Valmet completes the co-determination negotiations in the Fabrics Business Unit

Valmet has completed the co-determination negotiations in the Fabrics Business Unit’s operations in Tampere, Finland. The negotiations were started on January 21, 2020. The target is to ensure the unit’s profitability and future competitiveness.

Valmet will relocate the dryer fabric and wide filter fabric production from Finland to Portugal. As a consequence of the relocation and re-organizing of the work, the need for workforce reduction in Tampere will be 78 persons mainly during 2021. In addition, the possibility for temporary lay-offs and part-time work remains if capacity adjustments need to be done later this year. For those affected by the reductions, Valmet will provide support measures like support for studies and re-employment.

Earlier Valmet estimated that the co-determination negotiations would lead to a workforce reduction of 90 persons at the maximum and possible lay-offs and part-time work. Fabrics Business Unit employs altogether approximately 500 persons in Tampere. Fabrics develops and manufactures press felts, shoe press belts, dryer fabrics and wide filter fabrics in Tampere. Valmet’s location in Portugal, to which the dryer fabric and wide filter fabric production is relocated, develops and manufactures filter fabrics and other industrial textiles.