Oct 19, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Ahlstrom Corporation will implement a profit improvement program to address underperforming businesses. The program aims to improve annual operating profit by approximately Euro 15 million starting from the year 2012 and may affect about 400 employees. The overall impact of the non-recurring items of the program is cash neutral, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. Ahlstrom will book a non-recurring cost of about Euro 25 million in its 3Q 2011 financial results. Further improvement measures are being considered and will be announced in due course. As a result of the co-operation negotiations started in September at its Karhula and Mikkeli plants, part of the Building and Energy business area, Ahlstrom has decided to gradually discontinue the production of glassfiber and glassfiber mats in Karhula by the end of 2011 as the operation is unprofitable. The production of glassfiber tissue at the site will continue as before. The decision to end glassfiber production will lead to a personnel reduction of 163 employees in Finland starting from October. The company has started internally and in the Kotka region several programs aimed at finding new employment opportunities for the affected employees. Co-operation negotiations are still on-going at the Mikkeli plant which manufactures glassfiber reinforcements and are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. Ahlstrom will book net non-recurring costs of approximately Euro 11 million regarding its glassfiber business. In the Building and Energy business area, Ahlstrom has decided to close its hybrid wallcover production line in Turin, Italy, in October. The line started in 2009 has been permanently affected by weak profitability. Negotiations with employee representatives concerning the 22 employees working at the line have been initiated. The measures will lead to non-recurring costs of approximately Euro 11 million. In the Label and Processing business area, Ahlstrom is initiating negotiations on streamlining measures at its Osnabrück plant in Germany that may affect a maximum of 39 employees in the next 18 months. Ahlstrom will book non-recurring costs of approximately Euro 3 million for the plan. Ahlstrom will make every effort in supporting employees affected by the changes with various measures.