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Kimberly$-$Clark expands its South African manufacturing capacity

BY: MARLENY ARNOLDI

CREAMER MEDIA ONLINE WRITER

Hand towel, tissue and dispensing system manufacturer Kimberly$-$Clark Professional is expanding

its manufacturing capacity in South Africa, through an investment in a new production line at the Enstra

Mill, in Springs, Gauteng.

The company installed a new converting line, which introduces new capabilities such as on$-$sheet

branding to the local market.

$"$It adds a new dimension to a local product that can rival and exceed expectations of imports," explains

GM Ahmad Abublan.

Kimberly$-$Clark assembled the new converting line in April and has since been ramping up production to

optimised levels. Considering feedback from the market and their needs within the company's product

designs, the company will move to full$-$scale commercial production before the end of the year.

Abublan says the expansion, as well as upgrades to prior assets, enabled the company to produce

more products locally, which were previously imported.

These products include Scott control centrefeed toilet paper and Wypall reach paper wipers, which are

part of dispensing systems that control toilet paper consumption and wiping paper in high$-$traffic areas.

Abublan says the company deems it critical to serve its market quicker and more consistently, as well

as to reduce reliance on imports.

He says the company will continue to consider feedback from key customers and market insights to

ensure it supplies fit$-$for$-$purpose products.

Kimberly$-$Clark entered the South African market in $1936$ and has transformed from importing and

selling a single brand of napkins from the US$,$ to manufacturing toilet tissue locally in $1948$

and manufacturing feminine care products in $1950.$

The company is a trusted supplier in the commercial space and partners with businesses to

create solutions for workplaces, including hand towels, bath tissue and surface wipers.

Kimberly$-$Clark South Africa deems it fit to increase speed to market and improve stock availability in

South Africa, while maintaining world$-$class quality through investment in advanced technology.

"Since $1936,$ we have constantly been innovating our products and practices to serve and care for the

ever$-$changing needs of the people in South Africa. This foresight is developed by bringing together and