Ahlstrom has launched a consultation process with employee representatives at its Bousbecque, France about the possibility to divest or close the plant and to centralize parchment paper production to its Saint-Séverin plant in France to ensure the long-term future and competitiveness of the specialty materials business.

The Bousbecque plant in the north of France focuses on producing parchment specialty materials. There is overcapacity in parchment and increasing competition. The plant has an annual capacity of approximately 12,000 tons and has 117 employees.

Despite thorough review of different options, Ahlstrom has not been able to find solutions that would enable it to continue operating the Bousbecque plant. Therefore, after having carefully studied all possible scenarios, Ahlstrom is now planning to move production from Bousbecque to Saint-Séverin plant, planning to divest the Bousbecque site and if a buyer cannot be found considering closure.

This plan would allow Ahlstrom to centralize all its parchment paper production activities on the Saint-Séverin site, which would help reduce production costs and improve competitiveness.

“We are committed to examining all potential options to minimise any possible social consequences, as we understand that this is a difficult time for our employees at Bousbecque. In the absence of viable solutions, we pledge to work closely with our other sites, the municipality of Bousbecque, the Northern French region and all stakeholders to provide full support to all our potentially impacted employees,” says Guillaume Latourrette, Vice President of Ahlstrom’s Global Food business.