ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP /DE/
10-K, 1999-03-19
BROADWOVEN FABRIC MILLS, MAN MADE FIBER & SILK
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                   FORM 10-K
 
  /X/          ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
                  FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED: DECEMBER 31, 1998
                                       OR
 
  / /        TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
        FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______________ TO ______________
 
                        COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-16214
                            ------------------------
 
                           ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
                  DELAWARE                             14-0462060
      (State or other jurisdiction of                 (IRS Employer
       incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)
 
               1373 BROADWAY,                             12204
              ALBANY, NEW YORK                         (Zip Code)
  (Address of principal executive offices)
 
                                  518-445-2200
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                      <C>
          Title of each class                Name of each exchange on which
                                                       registered
CLASS A COMMON STOCK ($0.001 PAR VALUE)        NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE AND
                                                 PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
 
                                      NONE
                                (Title of Class)
                            ------------------------
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports,) and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes /X/  No / /
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. / /
 
The aggregate market value of Class A Common Stock held on February 18, 1999 by
non-affiliates of the registrant was $474,279,536.
 
The registrant had 23,856,160 shares of Class A Common Stock and 5,785,282
shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding as of February 18, 1999.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE                                                           PART
<S>                                                                                        <C>
Registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1998.                   II
Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 6,
  1999.                                                                                           III
</TABLE>
 
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<PAGE>
                                     PART I
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
 
    Albany International Corp. ("the Company") designs, manufactures and markets
paper machine clothing for each section of the paper machine. It manufactures
and sells more paper machine clothing worldwide than any other company. Paper
machine clothing consists of large continuous belts of custom designed and
custom manufactured, engineered fabrics that are installed on paper machines and
carry the paper stock through each stage of the paper production process. Paper
machine clothing is a consumable product of technologically sophisticated design
that is made with synthetic monofilament and fiber materials. The design and
material composition of paper machine clothing can have a considerable effect on
the quality of paper products produced and the efficiency of the paper machines
on which it is used. The Registrant produces a substantial portion of its
monofilament requirements.
 
    Practically all press fabrics are woven tubular or endless from monofilament
yarns. After weaving, the base press fabric goes to a needling operation where a
thick fiber layer, called a batt, is laid on the base just before passing
through the needling machine. The needles are equipped with tiny barbs that grab
batt fibers locking them into the body of the fabric. After needling, the
fabrics are usually washed, and water is removed. The fabric then is heat set,
treatments may be applied, and it is measured and trimmed.
 
    The Registrant's manufacturing process is similar for forming fabrics and
drying fabrics, except that there is normally no needling operation in the
construction of those fabrics. Monofilament screens are woven on a loom. The
fabrics are seamed to produce an endless loop, and heat stabilized by running
them around two large cylinders under heat and drawn out by tension. After heat
setting, the fabrics are seamed and boxed.
 
    In addition to paper machine clothing, the Registrant manufactures other
engineered fabrics which include fabrics for the non-woven industry, corrugator
belts, filtration media and high performance industrial doors. The Nomafa Door
Division, a manufacturer of Rapid Roll Doors-Registered Trademark-, is the
operation of the Company which developed high speed, high performance industrial
doors, which grew from the application of the Company's coated fabric technology
to its woven fabrics. Since the inception of Rapid Roll Doors in the early
1980's, manufacturing operations in North America and Europe have supplied over
100,000 installations worldwide. In November 1996, the Registrant acquired
Schieffer Door Systems, a manufacturer of high-speed, high-performance
industrial doors. Also, in 1998, the Registrant acquired Burwell Door Systems in
Australia and M&I Door Systems in Canada. Schieffer's technology and leadership
position in Germany, and the 1998 acquisitions, have significantly enhanced the
Registrant's industrial door operations.
 
INDUSTRY FACTORS
 
    There are approximately 1,200 paper machines in the United States located in
approximately 600 paper mills. It is estimated that, excluding China, there are
about 7,200 paper machines in the world and approximately 1,500, mostly very
small, paper machines in China. Demand for paper machine clothing is tied to the
volume of paper production, which in turn reflects economic growth. According to
published data, world production volumes have grown at an annual rate in excess
of 3% over the last ten years. The Registrant anticipates continued growth for
the long-term in world paper production. The profitability of the paper machine
clothing business has generally been less cyclical than the profitability of the
papermaking industry.
 
    Because the paper industry has been characterized by an evolving but
essentially stable manufacturing technology based on the wet forming papermaking
process, which requires a very large capital investment, the Registrant does not
believe that a commercially feasible substitute technology that does not employ
paper machine clothing is likely to be developed and incorporated into the paper
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
production process by paper manufacturers in the foreseeable future.
Accordingly, the prospects for continued growth of industry demand for paper
machine clothing appear excellent.
 
    Over the last few years, paper manufacturers have generally reduced the
number of suppliers of paper machine clothing per machine position. This trend
has increased opportunities for market leaders, including the Registrant, to
expand their market share.
 
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
    The Registrant maintains wholly-owned manufacturing facilities in Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands,
Mexico, South Korea, Sweden and the United States. The Registrant has a 50%
interest in two related entities in South Africa and one entity in Russia which
are engaged primarily in the engineered fabrics business. The Registrant also
has a 50% interest in an entity in England which is engaged in the high
performance industrial door business (see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements).
 
    The Registrant's geographically diversified operations allow it to serve the
world's paper markets more efficiently and to provide superior technical service
to its customers. The Registrant benefits from the transfer of research and
development product innovations between geographic regions. The worldwide scope
of the Registrant's manufacturing and marketing efforts also limits the impact
on the Registrant of economic downturns that are limited to a geographic region.
 
    The Registrant's widespread presence subjects it to certain risks, including
controls on foreign exchange and the repatriation of funds. However, the
Registrant has been able to repatriate earnings in excess of working capital
requirements from each of the countries in which it operates without substantial
governmental restrictions and does not foresee any material changes in its
ability to continue to do so in the future. In addition, the Registrant believes
that the risks associated with its operations and locations outside the United
States are those normally associated with doing business in these locations.
 
MARKETING, CUSTOMERS AND BACKLOG
 
    Paper machine clothing is custom designed for each user depending upon the
type, size and speed of the papermaking machine, the machine section, the grade
of paper being produced, and the quality of the pulp stock used. Technical
expertise, judgment and experience are critical in designing the appropriate
clothing for each position on the machine. As a result, the Registrant employs
highly skilled sales and technical service personnel in 25 countries who work
directly with paper mill operating management. The Registrant's technical
service program in the United States gives its service engineers field access to
the measurement and analysis equipment needed for troubleshooting and
application engineering. Sales, service and technical expenses are major cost
components of the Registrant. The Registrant employs approximately 1,000 people
in the sales and technical functions combined, many of whom have engineering
degrees or paper mill experience. The Registrant's market leadership position
reflects the Company's commitment to technological innovation.
 
    Typically, the Registrant experiences its highest quarterly sales levels in
the fourth quarter of each fiscal year and its lowest levels in the first
quarter. The Registrant believes that this pattern only partially reflects
seasonal shifts in demand for its products but is more directly related to
purchasing policies of the Registrant's customers.
 
    Payment terms granted to customers reflect general competitive practices.
Terms vary with product and competitive conditions, but generally require
payment within 30 to 90 days, depending on the country of operation.
Historically, bad debts have been insignificant. No single customer, or group of
related customers, accounted for more than 5% of the Registrant's sales of paper
machine clothing in
 
                                       3
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any of the past three years. Management does not believe that the loss of any
one customer would have a material adverse effect on the Registrant's business.
 
    The Registrant's order backlogs at December 31, 1998 and 1997 were
approximately $474 million and $468 million, respectively. Orders recorded at
December 31, 1998 are expected to be invoiced during the next 12 months.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    The Registrant invests heavily in research, new product development and
technical analysis to maintain its leadership in the paper machine clothing
industry. The Registrant's expenditures fall into two primary categories,
research and development and technical expenditures. Research and development
expenses totaled $23.7 million in 1998, $23.1 million in 1997, and $21.9 million
in 1996. While most research activity supports existing products, the Registrant
engages in research for new products. New product research has focused primarily
on more sophisticated paper machine clothing and has resulted in a stream of
products such as DUOTEX-Registered Trademark- and TRIOTEX-TM-forming fabrics,
PRINTEX-TM- forming fabrics, DURAFORM -Registered Trademark- SR, an enhanced
single-layer forming fabric, SEAMTECH-TM-, the patented on-machine-seamed press
fabric, DYNATEX-TM-, a unique multi-layer press fabric, long nip press belts
which are essential to water removal in the press section and Thermonetics-TM-,
BEL-PLANE -Registered Trademark-, AEROLINE-TM- and AEROGRIP-TM- which are dryer
fabrics. Technical expenditures totaled $26.3 million in 1998, $26.9 million in
1997 and $26.8 million in 1996. Technical expenditures are focused on design,
quality assurance and customer support.
 
    Although the Registrant has focused most of its research and development
efforts on paper machine clothing products and design, the Registrant also has
made progress in developing non-paper machine clothing products. Through its
major research facility in Mansfield, Massachusetts, the Registrant conducts
research under contract for the U.S. government and major corporations. In
addition to its Mansfield facility, the Registrant has four other research and
development centers located at manufacturing locations in Halmstad, Sweden;
Selestat, France; Albany, New York; and Menasha, Wisconsin.
 
    The Registrant holds a number of patents, trademarks and licenses, none of
which are material to the continuation of the Registrant's business. The
Registrant has licensed some of its patents to one or more competitors, mainly
to enhance customer acceptance of the new products. The revenue from such
licenses is less than 1% of consolidated net sales.
 
RAW MATERIALS AND INVENTORY
 
    Primary raw materials for the Registrant's products are synthetic fibers,
which are generally available from a number of suppliers. The Registrant,
therefore, is not required to maintain raw materials inventories in excess of
its current needs to assure availability. In addition, the Registrant
manufactures monofilament, a basic raw material for all types of paper machine
clothing, at its facility in Homer, New York, which supplies approximately 40%
of its world-wide monofilament requirements. This manufacturing capability
assists the Registrant in its negotiations with monofilament producers for the
balance of its supply requirements, and enhances the ability of the Registrant
to develop proprietary products.
 
COMPETITION
 
    While there are more than 50 paper machine clothing suppliers worldwide,
only six major paper machine clothing companies compete on a global basis.
Market shares vary depending on the country and the type of paper machine
clothing produced. In the paper machine clothing market, the Registrant believes
that it has a market share of approximately 29% in the United States and
Canadian markets, taken together, 20% in the rest of the world and approximately
23% in the world overall.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
Together, the United States and Canada constitute approximately 36% of the total
world market for paper machine clothing.
 
    Competition is intense in all areas of the Registrant's business. While
price competition is, of course, a factor, the primary bases for competition are
the performance characteristics of the Registrant's products, which are
principally technology-driven, and the quality of customer service. The
Registrant, like its competitors, provides diverse services to customers through
its sales and technical service personnel including: (1) consulting on
performance of the paper machine; (2) consulting on paper machine
configurations, both new and rebuilt; (3) selection and custom manufacture of
the appropriate paper machine clothing; and (4) storing fabrics for delivery to
the user.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    The Registrant employs 6,011 persons, of whom approximately 75% are engaged
in manufacturing the Registrant's products. Wages and benefits are competitive
with those of other manufacturers in the geographic areas in which the
Registrant's facilities are located. The Registrant considers its relations with
its employees in general to be excellent.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT
 
    The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
executive officers of the Registrant:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                    AGE                                    POSITION
- ----------------------------------      ---      ---------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>          <C>
Francis L. McKone                           64   Chairman of the Board, CEO and Director
 
Frank R. Schmeler                           59   President, COO and Director
 
Edward Walther                              55   Executive Vice President
 
Michael C. Nahl                             56   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Michel J. Bacon                             49   Senior Vice President--Canada, Pacific and Latin America
 
William M. McCarthy                         48   Senior Vice President--Europe
 
Thomas H. Hagoort                           66   General Counsel and Secretary
 
Richard A. Carlstrom                        55   Vice President--Controller
 
William H. Dutt                             63   Vice President--Chief Technical Officer
 
Edward R. Hahn                              54   Vice President--Research and Development
 
Hugh A. McGlinchey                          59   Vice President--Information Systems
 
Kenneth C. Pulver                           55   Vice President--Corporate Communications
 
John C. Treanor                             60   Treasurer
 
Charles J. Silva, Jr.                       39   Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
</TABLE>
 
    FRANCIS L. MCKONE joined the Registrant in 1964. He has served the
Registrant as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 1998,
Chief Executive Officer since 1993, President since 1984, Executive Vice
President from 1983 to 1984, Group Vice President-Papermaking Products Group
from 1979 to 1983, and prior to 1979 as a Vice President of the Registrant and
Division President-Papermaking Products U.S. He has been a Director of the
Registrant since 1983. He is a Director of Albank, FSB and Thermo Fibergen, Inc.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    FRANK R. SCHMELER joined the Registrant in 1964. He has served the
Registrant as President and Chief Operating Officer since 1998, Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer since 1997 and as Senior Vice President
from 1988 to 1997, as Vice President and General Manager of the Felt Division
from 1984 to 1988, as Division Vice President and General Manager, Albany
International Canada from 1978 to 1984 and as Vice President of Marketing,
Albany International Canada from 1976 to 1978. He has been a Director of the
Registrant since 1997.
 
    EDWARD WALTHER joined the Registrant in 1994. He has served the Registrant
as Executive Vice President since 1997 and as Senior Vice President from 1995 to
1997 and as Vice President and General Manager--Continental Europe since 1994.
Prior to joining the Registrant, he held various marketing and managerial
positions with a company in the paper machine clothing business.
 
    MICHAEL C. NAHL joined the Registrant in 1981. He has served the Registrant
as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1983 and prior to
1983 as Group Vice President. From 1965 to 1979 he served in marketing,
financial, logistical, analytical and management positions for the Exxon
Corporation and from 1979 to 1981 he was with General Refractories Corporation
as Director of Strategic Planning, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
He is a Director of UCAR International Inc.
 
    MICHEL J. BACON joined the Registrant in 1978. He has served the Registrant
as Senior Vice President since 1996 and as Vice President and General Manager of
Albany International Canada from 1991 to 1996, as Vice President of Operations,
Albany International Canada Press Division from 1989 to 1991 and as Vice
President of Marketing, Albany International Canada from 1987 to 1989.
 
    WILLIAM M. MCCARTHY joined the Registrant in 1977. He has served the
Registrant as Senior Vice President since 1997 and since 1991 has held various
positions for Press Fabrics U.S. including Vice President and General Manager,
Vice President-Marketing and Technical Director. From 1988 to 1991 he was
Technical Director for Continental Europe-Press Fabrics.
 
    THOMAS H. HAGOORT joined the Registrant in 1991. He has served the
Registrant as General Counsel and Secretary since 1997 and as General Counsel
from 1991 to 1997. From 1968 until December 31, 1990 he was a partner in Cleary,
Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton, an international law firm with headquarters in New
York City, to which he became of counsel on January 1, 1991.
 
    RICHARD A. CARLSTROM joined the Registrant in 1972. He has served the
Registrant as Vice President-Controller since 1993, as Controller since 1980, as
Controller of a U.S. division from 1975 to 1980, and prior to 1975 as Financial
Controller of Albany International Pty. in Australia.
 
