Fibre based materials manufacturer Ahlstrom, reports it is strengthening its focus on wallcoverings by continuing to invest in both new product development and production facilities.

As part of the Ahlstrom EasyLife product offering, the company has developed a nonwoven wallcovering substrate at its Osnabrück plant in Germany and says that the product has been very well received by customers to date. Ahlstrom plans to expand the range this year with a number of new product launches.

In line with new product development, an investment program has also been carried out to ensure the high quality standards and efficiency needed to produce the range. "We are fully committed to serving our customers from Osnabrück as well as developing the nonwoven product offering further and completing ongoing investments on the production line at the plant," says Laura Raitio, Executive Vice President, Building and Energy.

Ahlstrom’s materials are manufactured in Europe and North America and are part of Ahlstrom's Building and Energy business area. However, in order to further support the development of the Chinese wallcovering market, Ahlstrom will start manufacturing nonwoven wallcovering substrates in Binzhou, Shandong province in China. Production of the high quality and innovative wallcover substrates will start during the second half of 2013.

Additionally, Ahlstrom is investing in Malmedy, Belgium, to produce embossed substrates for digital print applications, which it says will offer enhanced design possibilities to customers.

Elsewhere within the group, Ahlstrom is in the process of demerging its Label and Processing business and merging it with Munksjö AB - the transaction is under the European Commission's review with respect to abrasive backings and pre-impregnated decor paper. Ahlstrom says the transaction has no effect on its commitment to provide leading-edge product offerings in wallcoverings and other key focus areas in high performance fibre based materials.