Ahlstrom announced this week that it has completed the divestment of its Abrasives business unit to Munksjö. Munksjö’s offer was announced on July 7, 2025. The transaction marks a key step on Ahlstrom’s transformation journey to become the preferred sustainable specialty materials company.
Munksjö is a leading international manufacturer of decorative paper solutions, created in 2022 by the separation of Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s décor business. The transaction includes the plant in Arches, France, that Ahlstrom and Munksjö have shared since 2022, together with the Abrasives business unit, including all associated operations and personnel. Munksjö’s expertise in high performance paper will serve as a strong foundation for expanding Abrasives’ capabilities.
“This is an important milestone in our growth transformation,” says Helen Mets, President and CEO at Ahlstrom. “We believe that Munksjö is the best possible owner for Abrasives and will enable the business to reach its full potential while allowing its people to thrive. At the same time, the divestment will strengthen the specialty nature of the Ahlstrom portfolio and reinforce our commitment to working with our customers on differentiated sustainable innovations.”
“I am very pleased to welcome the Abrasives business and its talented people to Munksjö,” says Manfred Bracher, CEO of Munksjö. “This acquisition expands our portfolio while building on the shared strong technology platform. The experience and expertise of the Arches employees will strengthen both the Abrasives and Decor businesses, support Munksjö’s long-term growth objectives and deliver more value for our customers.”
