The Applied Technologies division of Albany International increased its sales by 13.4% in the first six months of 2006, buoyed by strong second-quarter performances by its PrimaLoft, Engineered Fabrics and Industrial Process Belts businesses.

Applied Technologies includes the emerging businesses which apply Albany’s core competencies in advanced textiles and materials to other industries, including insulation for personal outerwear and home furnishings (PrimaLoft), speciality materials and composite structures for aircraft and other applications (Albany Engineered Composites), specialty filtration products for wet and dry applications (Albany Filtration Technologies), industrial belts for tannery, textile, and corrugator applications (Albany Industrial Process Belts) and fabrics, wires, and belting products for the nonwovens and pulp industries (Albany Engineered Fabrics).

Six-month Applied Technologies were US$75.6 million, up 13.4% on the same period in 2005.
Engineered Composites has recently entered into two long-term, exclusive agreements with leaders in jet engines and aircraft landing gear. Snecma has agreed to develop and commercialise advanced composite fan blades for future jet engines and Messier-Dowty, has agreed to develop and build advanced composite landing gear components using Albany’s technology.

However, gross margin percentages in Engineered Composites in the first six months of 2006 as a result of costs associated with integrating the Texas Composite, acquired during the first quarter, and increases in manufacturing capacity to satisfy growth in the order backlog.

The biggest Albany International business is Paper Machine Clothing, which achieved sales of $378 million in the first six months of 2006.