Performance

Machine Clothing
Our paper machine clothing products enable our paper-making customers to reduce their own environmental footprint by reducing their energy and water consumption, improving resource efficiency, and helping maintain water quality.

Energy is one of the top three cost components in the paper making process. Our machine clothing solutions use innovative technologies to reduce the amount of heat energy required for paper production. We continue to innovate and remain focused on developing and bringing to market proprietary products aimed at improving the energy and resource efficiency needed for our customers’ products and their production processes.

Highlights include:

• Our products are able to reduce energy consumption of paper making machines by allowing the machines to operate at the same speed and performance while consuming less energy.
• Our products support our customers in the shift to less resource intensive packaging and lighter weight paper grades while maintaining all of the necessary physical properties for packaging transport and use. This results in a more efficient utilization of wood fiber, and also less energy needed to transport products throughout the supply chain.
• Our products reduce belt contamination, which results in fewer required cleanings and therefore lower water consumption, and often less use of cleaning agents.
• Significant R&D efforts including those targeting thermoplastic structures, which can be recycled.

ALBANY ENGINEERED COMPOSITES
In aerospace, weight savings that drive fuel efficiency are essential for meeting industry goals for sustainable aviation. This fundamental design goal has driven the increased use of lightweight composite structures in an ever-broadening sphere of aerospace applications.

We have applied learnings from our 128+ years of experience manufacturing Machine Clothing to pioneer 3D weaving technologies to manufacture our composite material. The process involves layering and interweaving fibers in a precise, computer-controlled process to create complex, high-strength parts that allow for the production of lightweight and strong composite parts with high-performance properties, and complex geometries. The high strength, stiffness and resistance to impact and fatigue make these products well-suited for use in aerospace, defense and industrial applications. These structurally demanding applications have historically been served by heavier, metallic structures, and traditional laminated composites do not
possess the required structural characteristics that 3D woven can offer.

As such, our proprietary 3D woven technology expands the role that lightweight composites can serve as the next generation of aircraft is designed and built:

• Albany’s advanced 3D woven wing rib technology demonstration article is focused on reducing aviation emissions and demonstrating the importance of large-scale industry collaboration to achieve that goal.
• Albany’s proprietary 3D woven composite technology helps make the CFM International LEAP turbofan engine significantly lighter and more durable resulting in ~15% better fuel efficiency.
• The use of composite parts in the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps improves fuel efficiency and extends the aircraft range.

Our AEC business also develops solutions that champion sustainable energy. Through innovative composite technologies and advanced manufacturing processes, we contribute to the creation of energy-efficient components, reducing the environmental footprint and supporting the renewable energy sector.