Ahlstrom has officially inaugurated a new parchmentizer, PMZ5, at its Saint-Séverin facility in France, marking a €15 million investment aimed at boosting production capacity and reinforcing its commitment to customers and the local community.
The parchmentizer, an industrial machine used to treat cellulose-based paper into durable, grease- and water-resistant vegetable parchment, is essential for producing high-performance papers for food packaging and other demanding applications.
"This is a major milestone for our Saint-Séverin colleagues and for Ahlstrom as a whole," said Helen Mets, Ahlstrom’s President and CEO, during the inauguration ceremony. "We believe in this plant and its people. That’s why we’re investing in its continued growth."
The new PMZ5 will allow the company to enhance production flexibility and better meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide, particularly in the food packaging sector. Ahlstrom highlighted that the project reflects years of close collaboration with its global customer base, as well as the company’s broader focus on sustainable innovation.
Beyond its industrial significance, the investment also reaffirms Ahlstrom’s longstanding commitment to the Charente and Dordogne regions, where the company is a major employer and contributor to the local economy. Ahlstrom emphasized that community support and shared growth have been central to its mission for more than 150 years.
Ahlstrom is a global leader in sustainable specialty materials made from fiber. With operations in Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective and Performance Materials, the company aims to provide safe and sustainable solutions across key global markets. In 2024, Ahlstrom recorded EUR 3.0 billion in net sales and employed around 6,800 people.
