Albany's France Unit Announces Proposal to Restructure Operations at Machine Clothing Plants

Albany International Corp. (NYSE: AIN) announced today that its subsidiary,Albany International France S.A.S., has initiated discussions with theemployee Works Council regarding a proposal to restructure operations at theCompany's Machine Clothing production facilities in Sélestat and St. Junien.The proposed restructuring would reduce employment by approximately 200positions at these locations.The proposal is driven by the previously reported continuing deterioration ofMachine Clothing market conditions in Europe. The proposal aims to maintainoperations in each location, but restructured in a manner that will improvecompetitiveness, increase efficiency, and promote the viability of theselocations in the long term.An earlier proposal to close the facility in St. Junien, and relocateproduction to Sélestat, made in February of this year, was later withdrawn.Since that time, the Company's employees and management have conducted anumber of meetings, exchanged information, and explored a number of ideasfocused on addressing the current challenges facing Machine Clothingoperations in France as market conditions in Europe continue to decline.