    WILLIAM H. DUTT joined the Registrant in 1958. He has served the Registrant
since 1983 as Vice President-Chief Technical Officer, and prior to 1983 he
served in various technical, engineering, and research capacities including
Director of Research and Development and Vice President-Operations for Albany
Felt.
 
    EDWARD R. HAHN joined the Registrant in 1971. He has served the Registrant
since 1995 as Vice President-Research and Development and Executive Director of
Albany International Research Company, as Vice President and General Manager of
Press Fabrics U.S. from 1990 to 1995, as Vice President of Euroscan Press and
Dryer Divisions from 1987 to 1990 and as Vice President of Operations for
Nordiskafilt from 1986 to 1987.
 
    HUGH A. MCGLINCHEY joined the Registrant in 1991. He has served the
Registrant as Vice President-Information Systems since 1993 and from 1991 to
1993 as Director-Information Systems. Prior to 1991 he served as
Director-Corporate Information and Communications Systems for Avery Dennison
Corporation.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
    KENNETH C. PULVER joined the Registrant in 1968. He has served the
Registrant as Vice President-Corporate Communications since 1997 and as Vice
President of Operations for Primaloft from 1992 to 1997. From 1984 to 1992 he
served in various marketing positions with Albany Engineered Systems.
 
    JOHN C. TREANOR joined the Registrant in 1970. He has served the Registrant
as Treasurer since 1997, as Controller of Albany International Europe from 1992
to 1997 and as Controller of Albany International Canada from 1985 to 1992.
 
    CHARLES J. SILVA, JR.  joined the Registrant in 1994. He has served the
Registrant as Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary since 1996 and
as Assistant General Counsel from 1994 to 1996. Prior to 1994, he was an
associate in Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton, an international law firm
with headquarters in New York City.
 
    The Registrant believes it is in compliance with all Federal, State and
local provisions which have been enacted or adopted regarding the discharge of
materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the
environment, and does not have knowledge of environmental regulations which do
or might have a material effect on future capital expenditures, earnings, or
competitive position.
 
    The Registrant is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and
is the successor to a New York corporation which was originally incorporated in
1895 and which was merged into the Registrant in August 1987 solely for the
purpose of changing the domicile of the corporation. Upon such merger, each
outstanding share of Class B Common Stock of the predecessor New York
corporation was changed into one share of Class B Common Stock of the
Registrant. References to the Registrant that relate to any time prior to the
August 1987 merger should be understood to refer to the predecessor New York
corporation.
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
 
    The Registrant's principal manufacturing facilities are located in the
United States, Canada, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, South Korea and China.
The aggregate square footage of the Registrant's facilities in the United States
and Canada is approximately 2,558,000, of which 2,361,000 square feet are owned
and 197,000 square feet are leased. The Registrant's facilities located outside
the United States and Canada comprise approximately 2,725,000 square feet, of
which 2,504,000 square feet are owned and 221,000 square feet are leased. The
Registrant considers these facilities to be in good condition and suitable for
their purpose. The capacity associated with these facilities is adequate to meet
production levels required and anticipated through 1999. The Registrant's
expected 1999 capital expenditures, including leases, of about $45 million will
provide sufficient capacity for anticipated growth.
 
    The Registrant believes it has modern, efficient production equipment. In
the last five years, it has spent $221 million on new plants and equipment or
upgrading existing facilities.
 
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Registrant is a defendant in two actions in state court in Louisiana,
seeking damages from the Registrant and numerous other defendants for injuries
allegedly suffered by hundreds of employees at two former Crown-Zellerbach paper
mills in Bogalusa and St. Francisville, Louisiana, due to exposure to asbestos.
Liberty Mutual, the underwriter of insurance coverage applicable to these
claims, is defending these matters on the Registrant's behalf.
 
    The Registrant is one of a group of paper machine clothing manufacturers who
at one time produced dryer felts containing asbestos. (Mount Vernon Mills, from
whom the Registrant acquired the Albany Mount Vernon dryer business assets, is
also named as a separate defendant.) There are currently over fifty other
corporate defendants, including primary suppliers of asbestos, asbestos
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
abatement and removal companies, paper machine builders, pump manufacturers,
insulation and building materials suppliers, boiler manufacturers and other
suppliers of products used in these mills that are alleged to have contained
asbestos.
 
    In the Bogalusa proceeding, the Registrant was initially served with a
discovery request late in 1996, to which it responded initially in March 1997,
and continued to respond supplementally during 1997 and 1998. Discovery of paper
machine clothing dryer fabrics defendants has not yet begun in the St.
Francisville proceeding.
 
    The information identified during the discovery process suggests that the
Registrant's production of asbestos-containing products was limited to certain
synthetic dryer fabrics produced during the period from 1964/5 to 1974/5. It is
the position of the Registrant and the other paper machine clothing defendants
that there was insufficient exposure to asbestos from paper machine clothing to
cause asbestos-related injury in any plaintiff.
 
    Discovery by both plaintiffs and defendants in the Bogalusa proceeding was
essentially completed in late 1998. The first trial, involving six plaintiffs,
commenced in January 1999 and resulted in a unanimous jury verdict in favor of
the defendants on all claims in early March. All claims against the Registrant
in this first trial had been settled by Liberty Mutual earlier in the
proceeding. Further trials have not yet been scheduled.
 
    The Registrant, in addition to being named as a direct defendant in these
proceedings, was initially also named separately as the "successor-in-interest"
to Mount Vernon Mills. However, the Registrant denied any liability for products
sold by Mount Vernon Mills prior to the acquisition of the Mount Vernon assets,
and the Registrant's motion to be dismissed as a successor to Mount Vernon was
granted in the Bogalusa proceeding before the first trial. A similar motion will
be filed in the St. Francisville proceeding.
 
    The Registrant believes that any judgment or settlement relating to these
proceedings will be well within existing insurance coverage limits.
 
    There are no other material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary
routine litigation incidental to the business.
 
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
    There were no matters submitted during the fourth quarter of 1998 to a vote
of security holders.
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
  MATTERS
 
    "Stock and Shareholders" and "Quarterly Financial Data" on page 34 of the
Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.
 
    Restrictions on dividends and other distributions are described in Note 6,
on pages 17 to 19 of the Annual Report. Such description is incorporated herein
by reference.
 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    "Eleven Year Summary" on pages 32 and 33 of the Annual Report is
incorporated herein by reference.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
  OF OPERATIONS
 
    "Review of Operations" on pages 28 to 31 of the Annual Report is
incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
    The following consolidated financial statements of the Registrant and its
subsidiaries, included on pages 10 to 27 in the Annual Report, are incorporated
herein by reference:
 
    Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings--years ended
    December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996
 
    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income--years ended December 31,
    1998, 1997 and 1996
 
    Consolidated Balance Sheets--December 31, 1998 and 1997
 
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows--years ended December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996
 
    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
    Report of Independent Accountants
 
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
  FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
    None
 
                                    PART III
 
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
    a)  DIRECTORS.  The information set out in the section captioned "Election
of Directors" of the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
 
    b)  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT.  Information about the officers of the
Registrant is set forth in Item 1 above.
 
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The information set forth in the sections of the Proxy Statement captioned
"Executive Compensation", "Summary Compensation Table", "Option/SAR Grants in
Last Fiscal Year", "Option/ SAR Exercises during 1998 and Year-End Values",
"Pension Plan Table", "Compensation and Stock Option Committee Report on
Executive Compensation", "Compensation and Stock Option Committee Interlocks and
Insider Participation", "Stock Performance Graph", and "Directors' Fees" is
incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
    The information set out in the section captioned "Share Ownership" of the
Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
 
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
    None.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
    a)(1)  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The consolidated financial statements included
in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference in Item 8.
 
    a)(2)  SCHEDULE.  The following consolidated financial statements schedule
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998 is included
pursuant to Item 14(d):
 
        Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statements Schedule
 
           Schedule II--Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
 
    a)(3)(b)  No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended
December 31, 1998.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
(3) EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>        <C>
3(a)       -          Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. (3)
 
3(b)       -          Bylaws of Registrant. (1)
 
4(a)       -          Article IV of Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant (included in Exhibit
                      3(a)).
 
4(b)       -          Specimen Stock Certificate for Class A Common Stock. (1)
 
                                                   MORGAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
 
10(i)(i)   -          Amended and restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 29, 1996, among the
                      Registrant, certain banks listed therein, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
                      New York, as Agent. (6)
 
                                                        STOCK OPTIONS
 
10(m)(i)   -          Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of August 1, 1983, between the
                      Registrant and each of five employees, together with schedule showing the names
                      of such employees and the material differences among the Stock Option Agreements
                      with such employees. (1)
 
10(m)(ii)  -          Form of Amendment of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1987, between
                      the Registrant and each of the five employees identified in the schedule referred
                      to as Exhibit 10(m)(i). (1)
 
10(m)(iii) -          1988 Stock Option Plan. (2)
 
10(m)(iv)  -          1992 Stock Option Plan. (4)
 
10(m)(v)   -          1997 Executive Stock Option Agreement. (7)
 
10(m)(vi)  -          1998 Stock Option Plan. (8)
 
                                                   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
10(n)      -          Pension Equalization Plan adopted April 16, 1986, naming two current executive
                      officers and one former executive officer of Registrant as "Participants"
                      thereunder. (1)
 
10(n)(i)   -          Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. (5)
 
10(o)(i)   -          Form of Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted September 1, 1985, and Forms
                      of Election Agreement. (1)
 
10(o)(ii)  -          Form of Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan adopted September 1, 1985, and Form
                      of Election Agreement. (1)
 
10(o)(iii) -          Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (2)
 
10(o)(iv)  -          Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan. (2)
 
10(o)(v)   -          Deferred Compensation Plan of Albany International Corp. (6)
 
10(o)(vi)  -          Centennial Deferred Compensation Plan. (6)
 
                                                      OTHER AGREEMENTS
 
11         -          Schedule of Computation of Net Income Per Share and Diluted Net Income Per Share.
 
13         -          Annual Report to Security Holders for the year ended December 31, 1998.
</TABLE>
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>        <C>
21         -          Subsidiaries of Registrant.
 
23         -          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 
24         -          Powers of Attorney.
 
27         -          Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
    All other schedules and exhibits are not required or are inapplicable and,
therefore, have been omitted.
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
    Form S-1, No. 33-16254, as amended, declared effective by the Securities and
    Exchange Commission on September 30, 1987, which previously-filed Exhibit is
    incorporated by reference herein.
 
(2) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated August 8, 1988, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(3) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
    Form 8-A, File No. 1-10026, declared effective by the Securities and
    Exchange Commission on August 26, 1988 (as to The Pacific Stock Exchange,
    Inc.), and on September 7, 1988 (as to The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.),
    which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by reference herein.
 
(4) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated January 18, 1993, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated
    by reference herein.
 
(5) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated June 30, 1994, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(6) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated March 15, 1996, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(7) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    10-K dated March 16, 1998, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(8) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    10-Q dated August 10, 1998, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated
    by reference herein.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                       TITLE                    DATE
- ------------------------------  --------------------------  -------------------
 
<C>                             <S>                         <C>
 
                                Chairman of the Board and
              *                   Director
- ------------------------------    (Chief Executive            March 19, 1999
     (Francis L. McKone)          Officer)
 
                                Senior Vice President and
     /s/ MICHAEL C. NAHL          Chief Financial Officer
- ------------------------------    (Principal Financial        March 19, 1999
      (Michael C. Nahl)           Officer)
 
              *                 Vice President-Controller
- ------------------------------    (Principal Accounting       March 19, 1999
    (Richard A. Carlstrom)        Officer)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
   (Thomas R. Beecher, Jr.)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
    (Charles B. Buchanan)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
    (Erland E. Kailbourne)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
    (Dr. Joseph G. Morone)
 
              *                 President and Director
- ------------------------------    (Chief Operating            March 19, 1999
     (Frank R. Schmeler)          Officer)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
   (Christine L. Standish)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
      (Allan Stenshamn)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director                      March 19, 1999
     (Barbara P. Wright)
 
*By:     /s/ MICHAEL C. NAHL
      -------------------------
           Michael C. Nahl
          ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
</TABLE>
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 19th day of
March, 1999.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                         <C>        <C>
                                            ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
 
                                            By:                   /S/ MICHAEL C. NAHL
                                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                                    Michael C. Nahl
                                                              PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                                                 SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
                                                              AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
</TABLE>
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                        ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE
 
To The Shareholders and Board of Directors
 
Albany International Corp.
 
    Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our
report dated January 28, 1999 appearing in the 1998 Annual Report to
Shareholders of Albany International Corp. (which report and consolidated
financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on form
10-K) also included an audit of the financial statement schedule listed in Item
14(a)(2) of this Form 10-K. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein
when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Albany, New York
January 28, 1999
<PAGE>
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
 
                  ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          COLUMN B     COLUMN C
                                         -----------  -----------                   COLUMN E
               COLUMN A                  BALANCE AT    ADDITIONS     COLUMN D     -------------
- ---------------------------------------   BEGINNING   CHARGED TO   -------------   BALANCE AT
              DESCRIPTION                 OF PERIOD     EXPENSE    DEDUCTIONS(A)  END OF PERIOD
- ---------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                      <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
 
<CAPTION>
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Year ended December 31:
<S>                                      <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>
                    1998                  $   5,224    $   1,312     $   1,032      $   5,504
                    1997                  $   4,962    $   1,298     $   1,036      $   5,224
                    1996                  $   5,010    $   1,036     $   1,084      $   4,962
</TABLE>
 
(A)  Includes accounts written off as uncollectible, recoveries and the effect
     of currency exchange rates.
<PAGE>
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBITS
- -----------
<C>          <C>        <S>
       3(a)         --  Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. (3)
       3(b)         --  Bylaws of Registrant. (1)
       4(a)         --  Article IV of Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant (included in Exhibit 3(a)).
       4(b)         --  Specimen Stock Certificate for Class A Common Stock. (1)
 
                                                MORGAN CREDIT AGREEMENT
   10(i)(i)         --  Amended and restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 29, 1996, among the Registrant,
                        certain banks listed therein, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent. (6)
 
                                                     STOCK OPTIONS
   10(m)(i)         --  Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of August 1, 1983, between the Registrant and each of
                        five employees, together with schedule showing the names of such employees and the material
                        differences among the Stock Option Agreements with such employees. (1)
  10(m)(ii)         --  Form of Amendment of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1987, between the Registrant
                        and each of the five employees identified in the schedule referred to as Exhibit 10(m)(i). (1)
 10(m)(iii)         --  1988 Stock Option Plan. (2)
  10(m)(iv)         --  1992 Stock Option Plan. (4)
   10(m)(v)         --  1997 Executive Stock Option Agreement. (7)
  10(m)(vi)         --  1998 Stock Option Plan. (8)
 
                                                EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
      10(n)         --  Pension Equalization Plan adopted April 16, 1986, naming two current executive officers and one
                        former executive officer of Registrant as "Participants" thereunder. (1)
   10(n)(i)         --  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. (5)
   10(o)(i)         --  Form of Executive Deferred Compensation Plan adopted September 1, 1985, and Forms of Election
                        Agreement. (1)
  10(o)(ii)         --  Form of Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan adopted September 1, 1985, and Form of Election
                        Agreement. (1)
 10(o)(iii)         --  Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (2)
  10(o)(iv)         --  Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan. (2)
   10(o)(v)         --  Deferred Compensation Plan of Albany International Corp. (6)
  10(o)(vi)         --  Centennial Deferred Compensation Plan. (6)
 
                                                   OTHER AGREEMENTS
         11         --  Schedule of Computation of Net Income Per Share and Diluted Net Income Per Share.
         13         --  Annual Report to Security Holders for the year ended December 31, 1998.
         21         --  Subsidiaries of Registrant.
         23         --  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
         24         --  Powers of Attorney.
         27         --  Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
- ------------------------
 
(1) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
    Form S-1, No. 33-16254, as amended, declared effective by the Securities and
    Exchange Commission on September 30, 1987, which previously-filed Exhibit is
    incorporated by reference herein.
 
