Ahlstrom Enters Lab Filtration Market
Listed on the Helsinki stock exchange, Ahlstrom generated 2011 revenues of €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion), with the Filtration business accounting for 20% of sales. Effective January 2013, it will divide its Filtration business into Advanced Filtration, which will focus on life science and lab filtration materials, and Transportation Filtration. Munktell provides a range of lab filtration products, as well as environmental control filters, industrial filter papers, medical products and air filter media.
Helsinki, Finland 9/5/12; Helsinki, Finland 10/25/12—High-performance materials firm Ahlstrom has acquired Munktell Filter, a provider of life science and lab applications filtration materials, for €20 million ($25 million = €0.79 = $1). Based in Falun, Sweden, Munktell Filter had 2011 annual sales of €15 million ($21 million = €0.72 = $1) and an operating profit margin of around 15% “When we combine Munktell’s strong position in the European advanced filtration market with our solid presence in North America, we will gain access to new markets geographically,” said Tommi Björnman, executive vice president of Ahlstrom’s Filtration business area. Munktell has production sites in Germany and Sweden, a French joint venture and a US sales office.
