8-K

                          U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
                             COMMISSION WASHINGTON,
                                   D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                        Date of Report: January 22, 2004
                        (Date of earliest event reported)

                           ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                      0-16214                  14-0462060
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission              (IRS employer
     of incorporation)                file number)           identification no.)

                      1373 Broadway, Albany, New York 12204
                                 (518) 445-2200
 (Address and telephone number of the registrant's principal executive offices)



Item 5. Other Events and Required FD Disclosure

On January 22, 2004, Albany International issued a news release announcing plans
to consolidate  certain European  manufacturing  operations.  A copy of the news
release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.



                                    Signature

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                          ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.

                                          By: /s/ Michael C. Nahl
                                              ----------------------------------
                                          Name: Michael C. Nahl
                                          Title: Senior Vice President and Chief
                                                 Financial Officer

Date: January 22, 2004



                                Index to Exhibits

Exhibit Number    Description of Document
- --------------    -----------------------

99.1              News  release,  dated  January  22,  2004,  issued  by  Albany
                  International Corp.

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


  Albany International Announces Plans to Consolidate Manufacturing Operations
                                    in Europe

    ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Albany International Corp.
(NYSE/PSE/FWB: AIN) announced today its plan to discontinue press fabric and
forming fabric manufacturing at its facility in Dieren, the Netherlands, and to
discontinue dryer fabric manufacturing at its Bury, Lancashire, England,
facility. These actions are part of the Company's continuing effort to match
capacity to the global demand for paper machine clothing.
    At the Bury facility, the proposal is likely to affect up to 50 of the
130 people employed.  Bury would continue to manufacture process belts for
shoe press and related paper machine applications.  At the Dieren operations,
all manufacturing would be discontinued and would affect approximately 280
employees.  The proposal is subject to review under local law and would be
carried out in consultation with the works councils and trade unions.
    The proposal by the Company to discontinue operations is a business-driven
necessity and does not reflect on the fine performance of the Albany
International employees at the Bury and Dieren operations.
    Transition of manufacturing to other Albany International Europe
facilities will begin as soon as possible and is expected to be completed in
2004.
    Albany International is the world's largest producer of paper machine
clothing and high-performance doors with manufacturing plants in 15 countries
and sales worldwide.  Additional information about the Company and its
businesses and products is available at www.albint.com.

SOURCE  Albany International Corp.
    -0-                             01/22/2004
    /CONTACT:  Kenneth C. Pulver, Vice President-Corporate Communications of
Albany International Corp., +1-518-445-2214/
    /Web site:  http://www.albint.com /
    (AIN)

CO:  Albany International Corp.
ST:  New York
IN:  TEX PAP MAC
SU: