Kimberly-Clark Advances Manufacturing Capabilities With $2 Billion, Five-Year Growth Plan
Kimberly-Clark Co., maker of CPG brands including Huggies, Kleenex and Depend, is investing in its manufacturing operations, spending $2 billion over the next five years to expand its North American facilities and implement new tech capabilities.
This is its largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years, according to the company, which will focus on two projects: an expanded distribution center in South Carolina and a new manufacturing facility in Ohio.
Beech Island, South Carolina
The regional distribution center will get an automation boost, tapping into advanced robotics, an AI-powered logistics system and high-density automated storage to expedite the time-to-market process. The upgrades are expected to increase direct-ship capabilities and streamline the site's distribution footprint.
Tamera Fenske, Kimberly-Clark’s chief supply chain officer, said the investments will help progress the company’s end-to-end supply chain transformation and network optimization.
"By bringing together manufacturing and distribution under one automated roof, we are building a more agile, responsive and resilient manufacturing network that will enhance service levels for our retail partners and contribute to our gross productivity plan,” she said.
Warren, Ohio
The new facility will serve as a regional hub for the Northeast and Midwest. Spanning more than one million square feet, the plant will provide increased capacity for Kimberly-Clark’s personal care categories. The location will implement proprietary manufacturing technologies that support the development of new and improved consumer products.
A Company-Wide Transformation Initiative
These investments are part of Kimberly-Clark’s enterprise-wide transformation initiative, which launched in 2024. The company expects construction to be completed within the next two to three years.
In total, the growth efforts will lead to more than 900 jobs in industrial automation and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, capital expenditures linked to these projects will go toward automation upgrades across the company’s North America supply chain network.
