Albany International Corp said its German affiliate; Württembergische Filztuchfabrik K. Geschmay GmbH will discontinue operations at its press fabric manufacturing facility in Göppingen, Germany.

“This planned action is driven by the continuing consolidation of paper industry customers in Europe, and the continuous need to match manufacturing capacity with demands of our customers,” it said in a press release.

According to Albany, the Göppingen plan would be subject to applicable local law and would be implemented in accordance with such law and in consultation with the Works Council.

“The proposed action in Germany in no way reflects on the performance of the 52 affected employees; it is a business necessity, driven by both the existing and anticipated market conditions,” it added.

Following completion of this planned action, the Company’s European press fabrics manufacturing activities will now be centered in Halmstad, Sweden.

There will be no impact on its other European machine clothing manufacturing operations and its customers throughout Europe, will continue to receive world-class expertise and support.

Albany International is a global advanced textiles and materials processing company, with two core businesses.

Machine Clothing is the world’s leading producer of custom-designed fabrics and belts essential to production in the paper, nonwovens, and other process industries.

Albany Engineered Composites is a rapidly growing supplier of highly engineered composite parts for the aerospace industry.

Albany International is headquartered in Rochester, New Hampshire, operates 20 plants in 11 countries, and employs 4,000 people worldwide. (AR)