(2) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated August 8, 1988, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(3) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
    Form 8-A, File No. 1-10026, declared effective by the Securities and
    Exchange Commission on August 26, 1988 (as to The Pacific Stock Exchange,
    Inc.), and on September 7, 1988 (as to The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.),
    which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by reference herein.
 
(4) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated January 18, 1993, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated
    by reference herein.
 
(5) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated June 30, 1994, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(6) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    8-K dated March 15, 1996, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(7) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    10-K dated March 16, 1998, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
(8) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
    10-Q dated August 10, 1998, which previously-filed Exhibit is incorporated
    by reference herein.


<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT 11



                           SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF
                            NET INCOME PER SHARE AND
                          DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE


<PAGE>

                           ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
                                   EXHIBIT 11
SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                FOR THE THREE MONTHS                   FOR THE YEARS
                                                                 ENDED DECEMBER 31,                  ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                             1998 (1)          1997 (1)            1998 (1)           1997 (1)
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------
<S>                                                       <C>               <C>                 <C>                <C>    
Net (loss)/income                                                 ($945)           $13,281             $31,772            $49,059
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------

Weighted average number of                                    29,597,857        31,835,440          30,464,208         31,678,217
shares

   Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
     Stock options (2)                                           110,988           461,893             334,128            426,445

                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------
Weighted average number shares,
   including the effect of                                    29,708,845        32,297,333          30,798,336         32,104,662
   potentially dilutive securities
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------

Net (loss)/income per share                                      ($0.03)             $0.42               $1.04              $1.55
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------

Diluted net (loss)/income per share                              ($0.03)             $0.41               $1.03              $1.53
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------
                                                          ---------------   ---------------     ---------------    ---------------

</TABLE>



Calculation of Weighted Average Number of Shares (3):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                       WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES           
                                                                          -----------------------------------------------
                                                          DAYS            FOR THE THREE MONTHS         FOR THE YEARS   
                                    SHARES       ----------------------    ENDED DECEMBER 31,        ENDED DECEMBER 31,
           ACTIVITY             OUTSTANDING (1)  YEAR TO DATE   QUARTER     1998         1997        1998          1997  
- --------------------------      ---------------  ------------   -------   ----------   ---------   ----------    --------
             1997                                                                                                        
<S>                             <C>              <C>            <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>

Beginning balance                31,385,434           1                                                            85,987
Options - 200 shares             31,385,640           1                                                            85,988
Options - 3,600 shares           31,389,348           3                                                           257,995
Options - 10,000 shares          31,399,651           1                                                            86,026
Options - 900 shares             31,400,578           1                                                            86,029
Options - 5,000 shares           31,405,729          19                                                         1,634,819
Treasury shares - 57,500         31,346,491           3                                                           257,642
Options - 37,300 shares          31,384,918           1                                                            85,986
ESOP shares - 12,002             31,397,283           3                                                           258,060
Options - 20,000 shares          31,417,888           4                                                           344,306
Options - 5,000 shares           31,423,039           5                                                           430,453
Options - 27,000 shares          31,450,855           1                                                            86,167
Options - 1,400 shares           31,452,297           1                                                            86,171
Options - 28,600 shares          31,481,762           4                                                           345,006
Options - 10,000 shares          31,492,064          10                                                           862,796
ESOP shares - 58,773             31,552,613          31                                                         2,679,811
ESOP shares - 12,126             31,565,106           2                                                           172,959
Options - 1,800 shares           31,566,960          19                                                         1,643,212
Directors shares - 2,922         31,569,971           9                                                           778,438
ESOP shares - 12,380             31,582,725           1                                                            86,528
Treasury shares - 4,400          31,578,192          30                                                         2,595,468
ESOP shares - 12,193             31,590,753           9                                                           778,950    
Options - 2,500 shares           31,593,329           3                                                           259,671
Options - 17,900 shares          31,611,770           1                                                            86,608
Options - 10,200 shares          31,622,278           5                                                           433,182
Options - 8,700 shares           31,631,241           1                                                            86,661
Options - 19,200 shares          31,651,022           6                                                           520,291
Options - 5,000 shares           31,656,173           1                                                            86,729
Options - 14,000 shares          31,670,596           4                                                           347,075
ESOP shares - 11,243             31,682,179          22                                                         1,909,611
Options - 5,100 shares           31,687,433           2                                                           173,630
Options - 22,000 shares          31,710,098           1                                                            86,877
Options - 60,000 shares          31,771,911           6                                                           522,278
Options - 26,800 shares and                                                                                             
ESOP shares - 10,555             31,810,395           1                                                            87,152
Options - 600 shares             31,811,013           4                                                           348,614

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                           ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
                                   EXHIBIT 11
SCHEDULE OF COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE

                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

<TABLE>

<S>                             <C>              <C>            <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>
Options - 16,800 shares          31,828,321           1                                                            87,201
Options - 1,000 shares           31,829,352           1                                                            87,204
Options - 1,000 shares           31,830,382           1                                                            87,207
Options - 12,500 shares          31,843,260           4                                                           348,967
Options - 2,500 shares           31,845,835           2                                                           174,498
Options - 500 shares             31,846,350           4                                                           349,001
Options - 1,800 shares           31,848,205           1                                                            87,255
Options - 800 shares             31,849,029           1                                                            87,258
Options - 3,400 shares           31,852,532           2                                                           174,534
Options - 1,800 shares           31,854,386           3                                                           261,817
Options - 4,300 shares           31,858,816           1                                                            87,284
Options - 1,800 shares           31,860,670           5                                                           436,448
ESOP shares - 9,406              31,870,361           2                                                           174,632
Options - 1,000 shares           31,871,391           1                                                            87,319
Options - 600 shares             31,872,009           1                                                            87,321
Options - 1,000 shares           31,873,039           1                                                            87,323
Options - 4,400 shares           31,877,572           6                                                           524,015
Options - 1,000 shares           31,878,602           1                                                            87,339
Options - 8,300 shares           31,887,153           3                                                           262,086
Options - 5,300 shares           31,892,614          15                                                         1,310,655
ESOP shares - 10,061             31,902,979          17             16                 5,548,344                1,485,892
Options - 2,400 shares           31,905,451          14             14                 4,855,177                1,223,771
ESOP shares - 11,876             31,917,686          13             13                 4,510,108                1,136,794
Treasury shares - 20,000         31,897,082           6              6                 2,080,244                  524,336
Treasury shares - 27,200         31,869,059           5              5                 1,732,014                  436,562
Treasury shares - 35,600         31,832,383           1              1                   346,004                   87,212
Treasury shares - 40,000         31,791,174           5              5                 1,727,781                  435,496
ESOP shares - 10,752             31,802,251          10             10                 3,456,766                  871,295
Treasury shares - 50,000         31,750,740           7              7                 2,415,817                  608,918
Options - 2,500 shares           31,753,316           2              2                   690,289                  173,991
Treasury shares and options -                                                                                             
     26,600 shares               31,725,912           3              3                 1,034,541                  260,761
Treasury shares and options -                                                                                             
     46,500 shares               31,678,006           1              1                   344,326                   86,789
Treasury shares - 49,000         31,627,525           1              1                   343,777                   86,651
Treasury shares - 1,000          31,626,495           2              2                   687,532                  173,296
Treasury shares - 200            31,626,289           5              5                 1,718,820                  433,237
ESOP shares - 11,882             31,638,530           1              1                   343,897                   86,681
                                                                                      ----------               ----------
            Totals                                                                    31,835,440               31,678,217
                                                                                      ----------               ----------
                                                                                      ----------               ----------

             1998
Beginning balance                31,638,530           8                                               693,447
Treasury shares - 5,000          31,633,379           6                                               520,001
Options - 2,500 shares           31,635,954           1                                                86,674
Treasury shares - 411,100        31,212,429           7                                               598,595
Treasury shares - 400,000        30,800,339           7                                               590,691
Treasury shares - 13.700         30,786,224           1                                                84,346
ESOP shares - 12,783             30,799,394          25                                             2,109,548
Treasury shares - 26,000         30,772,608           3                                               252,926
ESOP shares - 41,378             30,815,237          13                                             1,097,529
Options - 600 shares             30,815,855           5                                               422,135
Options - 20,000 shares          30,836,459           9                                               760,351
Options - 8,000 shares           30,844,701           4                                               338,024
Options - 9,500 shares and                                                                                   
     ESOP shares - 10,011        30,864,802           2                                               169,122
Options - 4,400 shares           30,869,335           1                                                84,574
Options - 8,000 shares           30,877,577           3                                               253,788
Options - 16,600 shares          30,894,678          15                                             1,269,644
Options - 1,600 shares           30,896,327           3                                               253,942
Options - 5,400 shares           30,901,890           4                                               338,651
Options - 1,500 shares           30,903,435           2                                               169,334
ESOP shares - 10,443             30,914,194           1                                                84,696

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                             <C>              <C>            <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>
Options - 500 shares             30,914,709          10                                               846,978
Options - 7,400 shares           30,922,333           4                                               338,875
Directors shares - 2,004         30,924,397           4                                               338,898
Options - 600 shares             30,925,015           1                                                84,726
Options - 3,000 shares           30,928,106           2                                               169,469
Options - 1,200 shares           30,929,342           5                                               423,690
Options - 600 shares             30,929,961           4                                               338,958
ESOP shares - 9,096              30,939,331           3                                               254,296
Options - 10,000 shares          30,949,634           2                                               169,587
Options - 10,000 shares          30,959,936           3                                               254,465
Options - 2,500 shares           30,962,512           1                                                84,829
Options - 500 shares             30,963,027           9                                               763,472
Options - 3,000 shares           30,966,117           1                                                84,839
Treasury shares - 6,900          30,959,009           3                                               254,458
Options - 550 shares             30,959,575           3                                               254,462
Treasury shares - 120,000        30,835,948           5                                               422,410
ESOP shares - 11,371             30,848,049          22                                             1,859,334
Treasury shares - 72,200         30,774,037           1                                                84,312
Treasury shares - 33,700         30,739,491           1                                                84,218
Treasury shares - 50,000         30,688,236           7                                               588,542
ESOP shares - 13,945             30,702,531           4                                               336,466
Treasury shares - 52,000         30,649,226           3                                               251,911
Treasury shares - 64,800         30,582,800           4                                               335,154
Treasury shares - 7,800          30,574,804           2                                               167,533
Treasury shares - 63,700         30,509,505           4                                               334,351
Treasury shares - 16,800         30,492,283           2                                               167,081
Treasury shares - 60,000         30,430,777           1                                                83,372
Treasury shares - 14,400         30,416,016           1                                                83,332
Treasury shares - 50,000         30,364,761           5                                               415,956
Treasury shares - 40,100         30,323,654           1                                                83,079
Treasury shares - 5,000          30,318,529           4                                               332,258
ESOP shares - 13,856             30,332,733           2                                               166,207
Treasury shares - 36,000         30,295,829           1                                                83,002
Treasury shares - 152,000        30,140,014           1                                                82,575
Treasury shares - 200,000        29,934,994           5                                               410,068
Treasury shares - 100,000        29,832,484           1                                                81,733
Treasury shares - 15,000         29,817,107           5                                               408,454
Treasury shares - 35,000         29,781,229           1                                                81,592
Treasury shares - 44,900         29,735,202           9                                               733,197
Treasury shares - 63,600         29,670,005           5                                               406,438
ESOP shares - 14,678             29,686,322           1                                                81,332
Treasury shares - 102,500        29,581,772          30             30    9,646,230                 2,431,378
ESOP shares - 16,039             29,598,132          30             30    9,651,565                 2,432,723
ESOP shares - 13,789             29,612,196          31             31    9,978,023                 2,515,008
ESOP shares - 15,612             29,627,670           1              1      322,040                    81,172

                                                                         ----------                ----------
            Totals                                                       29,597,857                30,464,208
                                                                         ----------                ----------
                                                                         ----------                ----------

</TABLE>


(1) Includes Class A and Class B Common Stock

(2) Incremental shares of unexercised options are calculated based on the
average price of the Company's stock for the respective period. The calculation
includes all options that are dilutive to earnings per share.

(3) Weighted average number of shares have been retroactively restated to
reflect the stock dividends issued on July 3, 1998 (0.5%), October 5, 1998
(0.5%) and January 6, 1999 (2.0%). Each change in the total share balance is
comprised of the transaction noted plus the retroactive effect of the stock
dividends.


<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT 13

                               1998 ANNUAL REPORT


<PAGE>
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT
 
   Management of Albany International Corp. is responsible for the integrity and
objectivity of the accompanying financial statements and related information.
These statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles, and include amounts that are based on our best judgments
with due consideration given to materiality.
   Management maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to
provide reasonable assurance, at reasonable cost, that assets are safeguarded
and that transactions and events are recorded properly. A program of internal
audits and management reviews provides a monitoring process that allows the
Company to be reasonably sure the system of internal accounting controls
operates effectively.
   The financial statements have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants. Their role is to express an opinion as to whether
management's financial statements present fairly, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, the Company's financial condition and operating
results. Their opinion is based on procedures which include reviewing and
evaluating certain aspects of selected systems, procedures and internal
accounting controls, and conducting such tests as they deem necessary.
   The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, composed solely of outside
directors, meets periodically with the independent accountants, management and
internal audit to review their work and confirm that they are properly
discharging their responsibilities. In addition, the independent accountants are
free to meet with the Audit Committee without the presence of management to
discuss results of their work and observations on the adequacy of internal
financial controls, the quality of financial reporting and other relevant
matters.
 
