Kimberly-Clark to expand Beech Island plant with $200M boost

A global personal-care products manufacturer is expanding its operations in the Midlands.

Kimberly-Clark Corp. is expanding its operations in Aiken County with an investment of over $200 million that will create more than 150 new jobs, according to a news release from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Kimberly-Clark will add 1.1 million square feet to its existing facility located at 246 Old Jackson Highway in Beech Island, the release stated. The expansion will streamline Kimberly-Clark’s distribution footprint, significantly increasing its ability to ship directly from its mega-manufacturing facility located on the same site.

“This investment represents the strong progress we are making on our end-to-end supply chain transformation,” Kimberly-Clark Chief Supply Chain Officer Tamera Fenske said in the release. “By bringing together manufacturing and distribution under one automated roof, we are building a more agile, responsive and resilient operating model that will enhance service levels for our retail partners. Beech Island is the largest facility in our manufacturing network, so this new investment will drive impact at scale.”

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The facility will leverage advanced robotics, artificial intelligence-powered logistics systems and high-density automated storage to dramatically improve operational efficiencies, the release stated. Established in 1968, the Beech Island manufacturing facility is the company’s largest globally.

The Beech Island expansion is part of a more than $2 billion investment from Kimberly-Clark over the next five years in its North America business, marking the company’s largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years, according to a Kimberly-Clark news release. The broad-based investment program centers on two transformative projects: a new advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, and the Beech Island site, which includes a state-of-the-art automated distribution center.

“This landmark investment represents a strategic bet on the American consumer and our ability to drive innovation-led sustainable growth for Kimberly-Clark,” said Russ Torres, group president, Kimberly-Clark North America, in the release. “It reflects the confidence we have in our long-term growth plans and complements a broad range of commercial and R&D investments we have been making throughout the business as part of our Powering Care transformation journey.”

Founded in 1872, Kimberly-Clark’s well-known brands, including Cottonelle, Huggies, Kleenex, Scott and more, are sold in over 175 countries, according to the release. The company is headquartered in Texas and has more than 40,000 employees worldwide.

“I’m pleased to hear the news of this major expansion at Kimberly-Clark’s Beech Island facility,
Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker said in the release. “Kimberly-Clark has been a cornerstone in Aiken County’s economy for decades, and this investment represents a continued vote of confidence in our community and what it offers the manufacturing sector. Maintaining a business-friendly environment is not only good for business, but also for the county, the taxpayers and the talented workforce on Kimberly-Clark’s team.”

Operations are expected to be online in the second quarter of 2027.

“We are proud to support Kimberly-Clark’s continued investment in Aiken County,” Western SC Economic Development Partnership Board Chairman Gary Stooksbury said in the release. “This expansion not only reinforces their long-term commitment to the region but also brings new opportunities for economic growth and job creation.”