_sustainability_report_2025.pdf|title=Ahlstrom Full year 2024 report|access-date=May 15, 2026|website=Ahlstrom}}</ref>
The company is led by Helen Mets, President and CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=Ahlstrom appoints Helen Mets as president and CEO {{!}} Labels & Labeling |url=http://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/people/ahlstrom-appoints-helen-mets-president-and-ceo |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.labelsandlabeling.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom appoints Helen Mets as President and CEO |url=http://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/releases/press-releases2/2022/ahlstrom-appoints-helen-mets-as-president-and-ceo/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Ahlstrom |language=en}}</ref>
==History==
=== 1862-2016 ===
==== Munksjö ==== The creation of the Munksjö paper mill in 1862 was due to a chance meeting of two men: Janne Lundström, an inventor and industrialist from Jönköping, and Lars Johan Hierta, a prominent financier, publisher and politician.
==== Ahlstrom ==== Ahlstrom has its roots in Finland: the founder, Antti Ahlström, was one of Finland's most prominent 19th-century businessmen. The company was founded in 1851 and timber trading, shipping, and sawmill operations started to grow. The company focused on pulp, paper and timber production and machinery, later expanding to glassworks (Iittala and Karhula).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-13 |title=The History of Ahlström - A. Ahlström |url=https://aahlstrom.com/history-of-ahlstrom/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> thumb|Headquarters of A. Ahlström Oy at Eteläesplanadi 14 in Helsinki. Constructed by Jung & Jung in 1937. Ahlstrom's paper production began in Varkaus in 1921 on Europe's largest paper production machine.<ref name="Picvalley.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.picvalley.com/corp/about_corporate_history.htm |title=picvalley.com: Ahlstrom Corporate History |access-date=2009-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610220931/http://www.picvalley.com/corp/about_corporate_history.htm |archive-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> By the beginning of the 1930s, Ahlstrom had grown into Finland's largest industrial conglomerate.<ref name="answers.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/ahlstrom-corporation?cat=biz-fin%C2%A0 |title=Answers.com: Ahlstrom Corporation |website=Answers.com |access-date=2008-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105121240/http://www.answers.com/topic/ahlstrom-corporation?cat=biz-fin%C2%A0 |archive-date=2012-11-05 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The outbreak of World War II led the company to convert much of its production to support the Finnish war effort. Following the war, the company played a major role in Finland's reconstruction and in its war reparations obligation. Ahlstrom alone accounted for nearly 15 percent of the country's total reparations. The company continued to expand into the 1950s, stepping up its engineering operations while also expanding into chemical wood processing technology.<ref name="answers.com"/>
Ahlstrom Corporation began to rapidly grow internationally in 1963, by acquiring a majority interest in a paper mill in Mathi close to Turin, Italy, that produced filter papers and rifle cartridge paper. This was the first significant international acquisition made by a Finnish company and made Ahlstrom a pioneer among major Finnish companies in internationalization.<ref name="Picvalley.com"/>
The town of Varkaus grew up around the A. Ahlström paper mills. In the 1930s, the Sunila Plant in Karhula (now Kotka), designed by Alvar Aalto, was built by Ahlström. In the 1980s, in a large swap of facilities, the Varkaus works were handed over to Enso Gutzeit (now Stora Enso).
During the 1980s, Ahlstrom left the newsprint and magazine paper market and focused its operations on specialty papers. One of the most profound decisions in Finnish industrial history was made in 1987, when Ahlstrom unexpectedly sold its paper-producing units. Leaving newsprint production increased the relative value of Ahlstrom's specialty paper and engineering units.
In the 1990s, Ahlstrom expanded its focus to include nonwoven products. At the end of 1996, Ahlstrom Corporation continued its expansion by acquiring the French specialty paper and nonwovens producer Sibille-Dalle. During that same year, Ahlstrom Corporation established the Ahlstrom Paper Group to encompass the company's fiber-based materials operations.
In 2000, Ahlstrom acquired Dexter Corporation's nonwovens production facilities in the United States, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Recently, Ahlstrom is among the largest Nordic companies. The Ahlström family are still significant shareholders in the Ahlstrom Corporation.
In 2001, the group split into three companies. The manufacturing divisions were transferred to the now public Ahlstrom Corporation. Ahlstrom Capital Oy was established as a private investment company. And A.Ahlstrom Osakeyhtio was established as a private forestry and real estate management company.