/s/ Francis L. McKone
- --------------------------
Francis L. McKone
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
/s/ Frank R. Schmeler
- --------------------------
Frank R. Schmeler
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
 
/s/ Michael C. Nahl
- --------------------------
Michael C. Nahl
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND
SHAREHOLDERS OF ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
 
   In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of income and retained earnings, comprehensive income
and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
of Albany International Corp. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and
1997, and the results of their operations and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Albany, New York
January 28, 1999
 
                                       10



<PAGE>


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                          1998       1997       1996
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
 
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Net sales                                             $ 722,653  $ 710,079  $ 692,760
Cost of goods sold                                      417,375    404,982    399,311
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Gross profit                                         305,278    305,097    293,449
 
Selling and general expenses                            164,481    155,515    147,929
Technical and research expenses                          49,998     49,963     48,735
Restructuring of operations and termination benefits     20,191         --         --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Operating income                                      70,608     99,619     96,785
 
Interest income                                            (598)      (646)    (1,180)
Interest expense                                         19,908     16,113     17,013
Other (income)/expense, net                                (406)     4,521         12
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Income before income taxes                            51,704     79,631     80,940
 
Income taxes                                             20,163     31,055     31,570
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Income before associated companies                    31,541     48,576     49,370
 
Equity in earnings of associated companies                  231        483        232
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Income before extraordinary item                      31,772     49,059     49,602
 
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt,
 net of tax of $828                                          --         --      1,296
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net income                                            31,772     49,059     48,306
 
RETAINED EARNINGS
Retained earnings, beginning of period                  246,013    209,875    173,728
Less dividends                                           22,199     12,921     12,159
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained earnings, end of period                      $ 255,586  $ 246,013  $ 209,875
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE:
   Income before extraordinary item                   $    1.04  $    1.55  $    1.58
   Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of
   debt                                                      --         --      (0.04)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net income                                         $    1.04  $    1.55  $    1.54
DILUTED NET INCOME/(LOSS) PER SHARE:
   Income before extraordinary item                   $    1.03  $    1.53  $    1.57
   Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of
   debt                                                      --         --      (0.04)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net income                                         $    1.03  $    1.53  $    1.53
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
 
                                       11



<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                          1998       1997       1996
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
Net income                                            $  31,772  $  49,059  $  48,306
 
Other comprehensive income/(loss), before tax:
   Foreign currency translation adjustments                 615    (42,011)   (12,063)
   Pension liability adjustments                        (16,868)    12,483       (101)
 
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive
 income/(loss)                                               --         --        303
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Comprehensive income                               $  15,519  $  19,531  $  36,445
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 AT DECEMBER 31,                                                         1998         1997
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                 <C>        <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents                                           $   5,868   $   2,546
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($5,504,
   1998; $5,224, 1997)                                                184,748     171,886
Inventories
   Finished goods                                                     115,740     106,259
   Work in process                                                     43,523      38,904
   Raw material and supplies                                           37,646      35,288
Deferred taxes and prepaid expenses                                    22,188      18,440
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total current assets                                               409,713     373,323
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net                           325,109     321,611
Investments in associated companies                                     4,054       2,444
Intangibles                                                            60,800      36,080
Deferred taxes                                                         27,193      22,826
Other assets                                                           39,497      40,613
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total assets                                                     $ 866,366   $ 796,897
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Notes and loans payable                                             $ 112,828   $  76,095
Accounts payable                                                       25,838      25,786
Accrued liabilities                                                    66,791      56,743
Current maturities of long-term debt                                    5,178       1,703
Income taxes payable and deferred                                       9,403      10,113
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total current liabilities                                          220,038     170,440
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt                                                        181,137     173,654
Other noncurrent liabilities                                          113,282      74,075
Deferred taxes and other credits                                       37,059      35,620
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total liabilities                                                  551,516     453,789
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, par value $5.00 per share; authorized 2,000,000
   shares; none issued                                                     --          --
Class A Common Stock, par value $.001 per share; authorized
   100,000,000 shares; 26,082,438 issued in 1998 and 25,375,413 in
   1997                                                                    26          25
Class B Common Stock, par value $.001 per share; authorized
   25,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,785,282 in 1998 and
   5,615,563 in 1997                                                        6           6
Additional paid in capital                                            206,428     187,831
Retained earnings                                                     255,586     246,013
Accumulated items of other comprehensive income:
   Translation adjustments                                            (83,736)    (84,351)
   Pension liability adjustment                                       (16,868)         --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      361,442     349,524
Less treasury stock, at cost                                           46,592       6,416
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total shareholders' equity                                         314,850     343,108
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                       $ 866,366   $ 796,897
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
 
                                       13


<PAGE>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                          1998       1997       1996
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income                                            $  31,772  $  49,059  $  48,306
Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by
 operating activities:
   Equity in earnings of associated companies              (231)      (483)      (232)
   Depreciation and amortization                         48,827     44,991     45,189
   Accretion of convertible subordinated debentures          --         --        353
   Provision for deferred income taxes, other
   credits and long-term liabilities                     11,460     (3,828)       755
   Increase in cash surrender value of life
   insurance, net of premiums paid                       (1,017)      (851)      (751)
   Unrealized currency transaction (gains)/losses        (1,911)     3,571     (1,459)
   Loss on disposition of assets                            368        382        683
   Shares contributed to ESOP                             4,064      4,336      5,227
   Loss on early extinguishment of debt                      --         --      1,296
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
   Accounts receivable                                   (6,769)     4,009     (7,444)
   Inventories                                          (12,685)      (557)    (8,674)
   Prepaid expenses                                         774        (55)    (1,408)
   Accounts payable                                      (1,527)    (7,026)    (2,449)
   Accrued liabilities                                   14,975       (922)     1,543
   Income taxes payable                                  (4,487)    (4,365)     2,844
   Other, net                                             3,237     (1,699)      (884)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net cash provided by operating activities             86,850     86,562     82,895
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   Purchases of property, plant and equipment           (38,825)   (50,804)   (53,473)
   Purchased software                                    (1,763)    (2,318)    (1,909)
   Proceeds from sale of assets                             484        496     27,112
   Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                   (24,032)        --    (25,587)
   Investments in associated and other companies         (2,025)    (4,000)        --
   Distributions from associated companies                  195         --         --
   Premiums paid for life insurance                      (1,187)    (1,190)    (1,193)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net cash used in investing activities                (67,153)   (57,816)   (55,050)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   Proceeds from borrowings                             138,011     55,030    220,200
   Principal payments on debt                           (97,982)   (54,847)  (229,799)
   Proceeds from options exercised                        2,105      7,000        401
   Tax benefit of options exercised                         281      1,089         25
   Purchases of treasury shares                         (47,077)    (8,257)    (2,552)
   Dividends paid                                        (6,387)   (12,724)   (12,144)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net cash used in financing activities                (11,049)   (12,709)   (23,869)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows            (5,326)   (21,525)    (3,551)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents          3,322     (5,488)       425
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year            2,546      8,034      7,609
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year              $   5,868  $   2,546  $   8,034
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Albany
     International Corp. and its subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany
     transactions. The Company has 50% interests in two related entities in
     South Africa, an entity in England and an entity in Russia. The
     consolidated financial statements include the Company's original investment
     in these entities, plus its share of undistributed earnings or losses, in
     the account "Investments in associated companies."
 
  REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
     The Company records sales when products are shipped to customers pursuant
     to orders or contracts. Sales terms are in accordance with industry
     practice in markets served. The Company limits the concentration of credit
     risk in receivables from the paper manufacturing industry by closely
     monitoring credit and collection policies. The allowance for doubtful
     accounts is adequate to absorb estimated losses.
 
  ESTIMATES
 
     The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with
     generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
     estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
     liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
     of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of
     revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
     differ from those estimates.
 
  TRANSLATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
     Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. operations are translated at year-end
     rates of exchange, and the income statements are translated at the average
     rates of exchange for the year. Gains or losses resulting from translating
     non-U.S. currency financial statements are accumulated in a separate
     component of shareholders' equity.
 
     For operations in countries that are considered to have highly inflationary
     economies, gains and losses from translation and transactions are
     determined using a combination of current and historical rates and are
     included in net income.
 
     Gains or losses resulting from currency transactions denominated in a
     currency other than the entity's local currency, forward exchange contracts
     which are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and futures
     contracts are generally included in income. Changes in value of forward
     exchange contracts which are effective as hedges for accounting purposes
     are generally reported, net of tax, in shareholders' equity in the caption
     "Translation adjustments."
 
  RESEARCH EXPENSE
 
     Research expense, which is charged to operations as incurred, was
     $23,732,000 in 1998, $23,070,000 in 1997, and $21,945,000 in 1996.
 
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
     Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid short-term
     investments with original maturities of three months or less.
 
  INVENTORIES
 
     Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and are valued at
     average cost.
 
  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated
     useful lives of the assets for financial reporting purposes; accelerated
     methods are used for income tax purposes.
 
     Significant additions or improvements extending assets' useful lives are
     capitalized; normal maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.
 
     The cost of fully depreciated assets remaining in use are included in the
     respective asset and accumulated depreciation accounts. When items are sold
     or retired, related gains or losses are included in net income.
 
  INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS
 
     The excess purchase price over fair values assigned to assets acquired is
     amortized on a straight-line basis over either 25 or 40 years.
 
     Patents, at cost, are amortized on a straight-line basis over either 8 or
     10 years.
 
     Computer software purchased for internal use, at cost, is amortized on a
     straight-line basis over 5 years and is included in "Other assets."
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
  DERIVATIVES
 
     Gains or losses on forward exchange contracts that function as an economic
     hedge against currency fluctuation effects on future revenue streams are
     recorded in "Other (income)/expense, net".
 
     Gains or losses on forward exchange contracts that are designated a hedge
     of a foreign operation's net assets and/or long-term intercompany loans are
     recorded in "Translation adjustments", a separate component of
     shareholders' equity. These contracts reduce the risk of currency exposure
     on foreign currency net assets and do not exceed the foreign currency
     amount being hedged. To the extent the above criteria are not met, or the
     related assets are sold, extinguished, or terminated, activity associated
     with such hedges is recorded in "Other (income)/expense, net".
 
     All open positions on forward exchange contracts are valued at fair value
     using the estimated forward rate of a matching contract.
 
     Gains or losses on futures contracts are recorded in "Other
     (income)/expense, net". Open positions are valued at fair value using
     quoted market rates.
 
     Gains or losses on interest rate swap agreements, that are entered into to
     hedge part of the Company's interest rate exposure, are recorded in
     "Interest expense, net". Unrealized gains or losses related to changes in
     the fair value of the contracts are not recognized.
 
     The Company values other swap agreements at market by estimating the cost
     of entering into one or more inverse swap transactions on such date that
     would neutralize the original transactions. The cost is estimated by
     obtaining the market swap rate for fixed-rate contracts of similar
     duration. Gains or losses on these swaps are recorded in "Other
     (income)/expense, net".
 
  INCOME TAXES
 
     The Company accounts for taxes in accordance with Financial Accounting
     Standard No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires the use of
     the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the
     asset and liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the
     tax consequences of "temporary differences" by applying enacted statutory
     tax rates applicable for future years to differences between financial
     statement and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. Under FAS No.
     109, the effect of tax rate changes on deferred taxes is recognized in the
     income tax provision in the period that includes the enactment date.
 
     It is the Company's policy to accrue appropriate U.S. and non-U.S. income
     taxes on earnings of subsidiary companies which are intended to be remitted
     to the parent company in the near future.
 
     The provision for taxes is reduced by investment and other tax credits in
     the years such credits become available.
 
  PENSION PLANS
 
     Substantially all employees are covered under either Company or government
     sponsored pension plans. For principal Company sponsored plans, pension
     plan expenses are based on actuarial determinations. The plans are
     generally trusteed or insured and accrued amounts are funded as required in
     accordance with governing laws and regulations.
 
  EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
     Net income/(loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number
     of shares of Class A and Class B Common Stock outstanding during each year.
     Diluted net income/(loss) per share includes the effect of all potentially
     dilutive securities.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
  2. EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
     The amounts used in computing earnings per share and the effect on income
     and the weighted average number of shares of potentially dilutive
     securities are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997     1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
      INCOME BEFORE
       EXTRAORDINARY ITEM:
      Income before extraordinary
       item and available to common
       stockholders                  $31,772  $49,059  $49,602
- --------------------------------------------------------------
      WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF
       SHARES:
      Weighted average number of
       shares used in net income/
       (loss) per share               30,464   31,678   31,282
      Effect of dilutive secu-
       rities:
        Stock options                    334      426      281
- --------------------------------------------------------------
      Weighted average number of
       shares used in diluted net
       income/(loss) per share        30,798   32,104   31,563
- --------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Options to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock at $25.5625 per share
     were outstanding at December 31, 1998 but were not included in the
     computation of diluted net income/(loss) per share because the options'
     exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common
     shares.
 
  3. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
     The components of property, plant and equipment are summarized below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                     1998      1997
- -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>       <C>
      Land                           $ 23,542  $ 22,487
      Buildings                       162,948   154,803
      Machinery and equipment         474,638   447,749
- -------------------------------------------------------
                                      661,128   625,039
- -------------------------------------------------------
      Accumulated depreciation        336,019   303,428
- -------------------------------------------------------
                                     $325,109  $321,611
- -------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Construction in progress was approximately $1,012,000 in 1998 and $127,000
     in 1997.
 
     Depreciation expense was $44,362,000 in 1998, $41,750,000 in 1997, and
     $42,390,000 in 1996.
 
     Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to income as incurred
     and amounted to $16,560,000 in 1998, $18,167,000 in 1997, and $17,367,000
     in 1996.
 
     Capital expenditures were $38,825,000 in 1998, $50,804,000 in 1997, and
     $53,473,000 in 1996. At the end of 1998, the Company was committed to
     $24,607,000 of future expenditures for new equipment and facilities.
 
  4. INTANGIBLES
 
     The components of intangibles are summarized below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Excess purchase price over
       fair value                    $70,114  $48,019
      Patents                         10,410   10,403
      Accumulated amortization       (24,536) (22,342)
      Deferred unrecognized pen-
       sion cost (see Note 12)         4,812       --
- -----------------------------------------------------
                                     $60,800  $36,080
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Amortization expense was $2,194,000 in 1998, $1,554,000 in 1997, and
     $1,109,000 in 1996.
 
  5. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
     Accrued liabilities consist of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Salaries and wages             $20,619  $18,467
      Employee benefits               19,413   16,082
      Returns and allowances           3,649    4,330
      Interest                         2,271      773
      Restructuring costs              6,734      326
      Other                           14,105   16,765
- -----------------------------------------------------
                                     $66,791  $56,743
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
  6. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     Notes and loans payable at December 31, 1998 and 1997 were short-term debt
     instruments with banks, denominated in local currencies with a weighted
     average interest rate of 7.45% in 1998 and 6.31% in 1997.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
     Long-term debt at December 31, 1998 and 1997, principally to banks and
     bondholders, exclusive of amounts due within one year, consists of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                     1998      1997
- -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>       <C>
      $300 million revolving credit
       agreement which terminates
       in 2002 with LIBOR borrow-
       ings outstanding at an aver-
       age interest of 5.78% in
       1998 and 5.89% in 1997.       $149,000  $138,000
      Various notes and mortgages
       relative to operations
       principally outside the
       United States, at an average
       interest of 6.64% in 1998
       and 6.67% in 1997, due in
       varying amounts through
       2008.                           17,547    20,538
      Industrial revenue financings
       at an average interest of
       5.38% in 1998 and 5.65% in
       1997, due in varying amounts
       through 2009.                   14,590    15,116
- -------------------------------------------------------
                                     $181,137  $173,654
- -------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The weighted average interest rates for all debt was 6.38% in 1998 and
     6.08% in 1997.
 
     Principal payments due on long-term debt are: 1999, $5,178,000; 2000,
     $6,199,000; 2001, $5,370,000; 2002, $151,844,000; 2003, $1,873,000.
 
     Interest paid was $17,812,000 in 1998, $16,107,000 in 1997, and $19,318,000
     in 1996.
 
     The Company's revolving credit agreement provides that the Company may
     borrow up to $300,000,000 until 2001 and then $150,000,000 until 2002 at
     which time the banks' commitment to lend is terminated. The terms of the
     revolving credit agreement include a facility fee and allow the Company to
     select from various loan pricing options. The interest rate margin over
     LIBOR is determined by the Company's cash flow to debt ratio. New
     borrowings under the revolving credit facility are conditional on the
     absence of material adverse changes in the business, financial position,
     results of operations and prospects of the Company and its consolidated
     subsidiaries taken as a whole. In the event of nonperformance by any bank
     on its commitment to extend credit, the Company could not borrow the full
     amount of the facility. However, the Company does not anticipate
     nonperformance by any bank.
 
