U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ---------- FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report: January 22, 2004 (Date of earliest event reported) ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 0-16214 14-0462060 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS employer of incorporation) file number) identification no.) 1373 Broadway, Albany, New York 12204 (518) 445-2200 (Address and telephone number of the registrant's principal executive offices)Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure On January 22, 2004, Albany International issued a news release announcing plans to consolidate certain European manufacturing operations. A copy of the news release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. Signature Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP. By: /s/ Michael C. Nahl ---------------------------------- Name: Michael C. Nahl Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: January 22, 2004 Index to Exhibits Exhibit Number Description of Document - -------------- ----------------------- 99.1 News release, dated January 22, 2004, issued by Albany International Corp.
Exhibit 99.1 Albany International Announces Plans to Consolidate Manufacturing Operations in Europe ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Albany International Corp. (NYSE/PSE/FWB: AIN) announced today its plan to discontinue press fabric and forming fabric manufacturing at its facility in Dieren, the Netherlands, and to discontinue dryer fabric manufacturing at its Bury, Lancashire, England, facility. These actions are part of the Company's continuing effort to match capacity to the global demand for paper machine clothing. At the Bury facility, the proposal is likely to affect up to 50 of the 130 people employed. Bury would continue to manufacture process belts for shoe press and related paper machine applications. At the Dieren operations, all manufacturing would be discontinued and would affect approximately 280 employees. The proposal is subject to review under local law and would be carried out in consultation with the works councils and trade unions. The proposal by the Company to discontinue operations is a business-driven necessity and does not reflect on the fine performance of the Albany International employees at the Bury and Dieren operations. Transition of manufacturing to other Albany International Europe facilities will begin as soon as possible and is expected to be completed in 2004. Albany International is the world's largest producer of paper machine clothing and high-performance doors with manufacturing plants in 15 countries and sales worldwide. Additional information about the Company and its businesses and products is available at www.albint.com. SOURCE Albany International Corp. -0- 01/22/2004 /CONTACT: Kenneth C. Pulver, Vice President-Corporate Communications of Albany International Corp., +1-518-445-2214/ /Web site: http://www.albint.com / (AIN) CO: Albany International Corp. ST: New York IN: TEX PAP MAC SU: