Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) - a subsidiary of Albany, N.Y.-based Albany International Corp. - plans to begin a major expansion of its Boerne, Texas, manufacturing facility, which manufactures advanced composite structures for aerospace applications.

The $41.6 million expansion, expected to begin this spring and be completed in the next 18 to 24 months, will result in the addition of more than 330 employees over the next seven years. According to a press release from the office of Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson, the project also received a $1 million Texas Enterprise Fund incentive award, and the expansion represents the largest job creation and capital investment project ever in Kendall County, Texas.

"Today's announcement symbolizes a joint commitment by the City of Boerne, Kendall County, the State of Texas and Albany International to spur economic growth through innovation," said Michael C. Nahl, executive vice president and CFO, Albany International. "Their unified and full support is a pivotal reason that Albany Engineered Composites chose to remain and expand our operations in Boerne, as was our experience attracting and retaining a very high-caliber workforce.

AEC, a designer, developer and manufacturer of advanced composite structures and textile preforms, also maintains operations in Rochester, N.H., and Mansfield, Mass., in addition to the Boerne facility.

February 5, 2008