08 March 2013
American Air Filter Co., Inc. d/b/a AAF International announced a series of strategic moves designed to increase supply chain efficiency, expand operations in high-end product lines and create a world-class research and development (R&D) centre near its headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

As part of the strategic plan, AAF will close the Lebanon, Ind. manufacturing plant. This closure is scheduled to be complete by the end of May, 2013. AAF customers purchasing from the Lebanon plant will be supplied from other AAF plants and distribution centres. The restructuring will allow AAF to more effectively serve its entire customer base in North America with a more responsive manufacturing and distribution footprint. AAF will work with local resources to assist with employees impacted by the closure. In addition, AAF plans to add extra shifts as it expands operations at nearby facilities.

AAF will also carry out several expansion investments to meet current and future customer requirements. AAF began construction on a cleanroom upgrade and expansion in the Columbia, Missouri manufacturing plant in support of the growing pharmaceutical and life sciences markets. This cleanroom will be a world-class cGMP facility, making high-end products such as the MEGAcel™ and AstroCel® product lines. The Columbia cleanroom adds to AAF’s current cleanroom facilities in the Netherlands, China, Malaysia and Japan (Nippon Muki). 

Next, AAF plans to build a world class R&D and testing facility to be more responsive to North American customers and increase product development speed. This facility will focus on development for local markets in North America, while AAF continues to utilise its Global Research and Development in Japan to develop global product platforms. The facility will be co-located with manufacturing to optimise testing and development efficiency. 

Lastly, AAF plans to expand its current Louisville plant to a new location in either Louisville or Southern Indiana. This site will house AAF manufacturing for the Power & Industrial division, the Air Filter division and the new R&D facility. Location selection is now under way. Having R&D and manufacturing capabilities near AAF’s headquarters in Louisville will stimulate rapid development of innovative products for AAF’s customer base.