Albany International Corp. and its subsidiaries are engaged in two business segments.
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.
