AstenJohnson realigns North American production operations

For Immediate Release
March 1, 2000

CHARLESTON, SC – AstenJohnson will realign its North American production operations for paper machine clothing as well as its U.S. and Canadian administration, sales and marketing organizations during the next six to 18 months, announces William A. Finn, chairman and CEO. AstenJohnson’s corporate office is in Charleston.

“Once the merger process was completed, we moved quickly to identify the best practices within our new organization that would further improve how we can better serve our customers primarily in the paper industry,” Finn explains. “Focused teams of associates worked on every aspect of our business to ensure that we maximize the benefits of our recent merger. The result is a plan designed to consolidate our administration, strengthen our product lines, expand our research efforts and streamline our production operations to position AstenJohnson for continued growth.”

Dan Cappell, chief sales and marketing officer, explains that the expansions will result in better response times, expanded product lines and improved services for our customers. “The expansions will also involve adding more technologically advanced equipment, which means increased productivity and improved cycle time. We are making these moves to more clearly focus our production sites.”

Approximately 50 administrative, sales and marketing support positions will be relocated from the company’s Walterboro, SC; Jonesboro, GA; and Kanata, ON (Canada) facilities to Charleston.

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said, “AstenJohnson has been an excellent corporate representative in our community. We are pleased that, in their reorganization, fifty positions have been added to the North Charleston facility. I wish them luck and continued growth in the future.”

“By targeting its South Carolina facilities, AstenJohnson has recognized that our state has the future growth potential they need to continue their economic achievements,” S.C. Commerce Secretary Charles S. Way Jr. said. “The teamwork with community, government and business leaders has been the key to this project’s successful announcements. By working together the plans announced today will have a positive impact on the region for many years to come.”

“AstenJohnson’s commitment to South Carolina shines through with their operations in North Charleston, Walterboro and Clinton. This shows that South Carolina’s work force has the right skills and talent to excel in today’s globally competitive environment,” Governor Jim Hodges said. “Our state’s favorable business climate will continue to add momentum to their success.”

Charleston County Council Chairman Barrett Lawrimore enthusiastically greeted the news of the merger and headquarters expansion. “Asten and its exceptional accomplishments have been a source of great pride for Charleston County for some time now. Asten was among the first companies to choose Charleston for its headquarters, at a time when this was a great rarity. As the newly configured AstenJohnson ventures forward, we are delighted to know that they will do so from the banks of the Ashley River, continuing their commitment to the Charleston community. As before, we remain committed to the company to preserve a pro-business environment in which AstenJohnson can grow and thrive.”

Positioning for growth

“When we looked at how to realign our production operations,” says Garry Kirby, chief operating officer, “one of the important issues was to position our plants for future growth. We determined the areas that would be key to our growth, and we will be expanding those facilities.”

AstenJohnson plans on significant expansions and new capital investments at production sites in Kanata; Valleyfield, QC (Canada); Warrendale, PA; and Williston, VT.

Additionally, the company’s Advanced Product Services Group will be established in Jonesboro and Kanata. The company will bring together its Advanced Products Research Group in Kanata.

The company is also currently in the process of completing major expansions at its production sites in Clinton, SC, and Jonesboro.

To facilitate the streamlining of its operations, AstenJohnson will shut down part of its production facility in Jonesboro and Montreal, QC (Canada).

The company will also close its production site in Summerville, SC, by the end of the year. The closure will affect 28 associates. Outplacement counseling and workshops are being provided to assist associates as they prepare to look for positions in the area.

AstenJohnson designs, manufactures and markets paper machine clothing for all sections of the paper machine. Paper machine clothing is a highly engineered textile fabric installed on paper machines to carry the paper stock through each stage of the paper making process. The design and composition of paper machine clothing has a significant impact on the quality of paper products produced and the efficiency of the paper machine on which it is used.

The company also designs, manufactures and markets specialty fabrics to the nonwoven, textile, filtration and food industries as well as paper machine drainage equipment and filaments. Approximately 2,000 people are employed by the company in North America.

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