In October 2005, Professor Johan Erik Gullichsen, chairman of Ahlstrom Corporation, was inducted into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame for his innovations in the processing of pulp fiber suspensions at medium consistency.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.paperage.com/issues/nov_dec2005/11_2005ofinterest.html |title=PaperAge: Paper Industry International Hall of Fame Honors Industry "Innovators" |access-date=2006-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219220658/http://www.paperage.com/issues/nov_dec2005/11_2005ofinterest.html |archive-date=2006-12-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2012, Ahlstrom Corporation announced that its Label and Processing business area will be combined with Munksjö Group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business area to be combined with Munksjö Group to create a world leader in specialty papers |url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/releases/stock-exchange-releases2/2012/Ahlstroms-Label-and-Processing-business-area-to-be-combined-with-Munksjo-Group-to-create-a-world-leader-in-specialty-papers-/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=Ahlstrom |language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, Ahlstrom Corporation and Munksjö Oyj announced a plan to merge the two companies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ahlstrom.com/en/Media/Releases/Stock-Exchange-Releases/2016/ahlstrom-and-munksjo-to-combine-creating-a-global-leader-in-sustainable-and-innovative-fiber-based-solutions/ |title=Ahlstrom - Ahlstrom and Munksjö to combine, creating a global leader in sustainable and innovative fiber-based solutions |access-date=2017-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080047/http://www.ahlstrom.com/en/Media/Releases/Stock-Exchange-Releases/2016/ahlstrom-and-munksjo-to-combine-creating-a-global-leader-in-sustainable-and-innovative-fiber-based-solutions/ |archive-date=2017-02-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=== 2017-10/2022 ===
==== Ahlstrom-Munksjö ==== In 2017, Ahlstrom sold its Osnabruck, Germany plant to Kammerer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ahlstrom.com/en/Media/Releases/Press-Releases/2017/ahlstrom-completes-the-sale-of-osnabruck-plant-to-kammerer/ |title=Ahlstrom - Ahlstrom completes the sale of Osnabrück plant to Kämmerer |access-date=2017-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155259/http://www.ahlstrom.com/en/Media/Releases/Press-Releases/2017/ahlstrom-completes-the-sale-of-osnabruck-plant-to-kammerer/ |archive-date=2017-02-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The completion of the merger of Ahlstrom Corporation into Munksjö Oyj was registered with the Finnish Trade Register on 1 April 2017. Following the completion of the merger, the name of the combined company has changed to Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj (“Ahlstrom-Munksjö”). Trading in the new Ahlstrom-Munksjö shares issued to Ahlstrom's shareholders as merger consideration commenced 1 April 2017 on the Nasdaq Helsinki (trading code: AM1) and Nasdaq Stockholm (trading code: AM1S) stock exchanges.<ref name=":2">[http://www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/Media/releases/other-stock-exchange-and-press-releases/2017/ahlstrom-munksjo-oyj-the-merger-of-munksjo-and-ahlstrom-has-been-registered-and-the-board-of-directors-has-elected-the-chairman-and-vice-chairmen/{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Ahlstrom-Munksjö merger completed | EUWID Pulp and Paper (euwid-paper.com)]</ref>
In 2018, Ahlstrom-Munksjö acquired U.S. based Expera Specialty Solutions and Brazilian Caieiras specialty paper mill.<ref name="expera">{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Brittany |date=24 July 2018 |title=A look at what's next for Expera Solutions following international sale |url=https://fox11online.com/news/local/a-look-at-whats-next-for-expera-solutions-after-international-sale |access-date=22 July 2021 |work=Fox 11 News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö acquires MD Papéis Caieiras paper mill |url=https://www.pulpandpapercanada.com/ahlstrom-munksjo-acquires-md-papeis-caieiras-paper-mill-1100001380/ |access-date=22 July 2021 |work=Pulp & Paper Canada |date=24 October 2018}}</ref>
In September 2020, it was reported that a consortium consisting of Ahlström Capital, funds managed by Bain Capital, and Viknum and Belgrano Inversiones has submitted a cash purchase offer for all Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj's shares.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-24 |title=Ahlströmin perheyhtiö aikoo ostaa Ahlstrom-Munksjön ulos pörssistä - Miljardikaupan tavoitteena on kiihdyttää yhtiön kehittämistä |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11560551 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
In 2021, a consortium consisting of Ahlström Capital, funds managed by Bain Capital as well as Viknum and Belgrano Inversiones completed a tender offer for all shares in Ahlstrom-Munksjö. Ahlstrom-Munksjö became a privately held company (Ahlstrom-Munksjö Holding) and its shares were delisted from Nasdaq Helsinki and Nasdaq Stockholm.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-26|title=Private equity group in negotiations to buy all shares in Ahlstrom-Munksjö|url=https://www.paperindustryworld.com/private-equity-group-in-negotiations-to-buy-all-shares-in-ahlstrom-munksjo/|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Paper Industry World|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kauppalehti|title=Spa Holdings 3 Oy has gained title to the minority shares in Ahlstrom-Munksjö and the Ahlstrom-Munksjö shares will be delisted from Nasdaq Helsinki|url=https://www.kauppalehti.fi/porssitiedotteet/spa-holdings-3-oy-has-gained-title-to-the-minority-shares-in-ahlstrom-munksjo-and-the-ahlstrom-munksjo-shares-will-be-delisted-from-nasdaq-helsinki/9eaf7d22-98dd-53be-ae86-f0fd44dee51a|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Tärkeimmät talousuutiset {{!}} Kauppalehti|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö to be Delisted from Nasdaq Stockholm|url=https://www.nonwovens-industry.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2021-04-19/ahlstrom-munksjo-to-be-delisted-from-nasdaq-stockholm/|access-date=2022-01-18|website=Nonwovens Industry Magazine - News, Markets & Analysis for the Nonwovens Industry}}</ref>