     The revolving credit agreement contains various covenants which include
     limits on: the disposition of assets, minimum consolidated tangible net
     worth, interest coverage and cash flow to debt ratios, cash dividends, or
     certain restricted investments unless the required consolidated tangible
     net worth, as defined, is maintained. At December 31, 1998, $24,192,000 was
     permitted for the payment of cash dividends.
 
     Under the revolving credit agreement and formal and informal agreements
     with other financial institutions, the Company could have borrowed an
     additional $100,000,000 at December 31, 1998.
 
     During March 1992, the Company sold original issue discount 5.25%
     convertible subordinated debentures due 2002 which, if held to maturity,
     would yield 7.0% to the original purchaser. The proceeds to the Company,
     net of original issue discount and expenses, were $128,430,000. The
     original issue discount was amortized over the term of the debentures. When
     issued, the debentures were convertible into 5,712,450 shares of Class A
     Common Stock. In 1995, two debentures were converted into 76 shares of
     Class A Common Stock. On March 15, 1996, the Company redeemed the
     debentures at a redemption price of 91.545%. The redemption resulted in a
     one-time extraordinary non-cash charge to income of $1,296,000, net of tax,
     of $828,000.
 
     Effective December 1998, the Company has swap agreements that hedge a
     portion of its interest rate exposure. On a notional amount of
     $100,000,000, the Company will pay a fixed rate while the counterparties
     are obligated to pay a floating rate based upon LIBOR. As of December 31,
     1998, the average blended rate payable on the long-term swap agreements was
     5.87% and the blended rate receivable was 5.22%. No gains or losses related
     to these agreements were recorded in 1998.
 
     The Company has been a party to swap agreements wherein on a notional
     amount of $250,000,000 the Company paid a periodic floating rate based upon
     an index of yields of high-grade, tax-exempt bond issues published by Kenny
     Information Systems. The counterparty was obligated to make payments to the
     Company calculated at an average of 70% of LIBOR. In April 1997, the
     Company closed-out its position in these agreements. Included in the
     "Interest rate protection agreements" component of "Other (income)/expense,
     net" (see Note 9) is income of approximately $682,000 and $1,099,000
     related to the net cash received as part of these agreements in 1997 and
     1996, respectively. Also included in "Interest rate protection agreements"
     is the change in the
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
     valuation which resulted in income of approximately $46,000 and $236,000 in
     1997 and 1996, respectively.
 
     At December 31, 1998, the Company had various forward exchange contracts
     maturing during 1999. For each closed position, a sale contract of a
     particular currency was matched with a purchase contract for the same
     currency at the same amount, counterparty and settlement date. The foreign
     currency positions, both open and closed, as of December 31, 1998, by major
     currency, are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Buy Contracts  Sell Contracts
      Currency                       or Fair Value  or Fair Value
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                  <C>            <C>
      Japanese Yen                         $40,169         $40,000
      Swedish Krona                         10,059          10,324
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total                                $50,228         $50,324
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Periodically, the Company also enters into futures contracts primarily to
     hedge in the short-term against interest rate fluctuations. At December 31,
     1998, the Company recorded a liability of approximately $237,000 related to
     open positions on these contracts. The "Interest rate protection
     agreements" component of "Other (income)/expense, net" includes gains on
     futures contracts, based on fair value, of $1,018,000 and $32,000 in 1998
     and 1997, respectively.
 
     All financial instruments are held for purposes other than trading. For all
     positions there is risk from the possible inability of the counterparties
     (major financial institutions) to meet the terms of the contracts and the
     risk of unfavorable changes in interest and currency rates which may reduce
     the benefit of the contracts. However, for most closed forward exchange
     contracts, both the purchase and sale sides of the Company's exposures were
     with the same financial institution. The Company seeks to control off
     balance sheet risk by evaluating the credit worthiness of counterparties
     and by monitoring the currency exchange and interest rate markets, hedging
     risks in compliance with internal guidelines and reviewing all principal
     economic hedging contracts with designated directors of the Company.
 
     At December 31, 1998 the estimated fair value of the Company's long-term
     debt excluding current maturities approximates $183,011,000. The estimate
     is based on the present value of future cash flows of fixed rate debt based
     upon changes in the general level of interest rates, and on the assumption
     that carrying value approximates fair value for variable rate debt.
 
     In June 1998, Financial Accounting Standard No. 133, "Accounting for
     Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", was issued. This Standard
     establishes a new model for accounting for derivatives and hedging
     activities. All derivatives will be recognized as either assets or
     liabilities and measured at fair value. Each hedging relationship must be
     designated and accounted for pursuant to this Standard. Since the Company
     already records forward exchange and futures contracts at fair value, this
     Standard is not expected to have a material effect on the accounting for
     these transactions. In accordance with this Standard, interest rate swaps
     that hedge interest rate exposure will be measured at fair value with the
     initial asset or liability recognized in "Other comprehensive income".
     Actual amounts paid or received on these contracts will be reclassified
     from "Other comprehensive income" to "Interest expense, net". Other swap
     agreements will be measured at fair value with gains and losses recorded in
     "Other (income)/expense, net". The accounting for the Company's interest
     rate swaps has not yet been determined. The Company plans to adopt this
     Standard on its effective date of January 1, 2000.
 
  7. LEASES
 
     Total rental expense amounted to $22,296,000, $22,990,000, and $20,800,000
     for 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. Principal leases are for machinery
     and equipment, vehicles and real property. Certain leases contain renewal
     and purchase option provisions at fair market values. There were no
     significant capital leases.
 
     Future rental payments required under operating leases that have initial or
     remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December
     31, 1998 are: 1999, $22,367,000; 2000, $17,706,000; 2001, $14,173,000;
     2002, $11,035,000; 2003, $7,137,000 and thereafter, $8,566,000.
 
  8. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
     The Company has two classes of Common Stock, Class A Common Stock, par
     value $.001 and Class B Common Stock, par value $.001 which have equal
     liquidation rights. Each share of the Company's Class A Common Stock is
     entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to shareholders and each
     share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes. Class A and
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
     Class B Common Stock will receive equal dividends as the Board of Directors
     may determine from time to time. The Class B Common Stock is convertible
     into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock at any time. At
     December 31, 1998, 9,706,232 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved
     for the conversion of Class B Common Stock and the exercise of stock
     options.
 
     In 1989, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to an
     aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock. In
     January 1998, the Board authorized the purchase of an additional 3,000,000
     shares of Class A Common Stock, in the open market or otherwise, at such
     prices as management may from time to time consider to be advantageous to
     the Company's shareholders. The Company purchased 2,262,200 shares of Class
     A Common Stock during 1998, and may purchase up to 1,383,100 more shares
     without further public announcement.
 
     For 1998, 1997, and 1996, the Board authorized the payment of cash
     dividends totalling $.105, $.42, and $.40 per common share per year
     respectively.
 
     During 1998, the Company declared two 0.5% stock dividends and one 2.0%
     stock dividend which resulted in a subsequent distribution of 706,900
     shares of Class A Common Stock and 169,719 shares of Class B Common Stock.
     As a result of the stock dividends, additional paid-in capital increased
     $16,392,000, treasury stock decreased $2,656,000 and retained earnings
     decreased $19,048,000. All references in the accompanying financial
     statements to the number of common shares and per-share amounts have been
     restated to reflect the stock dividends.
 
     Changes in shareholders' equity for 1998, 1997, and 1996 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Class A         Class B                  Treasury Stock
                                      Common Stock    Common Stock   Additional    (Class A)
                                     --------------  --------------   Paid in    --------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                 Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount   Capital    Shares  Amount
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>         <C>     <C>
      Balance: January 1, 1996       24,841     $25   5,616      $6    $176,345     144  $2,199
      Shares contributed to ESOP         --      --      --      --         635    (266) (4,542)
      Purchases of treasury shares       --      --      --      --          --     141   2,552
      Options exercised                  25      --      --      --         426      --      --
      Shares issued to Directors         --      --      --      --           6      (2)    (44)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Balance: December 31, 1996     24,866     $25   5,616      $6    $177,412      17  $  165
      Shares contributed to ESOP         89      --      --      --       2,299     (93) (1,977)
      Purchases of treasury shares       --      --      --      --          --     361   8,257
      Options exercised                 420      --      --      --       8,089      --      --
      Shares issued to Directors         --      --      --      --          31      (4)    (29)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Balance: December 31, 1997     25,375     $25   5,616      $6    $187,831     281  $6,416
      Shares contributed to ESOP         --      --      --      --        (195)   (183) (4,199)
      Purchases of treasury shares       --      --      --      --          --   2,262  47,077
      Options exercised                 118      --      --      --       2,386      --      --
      Stock dividends                   589       1     169      --      16,392    (118) (2,656)
      Shares issued to Directors         --      --      --      --          14      (2)    (46)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Balance: December 31, 1998     26,082     $26   5,785      $6    $206,428   2,240  $46,592
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
  9. OTHER (INCOME)/EXPENSE NET
 
     The components of other (income)/expense, net, as further described in Note
     6, are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998    1997     1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>     <C>
      Currency transactions          $(3,785) $(2,010) $(2,323)
      Interest rate protection
       agreements                     (1,018)   (760)  (1,335)
      Amortization of debt issuance
       costs and loan origination
       fees                              721     937      998
      Strategic planning costs            --   1,333       --
      Other                            3,676   5,021    2,672
- -------------------------------------------------------------
                                     $  (406) $4,521  $    12
- -------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
10. INCOME TAXES
 
     Income taxes currently payable are provided on taxable income at the
     statutory rate applicable to such income.
 
     The components of income taxes are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997     1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
      Current:
        U.S. Federal                 $14,858  $12,799  $ 6,671
        U.S. State                     1,699    1,463      695
        Non-U.S.                       7,352   12,336   18,942
- --------------------------------------------------------------
                                      23,909   26,598   26,308
- --------------------------------------------------------------
      Deferred:
        U.S. Federal                 (11,960)  (3,511)   4,504
        U.S. State                    (1,367)    (401)     515
        Non-U.S.                       9,581    8,369      243
- --------------------------------------------------------------
                                      (3,746)   4,457    5,262
- --------------------------------------------------------------
                                     $20,163  $31,055  $31,570
- --------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     U.S. income before income taxes was $8,317,000 in 1998, $29,973,000 in
     1997, and $30,522,000 in 1996.
 
     Taxes paid, net of refunds, were $23,627,000 in 1998, $22,210,000 in 1997,
     and $18,066,000 in 1996.
 
     A comparison of the federal statutory rate to the Company's effective rate
     is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1998     1997     1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
       U.S. statutory rate              35.0%    35.0%    35.0%
       State taxes                       2.2      1.9      1.8
       Non-U.S. tax rates,
        repatriation of earnings,
        and other net charges
        associated with prior years      1.5      5.6      2.6
       Other                              .3     (3.5)     (.4)
- -------------------------------------------------------------
       Effective tax rate               39.0%    39.0%    39.0%
- -------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The significant components of deferred income tax expense/(benefit)
     attributed to income from operations for the years ended December 31, 1998,
     1997, and 1996 are as follows:
 

 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ---------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997      1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
       Deferred tax
        expense/(benefit)           $(10,453) $(1,448) $  1,630
       Adjustments to deferred tax
        assets and liabilities for
        enacted changes in tax laws
        and rates                        113      136        --
       Utilization of operating
        loss carryforwards             6,594    5,769     3,632
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                     $(3,746) $ 4,457  $  5,262
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Investment tax credits and other credits utilized for financial reporting
     purposes were not material.
 
     Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries outside the United States for which
     no provision for U.S. taxes has been made amounted to approximately
     $123,550,000 at December 31, 1998. In the event earnings of foreign
     subsidiaries are remitted, foreign tax credits may be available to offset
     U.S. taxes.
 
     The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
     portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 1998
     and 1997 are presented below:
 
                   -----------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           U.S.            Non-U.S.
                                     ----------------  ----------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997     1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
       Accounts receivable, princi-
        pally due to allowance for
        doubtful accounts            $   121  $   180  $  (363) $    15
       Inventories, principally due
        to additional costs
        inventoried for tax
        purposes, pursuant to the
        Tax Reform Act of 1986         7,014    4,863       92       14
       Tax loss carryforwards             --       --    1,187    4,570
       Other                           7,642    2,262    1,286      712
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total current deferred tax
        assets                        14,777    7,305    2,202    5,311
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Sale lease back transaction       575    2,128       --       --
       Deferred compensation           9,094    7,724       --       --
       Tax loss carryforwards             --       --    7,275   10,552
       Plant, equipment and depre-
        ciation                      (11,671)  (6,709)    (172)    (165)
       Postretirement benefits        14,936   12,403       --     (660)
       Other                           6,151   (2,316)   1,005     (131)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total noncurrent deferred
        tax assets                    19,085   13,230    8,108    9,596
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total deferred tax assets     $33,862  $20,535  $10,310  $14,907
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total current deferred tax
        liabilities                       --       --  $ 7,287  $ 3,819
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Plant, equipment and depre-
        ciation                           --       --   24,394   22,815
       Other                              --       --     (446)  (1,153)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total noncurrent deferred
        tax liabilities                   --       --   23,948   21,662
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total deferred tax
        liabilities                       --       --  $31,235  $25,481
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     In the U.S., the Company has had a substantial tax liability for each of
     the past three years and expects to pay taxes in the future at this or
     greater levels. Substantially all of the non-U.S. deferred tax asset
     relates to tax loss carryforwards of which approximately 14% is expected to
     be used in 1999 and the remainder of the noncurrent loss carryforward has
     no expiration. The Company has restructured its operations to reduce or
     eliminate losses and has reorganized in certain countries to ensure that
     losses will be offset against the profits of companies with long-term
     earnings histories. Accordingly, the Company expects to realize the benefit
     of its U.S. and non-U.S. deferred tax assets in the future.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
11. OPERATING SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA
 
     Effective December 31, 1998, the Company adopted Financial Accounting
     Standard No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
     Information". In accordance with this Standard, the internal organization
     that is used by management for making operating decisions and assessing
     performance is used as the source of the Company's reportable segments. The
     accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the
     "Accounting Policies" footnote.
 
     The primary segment of the Company is Engineered Fabrics which includes
     developing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing custom designed
     engineered fabrics used in the manufacture of paper, paperboard and
     products in other process industries. Another segment of the Company is an
     aggregation of the Company's operations that manufacture, market and
     service high performance industrial doors. "All other" is made up of
     operations that manufacture products related to the core business of the
     Company.
 
