FINLAND -- Ahlstrom today (8 Oct 2014) announced that it will start on 16 Oct 2014, co-operation negotiations with employee representatives at its Kauttua production line in Finland as part of its earlier announced rightsizing program.

The negotiations will affect the whole personnel at the site and may lead to personnel reductions or temporary lay-offs. The aim of the negotiations is to evaluate ways to adjust Ahlstrom's production capacity and costs to the prevailing overcapacity on the global masking tape markets, the company said.

The Kauttua plant manufactures base paper for masking tape. Ahlstrom said the markets for masking tape have significant overcapacity globally, especially in Europe. Ahlstrom also manufactures base paper for masking tape in Pont Audemer, France and Longkou, China.

The Kauttua production line is part of Ahlstrom's Food Business Area and it employs approximately 20 employees. The negotiations are expected to be completed by early December 2014, Ahlstrom said.