=== 11/2022-now ===
==== Ahlstrom ==== In 2022, Ahlstrom-Munksjö divested its Decor business to a newly formed Swedish company named Munksjö AB.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö completes the reorganization of the Decor business ownership |url=http://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/releases/press-releases2/2022/ahlstrom-munksjo-completes-the-reorganization-of-the-decor-business-ownership/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=Ahlstrom |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö to reorganize its decor business ownership |url=https://www.pulpapernews.com/20220524/13602/ahlstrom-munksjo-reorganize-its-decor-business-ownership |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=www.pulpapernews.com |language=sv}}</ref> Following the ownership reorganization, the company renamed itself as Ahlstrom, with a renewed logo where the symbol remains the same and the name is changed to Ahlstrom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maxwell |date=2022-06-19 |title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö changes its name to Ahlstrom |url=https://papertoexport.com/ahlstrom-munksjo-changes-its-name-to-ahlstrom/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=Paper to Export |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="papnews.com">{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom-Munksjö to change name to Ahlstrom - Papnews |url=https://www.papnews.com/ahlstrom-munksjo-to-change-name-to-ahlstrom/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |website=www.papnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Helen Mets was appointed as President and CEO of Ahlstrom in December 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/releases/press-releases2/2022/ahlstrom-appoints-helen-mets-as-president-and-ceo/|title=Ahlstrom appoints Helen Mets as President and CEO|date=December 13, 2022|website=Ahlstrom}}</ref>
== PFAS Contamination ==
Ahlstrom is currently linked to PFAS soil- and water-contamination in different countries.
In the US, after sites inspections found PFAS levels more than 3 times those typically seen in soil, groundwater and sediments, The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sent what are known as “responsible party” letters to the Rhinelander mill’s current owner '''Ahlstrom Rhinelander LLC''' and '''Ahlstrom NA Specialty Solutions LLC'''. The DNR also named the mill’s former owner Wausau Paper Corp., Wausau Paper Mills LLC and Essity North America as responsible parties. The DNR has previously found contaminated wells in Stella, Wisconsin have some of the highest PFAS levels in the country, pointing the risk of drinking tap water in the area. Ahlstrom launches bottled water program after state regulators named it among companies tied to PFAS contamination. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpr.org/news/paper-company-responsible-pfas-pollution-bottled-water-stella |title=wpr.org |access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>.
In France similar contaminations with levels more than 6 times higher to what legislations allows are alike linked back to paper mills owned by Ahlstrom. This leads as well to a ground water consumption ban for large areas.
PFAS from the paper mills are found in soils, water, fishes and even human blood samples according to investigations. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/grand-est/ardennes/enquete-pfas-des-analyses-exclusives-devoilent-la-contamination-des-sols-et-des-legumes-dans-les-ardennes-et-la-meuse-3304203.html |title=france3-regions.franceinfo.fr |access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://disclose.ngo/fr/article/pfas-des-analyses-exclusives-devoilent-une-contamination-omnipresente-dans-les-ardennes-et-la-meuse |title=disclose.ngo |access-date=2026-03-05}}</ref>.
== Business areas == Ahlstrom manages a broad platform of businesses, focusing on three core segments, Filtration & Life Sciences, Food & Consumer Packaging, Protective Materials, and one cluster, Performance materials<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our business |url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/Investors/ahlstrom-company/our-business/ |access-date=2026-05-15 |website=Ahlstrom |language=en}}</ref>.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahlstrom Announces New Divisional Structure |url=https://www.nonwovens-industry.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2024-04-29/ahlstrom-announces-new-divisional-structure/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Nonwovens Industry}}</ref>
== Global operations == Ahlstrom products are developed and produced in 13 countries, with 36 plants<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahlstrom |first=Oyj |date=March 27, 2024 |title=Ahlstrom Sustainability Report 2023 |url=https://www.ahlstrom.com/globalassets/investors/reports-and-presentations/2023/ahlstrom-sustainability-report-2023.pdf |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=Ahlstrom - Reports and presentations}}</ref> and a global sales network. The headquarter office is in Espoo, Finland.
== See also == * Ahlström — Gullichsen family * Forest industry in Finland * List of Finnish companies
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahlstrom-Munksjö}} Category:Companies established in 1851 Category:Finnish brands Category:Pulp and paper companies of Finland Category:Manufacturing companies based in Helsinki Category:Textile companies of Finland Category:1851 establishments in the Russian Empire Category:Companies formerly listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Category:Bain Capital companies