     The following table shows data by operating segment, reconciled to
     consolidated totals included in the financial statements.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998          1997         1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>           <C>         <C>
       NET SALES
         Engineered Fabrics          $  583,857    $593,395    $600,099
         High Performance
          Industrial Doors              101,768      83,283      58,693
         All other                       37,028      33,401      33,968
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated total            $  722,653    $710,079    $692,760
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       DEPRECIATION AND
        AMORTIZATION
         Engineered Fabrics          $   41,202    $ 38,084    $ 39,391
         High Performance
          Industrial Doors                1,561       1,329         660
         All other                        3,129       2,887       2,980
         Corporate                        2,935       2,691       2,158
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated total            $   48,827    $ 44,991    $ 45,189
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       OPERATING INCOME
         Engineered Fabrics          $  131,047    $134,057    $129,444
         Restructuring of
          operations and
          termination benefits          (20,191)         --          --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        110,856     134,057     129,444
         High Performance
          Industrial Doors               11,138       9,845       5,892
         All other                        4,759       4,311       4,234
         Research expense               (23,732)    (23,070)    (21,945)
         Unallocated expenses           (32,413)    (25,524)    (20,840)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
         Operating income before
          reconciling items              70,608      99,619      96,785
         Reconciling items:
         Interest income                    598         646       1,180
         Interest expense               (19,908)    (16,113)    (17,013)
         Other income/ (expense),
          net                               406      (4,521)        (12)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated income before
        income taxes                 $   51,704    $ 79,631    $ 80,940
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       OPERATING ASSETS
         Engineered Fabrics          $1,006,458    $945,296    $973,658
         High Performance
          Industrial Doors               67,075      52,459      57,175
         All other                       81,461      68,777      73,143
         Reconciling items:
         Accumulated depreciation      (336,019)   (303,428)   (302,234)
         Deferred tax assets             44,171      35,442      38,886
         Investments in associated
          companies                       4,054       2,444       2,060
         Other                             (834)     (4,093)    (10,771)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated total assets     $  866,366    $796,897    $831,917
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
         Engineered Fabrics          $   33,158    $ 45,738    $ 49,036
         High Performance
          Industrial Doors                  881         983         276
         All other                        4,027       3,447       2,552
         Corporate                          759         636       1,609
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated total            $   38,825    $ 50,804    $ 53,473
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The following table shows data by geographic area. Net sales are based on
     the location of the assets producing the revenues.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                       1998        1997        1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>           <C>         <C>
       NET SALES
         United States               $  289,434    $286,528    $276,973
         Canada                          62,329      67,794      68,971
         Sweden                          88,612      94,102     103,697
         Other countries                282,278     261,655     243,119
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated total            $  722,653    $710,079    $692,760
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       PROPERTY, PLANT AND
        EQUIPMENT, AT COST, NET
         United States               $   95,487    $ 97,455    $101,045
         Canada                          22,935      26,558      28,329
         Sweden                          58,476      60,278      70,038
         Other countries                148,211     137,320     140,049
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Consolidated total            $  325,109    $321,611    $339,461
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
12. PENSION PLANS
 
     The Company has a noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan
     covering U.S. employees, a noncontributory, nonqualified pension plan
     covering certain U.S. executives and both contributory and noncontributory
     pension plans covering non-U.S. employees. Employees are covered primarily
     by plans which provide pension benefits that are based on the employee's
     service and average compensation during the three to five years before
     retirement or termination of employment. In October 1998, the U.S.
     noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan was closed to new
     participants.
 
     In 1998, Financial Accounting Standard No. 132, "Employer's Disclosures
     about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits" was issued. The Company
     adopted this statement effective December 31, 1998, and modified
     disclosures relating to its pension plans and postretirement benefits (See
     Note 13) accordingly. This adoption had no effect on the Company's results
     of operations or financial position.
 
     The following table sets forth the components of amounts recognized in the
     Company's balance sheet.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Projected benefit obligation
       in excess of plan assets     $(54,983) $(26,143)
      Unrecognized net loss           44,556    29,522
      Prior service cost not yet
       recognized in net periodic
       pension cost                    5,293     6,013
      Remaining unrecognized net
       asset                          (1,080)   (2,674)
      Contributions made in the 4th
       quarter                            18        --
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Accrued pension (liability)
       asset                         $(6,196) $ 6,718
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation, and fair
     value of plan assets for the pension plans with accumulated benefit
     obligation in excess of plan assets were $155,168,000, $128,355,000 and
     $102,258,000, respectively for 1998, and $19,357,000, $13,396,000 and none,
     respectively for 1997.
 
     The weighted average expected long-term rate of return for these plans was
     9.1% for 1998 and 1997. The weighted average discount rate was 6.9% for
     1998 and 7.4% for 1997. In 1998 and 1997, the weighted average rate of
     increase in future compensation levels was 4.8% and 5.2%, respectively.
 
     The following table sets forth the reconciliation of beginning and ending
     balances of benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets, and the
     funded status of the plans.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Change in benefit obligation:
        Benefit obligation at
         beginning of year          $170,123 $162,910
        Service cost                   6,841    5,267
        Interest cost                 14,375   11,856
        Participant contributions        838      651
        Plan amendments                   48       --
        Effect of curtailment          2,365       --
        Benefits paid                 (8,604)  (8,663)
        Special termination
         benefits                      7,148       --
        Acturial loss                  6,877    4,859
        Exchange rate loss              (851)  (6,757)
- -----------------------------------------------------
        Benefit obligation at end
         of year                    $199,160 $170,123
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Change in plan assets:
        Fair value of plan assets
         at beginning of year       $143,980 $122,219
        Actual return on plan
         assets                        3,558   22,723
        Employer contributions         5,343   12,394
        Participant contributions      1,038      691
        Benefits paid                 (8,604)  (8,810)
        Administrative expenses         (741)    (631)
        Exchange rate loss              (397)  (4,606)
- -----------------------------------------------------
        Fair value of plan assets
         at end of year             $144,177 $143,980
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Amounts recognized in the balance sheet are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Accrued pension (liability)
       asset                        $(27,876) $ 6,718
      Intangible asset                 4,812       --
      Accumulated other
       comprehensive income           16,868       --
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Net amount recognized at
       year-end                      $(6,196) $ 6,718
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The Company was required to accrue an additional minimum liability for
     those plans for which accumulated plan benefits exceeded plan assets. The
     liability at December 31, 1998 of $21,680,000 was offset by an asset
     amounting to $4,812,000 (included in intangibles) and a direct charge to
     equity of $16,868,000. There was no additional liability required at
     December 31, 1997.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
     Net pension cost included the following components:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Service cost                   $ 6,423  $ 5,751
      Interest cost on projected
       benefit obligation             12,319   11,948
      Actual return on assets        (12,431) (10,807)
      Net amortization and deferral      981      487
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Net periodic pension cost      $ 7,292  $ 7,379
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Annual pension cost, including the 1998 enhanced retirement program,
     charged to operating expense for all Company plans, including all statutory
     and defined contribution plans, was $25,455,000 for 1998, $11,221,000 for
     1997, and $12,579,000 for 1996.
 
13. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
      OTHER THAN PENSIONS
 
     In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides certain
     medical, dental and life insurance benefits for its retired United States
     employees. Substantially all of the Company's U.S. employees may become
     eligible for these benefits, which are subject to change, if they reach
     normal retirement age while working for the Company. Retirees share in the
     cost of these benefits. The Company's non-U.S. operations do not offer such
     benefits to retirees.
 
     In accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 106, "Employers'
     Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions", the Company
     accrues the cost of providing postretirement benefits during the active
     service period of the employees. The Company currently funds the plan as
     claims are paid.
 
     The following table reflects the status of the postretirement benefit plan:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Change in benefit obligation:
        Benefit obligation at
         beginning of year           $46,386  $39,381
        Service cost                   1,112      856
        Interest cost                  3,446    3,300
        Plan participants'
         contribution                    485      476
        Actuarial loss                 3,419    5,425
        Benefits paid                 (3,628)  (3,052)
- -----------------------------------------------------
        Benefit obligation at end
         of year                     $51,220  $46,386
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Change in plan assets:
        Fair value of plan assets
         at beginning of year          --       --
        Employer contributions         3,143    2,576
        Plan participants'
         contributions                   485      476
        Benefits paid                 (3,628)  (3,052)
- -----------------------------------------------------
        Fair value of plan assets
         at end of year                   --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Funded status                   51,220   46,386
      Unrecognized net gain            4,449    8,088
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Accrued postretirement cost    $55,669  $54,474
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     Net periodic postretirement benefit cost included the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997
- -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>
      Service cost of benefits
       earned                        $ 1,112  $   856
      Interest cost on accumulated
       postretirement benefit
       obligation                      3,446    3,300
      Amortization of unrecognized
       net gain                         (219)    (418)
- -----------------------------------------------------
      Net periodic postretirement
       benefit cost                  $ 4,339  $ 3,738
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     For measuring the expected postretirement benefit obligation, an annual
     rate of increase in the per capita claims cost of 6.0% is assumed for 1998.
     This rate is assumed to decrease to 5.5% in 1999 and remain at that level
     thereafter.
 
     The weighted average discount rate was 7.2% for 1998 and 7.6% for 1997.
 
     A one percentage point increase in the health care cost trend rate would
     result in a $6,439,000 increase in the accumulated postretirement benefit
     obligation as of December 31, 1998 and an increase of $664,000 in the
     aggregate service and interest cost components of the net periodic
     postretirement benefit cost for 1998.
 
14. TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENTS
 
     The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows were affected by translation as
     follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                    1998     1997      1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>      <C>
      Change in cumulative
       translation adjustments       $  (615) $42,011  $ 11,760
      Other noncurrent liabilities       431    2,742       568
      Deferred taxes                   1,075    3,419       271
      Long-term debt                     674    1,014    (1,289)
      Investments in associated
       companies                        (452)    (100)     (537)
      Net fixed assets                 3,417  (22,959)   (6,146)
      Other assets                       796   (4,602)   (1,076)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Effect of exchange rate
       changes                       $ 5,326  $21,525  $  3,551
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
     Shareholders' equity was affected by translation as follows:
     (increase)/decrease from translation of non-U.S. financial statements of
     $(2,736,000), $30,979,000, and $6,354,000; from remeasurement of loans of
     $2,121,000, $11,032,000, and $4,932,000 in 1998, 1997, and 1996
     respectively; and by losses on designated hedges, net of tax, of $474,000
     in 1996.
 
     In 1998, 1997 and 1996, net translation losses included in operations in
     Brazil and Mexico were $2,217,000, $499,000, and $233,000 respectively, and
     were included in cost of goods sold.
 
15. STOCK OPTIONS AND INCENTIVE PLANS
 
     During 1988, 1992 and 1998, the shareholders approved stock option plans
     for key employees. The 1988 and 1992 plans each provide for granting of up
     to 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock while the 1998 plan currently
     provides for the granting of up to 5,500,000 shares of Class A Common
     Stock. In addition, in 1997 the Board of Directors granted one option
     outside these plans for 250,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. Options are
     exercisable in five cumulative annual amounts beginning twelve months after
     date of grant. The option issued by the Board in 1997 is not exercisable
     unless the Company's share price reaches $48 per share and is then limited
     to 10% of the total number of shares multiplied by the number of full years
     of employment elapsed since the grant date. Option exercise prices are not
     less than the market value of the shares on the date of grant. Unexercised
     options generally terminate twenty years after date of grant for all plans.

     For the purpose of applying Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 ("FAS
     123"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", the fair value of each
     option granted is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes
     Single Option model. No adjustments were made for certain factors which are
     generally recognized to reduce the value of option contracts. These factors
     include limited transferability, a 20% per year vesting schedule, a share
     price threshold with vesting based on years of employment and the risk of
     forfeiture of the non-vested portion if employment is terminated. The cash
     dividend yield was 1.8% for 1997 and 1996. The expected volatility was
     24.6% in 1998, 24.1% in 1997 and 24.6% in 1996. The expected life of the
     options varies based on employee group and ranges from 7 to 19 years. The
     risk-free interest rate ranges from 4.7% to 5.6% in 1998, 5.8% to 6.1% in
     1997 and 6.6% to 7.0% in 1996. The Company applies Accounting Principles
     Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees", in
     accounting for the stock option plans. Accordingly, no compensation cost
     has been recognized in 1998, 1997 or 1996. Had compensation cost and fair
     value been determined pursuant to FAS 123, net income would decrease from
     $31,772,000 to $30,119,000 in 1998, from $49,059,000 to $47,727,000 in 1997
     and from $48,306,000 to $47,511,000 in 1996. Earnings per share would
     decrease from $1.04 to $0.99 in 1998, from $1.55 to $1.51 in 1997 and from
     $1.54 to $1.52 in 1996. Diluted earnings per share would decrease from
     $1.03 to $0.98 in 1998, $1.53 to $1.49 in 1997 and from $1.53 to $1.51 in
     1996. The weighted average fair value of options granted during 1998, 1997
     and 1996, for the purposes of FAS 123, is $7.52, $10.37 and $10.34 per
     share, respectively.
 
     Activity with respect to these plans is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1998       1997       1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>
      Shares under option at
       January 1                     3,309,000  3,057,400  2,799,650
      Options granted                  423,000    695,500    415,250
      Options cancelled                 63,300     23,900    133,100
      Options exercised                117,950    420,000     24,400
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
      Shares under option at
       December 31                   3,550,750  3,309,000  3,057,400
      Options exercisable at
       December 31                   2,191,900  1,930,900  2,068,750
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
      Shares available for options     370,200    229,900    651,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
     The weighted average exercise price is as follows:
 
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1998       1997       1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>
      Shares under option at
       January 1                        $18.95     $18.00     $17.38
      Options granted                    19.38      21.84      22.25
      Options cancelled                  20.90      20.49      18.78
      Options exercised                  17.85      16.72      16.49
      Shares under option at
       December 31                       19.00      18.95      18.00
      Options exercisable at
       December 31                       17.58      17.08      16.59
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
     The following is a summary of the status of options outstanding at December
     31, 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Outstanding Options
             --------------------------------  Exercisable Options
                          Weighted             --------------------
                           Average   Weighted              Weighted
                         Remaining    Average               Average
Exercise                Contractual  Exercise              Exercise
Price Range     Number        Life      Price     Number      Price
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
     $15.00    125,000       14.11     $15.00    125,000     $15.00
      15.50    700,000        9.34      15.50    700,000      15.50
      16.25    165,100       14.41      16.25    165,100      16.25
      16.75    461,500       11.33      16.75    461,500      16.75
17.63-18.75    262,700       14.66      18.62    227,000      18.60
      19.38    421,000       19.84      19.38      2,000      19.38
      19.75    413,100       18.29      19.75    102,300      19.75
      22.25    752,350       16.89      22.25    409,000      22.25
      25.56    250,000       18.85      25.56         --         --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The Company's voluntary deferred compensation plans provide that a portion
     of certain employees' salaries are deferred in exchange for amounts payable
     upon their retirement, disability or death. The repayment terms are
     selected by the participants in accordance with the provisions of each
     plan. The Company is the beneficiary of life insurance policies on the
     lives of certain plan participants. The Company's expense for all plans,
     net of the increase in cash surrender value, was $1,957,000 in 1998,
     $1,795,000 in 1997, and $1,523,000 in 1996. The increase in cash value, net
     of premiums, was $1,017,000 in 1998, $851,000 in 1997, and $751,000 in
     1996.
 
     The Company maintains a voluntary savings plan covering substantially all
     employees in the United States. The Plan, known as "Prosperity Plus," is a
     401(k) plan under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Employees may contribute
     from 1% to 15% of their regular wages which under Section 401(k) are tax
     deferred. The Company matches between 50% and 100% of each dollar
     contributed by employees up to 10% of their wages in the form of Class A
     Common Stock which is contributed to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The
     investment of employee contributions to the plan is self directed. The cost
     of the plan amounted to $3,597,000 in 1998, $3,288,000 in 1997, and
     $3,129,000 in 1996.
 
