Ahlstrom-Munksjö launches FortiCell® LAB, a new product portfolio specifically designed for the Lead Acid Battery Industry

AHLSTROM-MUNKSJÖ OYJ PRESS RELEASE September 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. EEST

Ahlstrom-Munksjö advances further into the energy storage market and launches Ahlstrom-Munksjö Forticell® LAB, its new portfolio of fiber-based solutions for Lead Acid Battery applications.

Today, lead acid batteries are the most cost effective energy storage devices. Storing electricity from renewable energy resources, providing back up for data centers, supporting supply chain management , enabling vehicle start-stop systems and supporting electrical car charging stations. Fiber-based materials are widely used in energy storage devices and due to Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s extensive expertise in cellulose, microglass and specialty nonwoven materials, the company is developing a complete range of solutions for its customers.

“I am very pleased to introduce our FortiCell® LAB range”, says Bertrand Rupin, Head of Business Development, Energy Storage. “Utilizing the extensive technological platform already in place, the Forticell® LAB portfolio covers the full range of fiber-based materials used in the industry today, from absorbed glass mat media to pasting materials and film separator reinforcements. We plan to further expand our portfolio of solutions in this field going forward”, he adds.

“We are determined to take the necessary steps that will lead Ahlstrom-Munksjö to become a leading supplier to the energy storage market”, says Daniele Borlatto, Executive Vice President, Filtration & Performance Solutions. “The introduction of a complete offering for lead acid battery, combined with the opening of a new state of the art absorbed glass mat line in Turin in the first quarter of 2022, puts us in a strong position to serve the growing needs of the lead acid battery industry moving forward”, adds Robin Guillaud, Vice President Business Development, Filtration & Performance Solutions.

The addressable annual market opportunity for fiber-based solutions used in lead acid batteries is approximately EUR 400 million and is expected to grow 4-6% per year.

Ahlstrom– Munksjö is a Sponsor in the upcoming ELBC 17th European Lead Battery Conference, held virtually on September 22-24, 2020, where additional information on Forticell® LAB will be made available:  https://17elbc.ila-lead.org/ 

In parallel to its development efforts in the lead acid battery market, Ahlstrom-Munksjö will continue to seek for opportunities to develop its FortiCell® product platform in other segments of the energy storage industry

For more information, please visit www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com/forticell-lab or contact forticell@ahlstrom-munksjo.com

For further information, please contact:

Bertrand Rupin, Head of Business Development, Energy Storage, tel. +33 6 33 57 74 66
Juho Erkheikki, Investor Relations Manager, tel. +358 10 888 4731

Ahlstrom-Munksjö in brief
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Our mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Our offering include filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials and solutions for diagnostics as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Our annual net sales is about EUR 3 billion and we employ some 8,000 people. The Ahlstrom-Munksjö share is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and Stockholm. Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com