Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a supplier of fiber-based materials based in Helsinki, Finland, said it plans to invest 58 million Euro [US $70.59 million] in a new glass fiber tissue production line in the United States to support the flooring industry in North America. The new line will produce a full range of glass fiber tissue nonwovens with a focus on luxury vinyl tiles and vinyl sheet materials. Customer deliveries from the new line are expected to start in mid-2023.

The new line will be installed in Madisonville, Kentucky, where Ahlstrom-Munksjö already has an established plant developing and producing filtration materials for transportation and industrial applications. The initiative will create 50 jobs. The company said it estimates demand in North America for flooring materials is estimated to grow annually by 5%— 11% annually for luxury vinyl tile.

"The investment in this new state-of-the-art foam forming glass fiber in the U.S. is a major step in Ahlstrom-Munksjö's global growth strategy in glass fiber tissue market," said Hans Sohlström, president and CEO of Ahlstrom-Munksjö. "In combination with our existing plants in Finland and Russia, this new plant will further strengthen our leadership in this field by consolidating our global position in flooring applications but also by giving us a unique platform to expand into other glass fiber tissue applications."

For more information, visit ahlstrom-munksjo.com.