AIN Company Profile

The Machine Clothing (MC) segment supplies permeable and impermeable belts used in the manufacture of paper, paperboard, tissue and towel pulp, nonwovens, fiber cement and several other industrial applications.

We design, manufacture, and market paper machine clothing for each section of the paper machine and for every grade of paper. We manufacture and sell approximately twice as much paper machine clothing worldwide than any other company. Paper machine clothing products are customized, consumable products of technologically sophisticated design that utilize polymeric materials in a complex structure. The design and material composition of paper machine clothing can have a considerable effect on the quality of paper products produced and the efficiency of the paper machines on which it is used. Principal products in the paper machine clothing segment include forming, pressing, and dryer fabrics, and process belts. A forming fabric assists in paper sheet formation and conveys the very wet sheet (more than 75% water) through the forming section. Press fabrics are designed to carry the sheet through the press section, where water is pressed from the sheet as it passes through the press nip. In the dryer section, dryer fabrics manage air movement and hold the sheet against heated cylinders to enhance drying. Process belts are used in the press section to increase dryness and enhance sheet properties, as well as in other sections of the machine to improve runnability and enhance sheet qualities.

The Machine Clothing segment also supplies customized, consumable fabrics used in the manufacturing process in the pulp, corrugator, nonwovens, fiber cement, building products, and tannery and textile industries.

We sell our Machine Clothing products directly to customer end-users. Our products, manufacturing processes, and distribution channels for Machine Clothing are substantially the same in each region of the world in which we operate. The sales of paper machine clothing forming, pressing, and dryer fabrics, individually and in the aggregate, accounted for more than 10 percent of our consolidated net sales during one or more of the last three years.

The Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) segment, including Albany Safran Composites, LLC (ASC), in which our customer SAFRAN Group owns a 10 percent noncontrolling interest, provides highly engineered, advanced composite structures based on proprietary technology to customers in the aerospace and defense industries. AEC’s largest program relates to CFM International’s LEAP engine, which is scheduled to enter into service in 2016. AEC, through ASC, is the exclusive supplier to this program of advanced composite fan blades and cases under a long-term supply contract.

We invest in research, new product development, and technical analysis with the objective of maintaining our technological leadership in each business segment. While much of our research activity supports existing products, we also engage in significant research and development activities for new technology platforms, products and product enhancements.

Machine Clothing is custom-designed for each user, depending on the type, size, and speed of the machine, and the products being produced. Product design is also a function of the machine section, the grade of product being produced, and the quality of the stock used. Technical expertise, judgment, and experience are critical in designing the appropriate clothing for machine, position, and application. As a result, we employ highly skilled sales and technical service personnel who work directly with each customer’s plant operating management. Our technical service programs give our service engineers field access to the measurement and analysis equipment needed for troubleshooting and application engineering in many areas. Sales, service, and technical expenses are major cost components of the Company. Many employees in sales and technical functions have engineering degrees, paper mill experience, or other manufacturing experience in the markets in which they operate. Our market leadership position reflects our commitment to technological innovation. This innovation has resulted in a stream of new Machine Clothing products and enhancements, including the INLINE forming fabric family including KRAFTLINE and PRINTLINE; press fabrics such as HYDROCROSS, SEAM HYDROCROSS, SEAMPLANE, Seam KMX, and SPRING; process belts such as VENTABELT EVM, VENTABELT XTS and TRANSBELT GX; dryer fabrics such as SPIRALTOP, AEROPULSE and AEROPOINT; DURASPIRAL corrugator belts; and TOPSTAT, SUPRASTAT and NOVALACE fabrics for the nonwovens industry.

Albany Engineered Composites designs, develops and manufactures advanced composite parts for complex aerospace and other high-performance applications, using a range of core technologies, including its proprietary 3D woven reinforced composites technology. AEC is capable of designing and manufacturing 3D composite structures that are reinforced in multiple directions. By controlling the fiber and matrix materials, as well as the weaving architecture, we are able to engineer components that meet specific performance goals while also meeting cost, qualification, certification and production needs. AEC’s other core technologies include traditional and non-traditional 2D laminated composite structures, contour weaving, steered weaving, discrete through-thickness reinforcement technologies (such as Z-fiber™ reinforcements), and sandwich structures (X_COR™, K_COR™ and Ceramic Truss Core or CTC™). AEC’s research and technology team also works actively with existing and potential customers on applications involving other emerging technologies, such as ceramic matrix composites, pin insertion and 3D fiber placement.