     The Company's profit-sharing plan covers substantially all employees in the
     United States. At the beginning of each year, the Board of Directors
     announces the formula that it expects to utilize in determining the amount
     of the profit-sharing contribution for that year. The profit-sharing
     contributions will only be made to current active participants in
     Prosperity Plus in the form of cash or the Company's Class A Common Stock.
     The expense recorded for this plan was $1,281,000 in 1998, $206,000 in
     1997, and $1,388,000 in 1996.
 
16. ACQUISITIONS AND RESTRUCTURING
 
     In January 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of
     Burwell Door Systems located in Sydney, Australia for approximately
     $3,500,000.
 
     In March 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock
     of Techniweave, Inc., a specialty fabricator of high performance textiles
     and composites. The purchase price was approximately $8,900,000 with
     $3,300,000 paid at closing and $5,600,000 deferred for up to ten years.
 
     In March 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock
     of Metco Form Oy, a Finnish supplier of forming fabrics and other
     engineered fabrics for pulp mills and other chemical process industries.
     The purchase price was approximately $10,800,000.
 
     In April 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock
     of M&I Door Systems located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada for approximately
     $8,100,000.
 
     In November 1996, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of
     Schieffer Door Systems, a manufacturer of high-speed, high-performance
     industrial doors located in Germany, for approximately $25,000,000.
 
     All acquisitions were accounted for as purchases and, accordingly, the
     Company included in its financial statements the results of operations of
     the acquired entities as of the respective acquisition dates. Pro-forma
     financial information in accordance with Accounting Principles Board
     Opinion No. 16, "Business Combinations", is not included since the
     operating results of these acquisitions would not be material for this
     purpose.
 
     In 1998, the Company recorded a charge for restructuring of operations and
     termination benefits of $20,191,000. The global restructuring plan is
     focused on the Company's United States and European operations and includes
     an enhanced retirement program and a rationalization of manufacturing
     operations. The total charge includes $15,792,000 for the enhanced
     retirement program and $4,399,000 for plant rationalization costs.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
     In 1993, the Company recorded restructuring charges which included
     $2,200,000 for asset write offs, $2,500,000 for lease obligations related
     to an unoccupied facility and $2,300,000 for termination costs related to
     downsizing certain operations. Lease obligation payments will continue
     until 1999.
 
     The components of accrued restructuring costs, excluding amounts added to
     pension liabilities (see Note 12), consist of:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------
      (IN THOUSANDS)                   1998    1997    1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>     <C>     <C>
      Lease obligations              $  296  $  628  $1,119
      Termination costs               4,243      --      --
      Plant rationalization costs     4,399      --      --
- -----------------------------------------------------------
                                     $8,938  $  628  $1,119
- -----------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
     The change in accrued balances is the result of the 1998 global
     restructuring plan and actual payments for lease obligations.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL REVIEW
 
Review of Operations
 
- --1998 VS. 1997
 
Net sales increased $12.6 million or 1.8% as compared with 1997. Net sales were
decreased by $20.8 million from the effect of a stronger U.S. dollar as compared
to 1997. Acquisitions completed in 1998, as discussed below, added $20.2 million
to net sales. Excluding these two factors, net sales increased 1.9% as compared
to 1997.
 
Net sales in the United States increased 1.0% in 1998 as compared to 1997, while
sales in Canada decreased 8.1% over the same period. Net sales in Canada were
lower principally due to the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar.
 
European sales increased 1.9% in 1998 as compared to 1997. Excluding the effect
of the stronger U.S. dollar, net sales in Europe increased 4.5%.
 
Gross profit was 42.2% of net sales in 1998 as compared to 43.0% in 1997.
Excluding the effect of the 1998 acquisitions, gross profit margin would have
been 42.6%.
 
Selling, technical, general and research expenses, excluding the 1998
acquisitions, increased 2.0% in 1998 as compared to 1997. Excluding the
additional effect of the stronger U.S. dollar, these costs increased 4.4%. This
increase was principally due to higher wages and benefit costs, the unfavorable
change in the remeasurement of foreign currency transactions incurred
principally in Europe and costs related to the installation of a new information
system.
 
In 1998, the Company recorded a charge for restructuring of operations and
termination benefits of $20.2 million. The global restructuring plan is focused
on the Company's United States and European operations and includes an enhanced
retirement program and a rationalization of manufacturing operations. The total
charge includes $15.8 million for the enhanced retirement program and $4.4
million for plant rationalization costs.
 
The change in other (income)expense, net as compared to 1997, was due
principally to $2.0 million higher income from currency transactions and
interest rate protection agreements and a $1.3 million decrease in strategic
planning costs. Income or losses from currency transactions and interest rate
protection agreements generally result from economic hedges which can have
either a positive or negative effect on other (income)/expense, net in any
particular period. The specific hedges in place are changed from time to time
depending on market conditions and cash flow forecasts of various non-U.S.
operations and are intended to partially offset the effects of translation on
operating income (see Notes 6 and 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements).
 
In June 1998, Financial Accounting Standard No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities", was issued. This Standard establishes a new
model for accounting for derivatives and hedging activities. All derivatives
will be recognized as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value.
Each hedging relationship must be designated and accounted for pursuant to this
Standard. Since the Company already records forward exchange and futures
contracts at fair value, this Standard is not expected to have a material effect
on the accounting for these transactions. In accordance with this Standard,
interest rate swaps, that hedge interest rate exposure, will be measured at fair
value with the initial asset or liability recognized in "Other comprehensive
income". Actual amounts paid or received on these contracts will be reclassified
from "Other comprehensive income" to "Interest expense, net". Other swap
agreements will be measured at fair value with gains and losses recorded in
"Other (income)/expense, net". Accounting for the Company's interest rate swaps
has not yet been determined. The Company plans to adopt this Standard on its
effective date of January 1, 2000.
 
Interest expense increased $3.8 million or 23.6% as compared with 1997. This
increase was due to higher total debt during 1998 as a result of acquisitions
and the Company's purchase of 2,560,800 shares of its own stock since November
1997.
 
In late 1997, the Company finished the construction of a new paper machine
clothing plant located in Chungju, South Korea for a total cost of approximately
$22 million. The first shipments to customers were made in February 1998.
 
In January 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Burwell
Door Systems located in Sydney, Australia for approximately $3.5 million.
 
In March 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of
Techniweave, Inc., a specialty fabricator of high performance textiles and
composites. The purchase price was approximately $8.9 million with $3.3 million
paid at closing and $5.6 million deferred for up to ten years.
 
In March 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of
Metco Form Oy, a Finnish supplier of forming fabrics and other
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
engineered fabrics for pulp mills and other chemical process industries. The
purchase price was approximately $10.8 million.
 
In April 1998, the Company purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of M&I
Door Systems located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada for approximately $8.1 million.
 
All of the above acquisitions were accounted for as purchases and, accordingly,
the Company included in its financial statements the results of operations of
the acquired entities as of the respective acquisition dates. These acquisitions
did not have a significant impact on 1998 operating results.
 
In March 1998, the Company purchased a 50% interest in SARA (Loading Bay
Specialists, Ltd.), a distributor of high performance industrial doors located
in England for approximately $2.0 million. This investment is being accounted
for on an equity basis and is included in "Investments in Associated Companies".
 
For purposes of applying Financial Accounting Standard No. 52, "Foreign Currency
Translation", to economies that cease to be highly inflationary, effective
January 1, 1999, the functional currency for the Company's Mexican operations
will change from the U.S. dollar to the Mexican Peso. Management does not expect
a significant impact on reported results.
 
- --1997 VS. 1996
 
Net sales increased $17.3 million or 2.5% as compared with 1996. Net sales were
decreased by $32.1 million from the effect of a stronger U.S. dollar as compared
to 1996. As discussed below, the Company acquired Schieffer Door Systems
("Schieffer") in 1996. Schieffer added $24.6 million to 1997 net sales.
Excluding the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar and Schieffer, 1997 net sales
increased 3.6% over 1996.
 
Net sales in the United States increased 3.5% in 1997 as compared to 1996, while
sales in Canada decreased 1.7% over the same period. The decrease in Canadian
sales was due in part to lower sales to Asia. The effect of price increases to
customers in 1997 was small.
 
European sales increased 4.4% in 1997 as compared to 1996. Excluding the
acquisition of Schieffer and the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar, net sales
in Europe increased 5.8%.
 
Gross profit continued to improve and was 43.0% of net sales in 1997 as compared
to 42.4% in 1996. Excluding the effect of Schieffer, gross profit margin would
have been 43.2%.
 
Selling, technical, general and research expenses, excluding Schieffer,
increased 1.4% in 1997 as compared to 1996. Excluding the additional effect of
the stronger U.S. dollar, these costs increased 5.6%. A large part of the
increase is due to higher wages and benefit costs.
 
The change in other (income)/expense, net as compared to 1996, was partially due
to $0.9 million lower income from currency transactions and interest rate
protection agreements and to strategic planning costs of $1.3 million.
 
Interest expense decreased $0.9 million or 5.3% as compared with 1996. This
decrease is primarily due to lower average debt balances.
 
For purposes of applying Financial Accounting Standard No. 52, "Foreign Currency
Translation", to economies that cease to be highly inflationary, effective
January 1, 1998, the functional currency for the Company's Brazilian operations
changed from the U.S. dollar to the Brazilian Real.
 
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
 
The Company conducts more than half of its business in countries outside of the
United States. As a result, the Company experiences transaction and translation
gains and losses because of currency fluctuations. The Company periodically
enters into foreign currency contracts to hedge this exposure (see Notes 6, 9
and 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company believes that
the risks associated with its operations and locations outside the United States
are not other than those normally associated with operations in such locations.
 
The profitability in the Company's geographic regions in 1998 as compared to
1997 increased in Canada and decreased in the United States and Europe. Total
operating income, after the restructuring charge, decreased 29.1% as compared to
1997. Excluding the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar, operating income would
have decreased 25.8% as compared to 1997. Excluding the combined effect of the
U.S. dollar and the restructuring charge, operating income decreased 5.5% as
compared to 1997. Operating income, before the restructuring charge, as a
percent of net sales for the United States was 17.6% in 1998, 19.2% in 1997 and
16.8% in 1996; for Canada was 13.5% in 1998, 13.0% in 1997 and 17.4% in 1996;
for Europe was 9.0% for 1998, 10.7% in 1997 and 10.5% in 1996; and combined for
the rest of the countries where the Company has operations the percentages were
7.3% in 1998, 8.2% in 1997 and 12.6% in 1996.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
At December 31, 1998 the Company's order backlog was $474.0 million, an increase
of $6.4 million from the prior year-end.
 
Accounts receivable increased $12.9 million from December 31, 1997. Excluding
the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar, acquisitions and the new Korean plant,
accounts receivable increased $3.9 million. Inventories increased $16.5 million
from December 31, 1997. Excluding the factors noted above, inventories increased
$7.2 million.
 
Cash flow provided from operating activities was $86.9 million in 1998 compared
with $86.6 million in 1997 and $82.9 million in 1996. Capital expenditures were
$38.8 million for 1998, $50.8 million for 1997 and $53.5 million for 1996.
Capital expenditures, including leases, in 1999 are expected to be about $45
million. The Company will continue to finance these expenditures with cash from
operations and existing credit facilities.
 
The Company currently has a $300 million revolving credit agreement with its
principal banks in the United States. The banks' commitment will decline to $150
million in 2001 with the final maturity in 2002. The terms of the revolving
credit agreement include a facility fee and allow the Company to select from
various loan pricing options. The Company's current debt structure, which is
mostly floating-rate, has resulted in favorable interest rates and currently
provides approximately $100 million in committed and available unused debt
capacity with financial institutions. Management believes that the unused line,
in combination with informal commitments and expected free cash flows, should be
sufficient to meet operating requirements and for business opportunities and
most acquisitions which support corporate strategies in the foreseeable future.
 
Effective December 31, 1998, the Company has swap agreements that hedge a
portion of its interest rate exposure. On a notional amount of $100 million, the
Company will pay a fixed rate while the counterparties are obligated to pay a
floating rate based upon LIBOR. It is anticipated that this will increase the
Company's interest rate during 1999 and reduce the Company's exposure to higher
interest rates.
 
A cash dividend of $.105 per share was declared in the first quarter of 1998.
During the remainder of 1998, the Company declared two 0.5% stock dividends and
one 2.0% stock dividend which resulted in a subsequent distribution of 706,900
shares of Class A Common Stock and 169,719 shares of Class B Common Stock. As a
result of the stock dividends, additional paid-in capital increased $16.4
million, treasury stock decreased $2.6 million and retained earnings decreased
$19.0 million. All references in the accompanying financial statements to the
number of common shares and per-share amounts have been restated to reflect the
stock dividends.
 
YEAR 2000
 
In 1997, the Company began a program to assess, test and remedy its computer and
manufacturing systems to assure that these systems will properly recognize the
year 2000 and therefore substantially eliminate the risk of date-related
computer shutdowns.
 
The most significant area to assess under this program is the Company's business
system, which includes the Company's information system, the hardware and
software associated with its network of personal computers and its
telecommunications infrastructure. Most of the Company's operations have
completed the assessment phase of the program and have begun testing and
remediation. Currently, the implementation of a new information system is in
progress and has not been accelerated as a result of the year 2000 issue. Each
of the Company's operations are at a different level of completion. In some
cases, the existing system which is being replaced is not year 2000 compliant.
If the implementation of the new system for these operations is not expected to
be complete by the year 2000, a contingency plan which includes upgrading the
existing software or the temporary use of manual processes will be put in place.
Management does not expect any significant issues related to year 2000
compliance.
 
The Company's manufacturing process involves some use of computers and embedded
chips in process equipment. Each operation has been assigned a coordinator to
oversee the planning, testing and remediation of this equipment. While
management does not expect any year 2000 related shutdowns, it believes that any
problems that do occur would be isolated. In these cases, production can be
moved to other operations within the Company until the problem is corrected.
Management expects to remediate any undiscovered year 2000 equipment problems
within a matter of days, with no material impact on overall production.
 
The Company depends on customers and suppliers for its daily operations.
Disruptions due to year 2000 problems in their operations could have a
significant impact on the Company. The Company is currently monitoring the
status of its customers and suppliers to determine risks and contingency plans.
 
Total external expenditures related to the year 2000 program are estimated to be
$1.0 million and are expected to be funded from cash from operations. Of the
$1.0 million, $0.3 million is for
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
consultants, $0.5 million for hardware and $0.2 million for software. As of
December 31, 1998, $0.3 million has been spent on consultants and $0.1 million
has been spent on hardware.
 
EURO
 
Effective January 1, 1999, certain member countries of the European Union
established fixed conversion rates between their existing currencies and the
European Union's common currency ("euro"). Since the Company does business in
these member countries, issues involved with the introduction of the euro are
being addressed. These issues include the conversion of data processing systems,
assessing currency risk and the impact on the Company's marketing strategy in
Europe.
 
MARKET RISK SENSITIVITY
 
The Company has market risk with respect to foreign currency exchange rates and
interest rates. The market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse
changes in these rates as discussed below.
 
The Company has manufacturing plants in 14 countries and sales worldwide and
therefore is subject to foreign currency risk. This risk is composed of both
potential losses from the translation of foreign currency financial statements
and the remeasurement of foreign currency transactions. To manage this risk, the
Company periodically enters into forward exchange contracts to either hedge the
net assets of a foreign investment or to provide an economic hedge against
future cash flows (see Note 6 for further information regarding these
contracts). The total net assets of foreign operations and foreign currency,
long-term intercompany loans subject to potential loss amount to $354.2 million.
The potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse
change in quoted foreign currency exchange rates amounts to $35.4 million.
Furthermore, related to foreign currency transactions, the same 10% change would
cause an additional loss of $3.4 million. Actual results may differ.
 
As discussed above, the Company's current debt structure is mostly
floating-rate. To partially hedge interest rate exposure, the Company has
entered into interest rate swap agreements on a notional amount of $100 million,
effectively fixing the interest rate on that portion of debt. The Company also
periodically enters into futures contracts to hedge in the short-term against
interest rate fluctuations (see Note 6 for further information regarding these
contracts). At December 31, 1998, the fair value of the Company's long-term debt
is estimated to be $183 million. The potential increase in the fair value of the
debt resulting from a hypothetical 50 basis point decrease in interest rates
amounts to $1.8 million.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This annual report contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include
statements about such matters as global restructuring, estimated impact of
actions upon future earnings, year 2000 compliance, EVA, industry trends,
operating efficiency and profitability. Actual future events and circumstances
(including future performance, results and trends) could differ materially from
those set forth in such statements due to various factors. One factor is the
risk to completing the year 2000 plan, which includes the Company's ability to
discover and correct year 2000 problems within its systems and the ability of
its customers and suppliers to bring their systems into year 2000 compliance.
Other factors include even more competitive marketing conditions resulting from
customer consolidations, possible softening of customer demand, unanticipated
events or circumstances related to recently acquired businesses, the occurrence
of unanticipated events or difficulties relating to divestiture, joint venture,
operating, capital, global integration and other projects, changes in currency
exchange rates, changes in general economic and competitive conditions,
technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those
detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
ELEVEN YEAR SUMMARY
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        1998      1997      1996      1995
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
     <S>                                            <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
 
     SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
     Net sales                                      $722,653  $710,079  $692,760  $652,645
     Cost of goods sold                              417,375   404,982   399,311   379,696
     Operating income (1),(2),(6)                     70,608    99,619    96,785    88,827
     Interest expense, net                            19,310    15,467    15,833    20,009
     Income before income taxes                       51,704    79,631    80,940    69,842
     Income taxes                                     20,163    31,055    31,570    27,208
     Income before associated companies               31,541    48,576    49,370    42,634
     Net income/(loss) (3),(5)                        31,772    49,059    48,306    43,011
         Net income/(loss) per share                    1.04      1.55      1.54      1.38
         Diluted net income/(loss) per share            1.03      1.53      1.53      1.31
     Average number of shares outstanding             30,464    31,678    31,282    31,115
     Capital expenditures                             38,825    50,804    53,473    41,921
     Cash dividends declared                           3,140    12,921    12,159    11,708
         Per Class A common share                      0.105      0.42      0.40    0.3875
         Per Class B common share                      0.105      0.42      0.40    0.3875
 
     FINANCIAL POSITION
     Current assets                                 $409,713  $373,323  $384,627  $364,207
     Current liabilities                             220,038   170,440   176,746   126,945
     Current ratio                                       1.9       2.2       2.2       2.9
     Property, plant and equipment, net              325,109   321,611   339,461   342,150
     Total assets                                    866,366   796,897   831,917   802,232
     Long-term debt                                  181,137   173,654   187,100   245,265
     Shareholders' equity                            314,850   343,108   332,330   304,942
         Per share                                     10.34     10.84     10.59      9.76
     Total capital (4)                               613,993   594,560   586,890   567,460
     Total debt to total capital                       48.7%     42.3%     43.4%     46.3%
     Return on shareholders' equity                    10.1%     14.3%     14.5%     14.1%
 
     NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES                               6,011     5,881     5,854     5,658
</TABLE>
 
          ----------------------------------------
 
              (1) The Company adopted Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) No.
                  87 Employers' Accounting for Pensions, with respect to its
                  non-U.S. retirement plans in 1989, which reduced pension cost
                  by $1,077,000.
 
              (2) Included in 1990 is a charge to income of $8,500,000 for an
                  early retirement window and terminations which were part of a
                  world wide cost containment program.
 
              (3) In January 1989, the Company sold its property and facilities
                  in Halmstad, Sweden for approximately $51,000,000 in cash and
                  notes with a resulting net gain of approximately $23,000,000.
 
              (4) 1991 and prior includes all debt, deferred taxes and other
                  credits and shareholders' equity. Following the adoption of
                  FAS No. 109 Accounting for Income Taxes in 1992, total
                  capital includes all debt and shareholders' equity.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                1994       1993       1992       1991       1990       1989       1988
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 
           $ 567,583  $ 546,120  $ 561,084  $ 557,218  $ 556,104  $ 505,474  $ 461,246
             338,991    345,468    366,756    359,184    358,697    299,287    267,374
              62,821     40,051     18,893     44,488     31,661     67,627     73,755
              16,820     16,115     18,829     20,090     18,450     19,857     16,637
              41,677     24,566      3,282     19,752     14,421     76,272     53,333
              17,921      9,679      1,247     10,803      7,538     33,487     18,954
              23,756     14,887      2,035      8,949      6,883     42,785     34,379
              23,882     15,003     (3,114)    10,794      8,269     44,896     36,521
                0.77       0.55      (0.12)      0.41       0.32       1.72       1.43
                0.77       0.54      (0.12)      0.41       0.32       1.71       1.43
              30,858     27,485     26,332     26,183     26,077     26,176     25,528
              36,322     30,940     20,219     40,067    110,729     82,252     58,601
              10,488      9,361      8,950      8,903      7,518      5,775      4,674
                0.35       0.35       0.35       0.35     0.3500     0.3125     0.2625
                0.35       0.35       0.35       0.35     0.1313         --         --
 
           $ 319,947  $ 270,034  $ 256,422  $ 259,917  $ 277,622  $ 246,144  $ 209,635
             115,863    101,069    112,955    106,220    106,904    100,810     86,489
                 2.8        2.7        2.3        2.4        2.6        2.4        2.4
             320,719    302,829    308,618    362,456    365,558    260,907    214,807
             727,157    661,314    652,745    680,706    708,212    569,968    480,143
             232,767    208,620    239,732    250,423    262,042    145,493    157,833
             274,632    247,223    193,975    247,231    245,004    240,285    179,545
                8.88       8.03       7.34       9.42       9.38       9.05       6.94
             525,119    467,320    456,773    551,240    574,977    452,567    392,707
               47.7%      47.1%      57.5%      48.2%      49.3%      38.8%      48.1%
                8.7%       6.1%      (1.6%)      4.4%       3.4%      18.7%      20.3%
 
               5,404      5,286      5,678      5,726      6,144      6,090      5,659
</TABLE>
 
(5) In 1992, the Company elected to adopt FAS No. 106, Employers'
    Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,
    effective January 1, 1992, and recognize the accumulated
    liability. This adoption resulted in a charge of $27,431,000, net
    of tax of $16,813,000, and a reduction of 1992 operating income of
    $2,798,000.
 
    The Company's election to adopt FAS No. 109, as of January 1,
    1992, resulted in an increase to 1992 income of $20,142,000.
 
    During the fourth quarter of 1992, the Company elected an early
    payment of a $3,000,000 tax exempt financing for $1,357,000 which
    resulted in an extraordinary gain of $1,019,000, net of tax.
 
(6) In 1992, the Company reported a charge of $12,045,000 for
    restructuring of certain operations, including plant closings in
    Norway and Germany and other workforce reductions.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(unaudited)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)      1ST       2ND       3RD          4TH
<S>                                       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                                $176.2    $179.6    $176.3       $190.6
Gross profit                               74.8      78.0      73.3         79.2
Net income/(loss)                          11.1      10.6      11.1         (1.0)
Net income/(loss) per share                 .36       .34       .37         (.03)
Diluted net income/(loss) per share         .36       .34       .36         (.03)
Cash dividends per share                   .105        --        --           --
Class A Common Stock prices:
  High                                   27.063    30.188     24.50       20.563
  Low                                    20.313     23.00    17.875       16.063
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                                $171.8    $181.9    $171.8       $184.6
Gross profit                               71.8      78.7      73.9         80.7
Net income                                 10.9      13.5      11.4         13.3
Net income per share                        .35       .43       .35          .42
Diluted net income per share                .35       .42       .35          .41
Cash dividends per share                   .105      .105      .105         .105
Class A Common Stock prices:
  High                                     24.5      24.0   27.4375      26.5625
  Low                                    20.625     19.75      22.5        22.25
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net sales                                $168.1    $172.1    $169.8       $182.8
Gross profit                               70.1      72.7      72.0         78.6
Net income                                  8.1      12.3      12.5         15.4
Net income per share                        .26       .39       .40          .49
Diluted net income per share                .25       .39       .40          .49
Cash dividends per share                    .10       .10       .10          .10
Class A Common Stock prices:
  High                                   20.375    22.625      22.5       23.125
  Low                                     17.25     19.50      18.0       21.625
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
STOCK AND SHAREHOLDERS
   The Company's Class A Common Stock is traded principally on the New York
Stock Exchange. At December 31, 1998 there were approximately 7,000
shareholders.
 
                                       34


<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 21



                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT

<PAGE>

                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                PERCENT   PERCENT
                                                                DIRECT    INDIRECT
                                                                OWNERSHIP OWNERSHIP      JURISDICTION
                                                                --------- ---------      ------------


<S>                                                             <C>       <C>            <C>
Albany International Pty.,Ltd.                                       100                          Australia

Nomafa Austria                                                                   100               Austria

Albany International Feltros e Telas Industriais Ltda.               100                            Brazil

Albany International Canada Inc.                                     100                            Canada
M&I Door Systems                                                     100                            Canada

Albany International (China) Co., Ltd.                               100                            China

Albany Fennofelt Oy AB                                                           100               Finland
Metco Form Oy                                                                    100               Finland

Albany International Holding S.A.                                    100                            France
Albany International S.A.                                                        100                France
Martel Catala S.A.                                                               100                France
Toiles Franck S.A.                                                               100                France
Nomafa S.A.R.L.                                                                  100                France
T.I.S. S.A.                                                                      100                France

Schieffer Tor-und Schutzsysteme GmbH                                             100               Germany
Nordiskafilt Maschinenbespannung GmbH                                            100               Germany
Albany International GmbH, Eschenbach                                            100               Germany
Nomafa GmbH                                                                      100               Germany

Nomafa B.V.                                                                      100             Netherlands
Albany International B.V.                                            100                         Netherlands

Albany Nordiskafilt Kabushiki Kaisha                                             100                Japan

Albany International S.A. de C.V.                                    100                            Mexico
Martel Wire, S.A. de C.V.                                                        100                Mexico
Telas Industriales de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.                           100                            Mexico
Albany International Industrial Fabrics & Filters,                   100                            Mexico
S.A.de C.V.

Albany Nordiskafilt AS                                                           100                Norway

Albany International Korea, Inc.                                     100                         South Korea
Albany International Korea, Inc.                                                 100             South Korea

Albany Nordiska S.A.                                                             100                Spain

Albany Nordiskafilt AB                                               100                            Sweden
Nordiska Maskinfilt Aktiebolag                                                   100                Sweden
Nordiskafilt Aktiebolag                                                          100                Sweden
Dewa Consulting AB                                                               100                Sweden
Nomafa Aktiebolag                                                    100                            Sweden
Albany Wallbergs AB                                                  100                            Sweden

Nordiska Industrie Produkte AG                                       100                         Switzerland
Albany International AG                                                          100             Switzerland

Albany International Ltd.                                            100                        United Kingdom

Albany International Research Co.                                    100                        United States
Albany International Techniweave, Inc.                               100                        United States
M&I Door Systems USA, Inc.                                                       100            United States
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


Exhibit 23


                                   EXHIBIT 23



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


<PAGE>



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS




We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements of
Albany International Corp. on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-23163, 33-28028 and
33-33048) of our report dated January 28, 1999, on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements and financial statements schedules of Albany
International Corp. as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and for the years ended
December 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, which report is incorporated by reference in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Albany, New York
March 19, 1999




<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 24



                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned directors
and officers of Albany International Corp., a Delaware corporation ("the
Company") which contemplates that from time to time it will file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("the SEC") under, or in connection with, the
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, reports (including, without limitation,
reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K), statements and other documents (such
reports, statements and other documents, together with amendments, supplements
and exhibits thereto, are collectively hereinafter referred to as "1934 Act
Reports"), hereby constitutes and appoints Francis L. McKone, Frank R. Schmeler,
Michael C. Nahl, Richard A. Carlstrom, Thomas H. Hagoort, John C. Treanor and
Charles J. Silva, and each of them with full power to act without the others,
his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full and several
power of substitution, for him and her and in his or her name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any or all 1934 Act Reports and any or all
other documents relating thereto, with power where appropriate to affix the
corporate seal of the Company thereto and to attest said seal, and to file any
or all 1934 Act Reports, together with any and all other information and
documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute
or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         The appointment of any attorney-in-fact and agent hereunder shall
automatically terminate at such time as such attorney-in-fact and agent ceases
to be an officer of the Company. Any of the undersigned may terminate the
appointment of any of his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents hereunder by
delivering written notice thereof to the Company.




<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Power of
Attorney this 23rd day of February, 1999.



/s/ Francis L. McKone                         /s/ Frank R. Schmeler
- -----------------------------------           -------------------------------
Francis L. McKone                             Frank R. Schmeler
Chairman of the Board and Director            President and Director
(Chief Executive Officer)                     (Chief Operating Officer)



/s/ Michael C. Nahl                           /s/ Richard A. Carlstrom
- -----------------------------------           -------------------------------
Michael C. Nahl                               Richard A. Carlstrom
Senior Vice President                         Controller
(Chief Financial Officer)                     (Principal Accounting Officer)



/s/ Charles B. Buchanan                       /s/ Thomas R. Beecher, Jr.
- -----------------------------------           -------------------------------
Charles B. Buchanan                           Thomas R. Beecher, Jr.
Director                                      Director



/s/ Allan Stenshamn                           /s/ Barbara P. Wright
- -----------------------------------           -------------------------------
Allan Stenshamn                               Barbara P. Wright
Director                                      Director



/s/ Joseph G. Morone, Ph.D.                   /s/ Christine L. Standish
- -----------------------------------           -------------------------------
Joseph G. Morone, Ph.D.                       Christine L. Standish
Director                                      Director



/s/ Erland E. Kailbourne            
- -----------------------------------          
Erland E. Kailbourne
Director

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ALBANY
INTERNATIONAL CORP.'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                           5,868
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  190,252
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,504
<INVENTORY>                                    196,909
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               409,713
<PP&E>                                         661,128
<DEPRECIATION>                                 336,019
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 866,366
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          220,038
<BONDS>                                        181,137
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            32
<OTHER-SE>                                     314,818
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   866,366
<SALES>                                        722,653
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               722,653
<CGS>                                          417,375
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  650,733
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (406)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,312
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              19,310
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 51,704
<INCOME-TAX>                                    20,163
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             31,772
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    31,772
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.04<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Earnings per share reflect the impact of a 2.0% stock dividend that was
distributed on January 6, 1999.  Prior Financial Data Schedules have not been
restated to reflect this dividend.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>


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