Consumer goods company Kimberly-Clark announced a five-year, $2 billion investment to expand its U.S. manufacturing capacity, citing a demand surge for its brands, including Kleenex tissue, Huggies diapers, and Scott kitchen towels.
Two Projects
The investment will support a new manufacturing site in Warren, Ohio, and the addition of an automated distribution center to an existing location in Beech Island, South Carolina. Other projects include capital spending linked to automation and innovation throughout the company’s North American supply chain.
Kimberly-Clark expects the projects to create over 900 jobs in advanced manufacturing and industrial automation.
A New Hub
The company said the nearly 1 million-square-foot Ohio facility would serve as a hub for the Midwest and Northeast regions. The site will feature proprietary manufacturing technologies designed to create next-generation consumer products.
Combining Distribution and Manufacturing
Kimberly-Clark said the automated distribution center in South Carolina would enhance direct-shipping capabilities and optimize distribution operations at its largest manufacturing facility. The site will use AI-powered logistics systems, high-density automated storage, and advanced robotics.
Kimberly-Clark Chief Supply Chain Officer Tamera Fenske stated that combining distribution and manufacturing would create a more responsive, resilient, and agile network.
The company expects construction on both facilities to begin in May and to conclude within two to three years.
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