An Investment Worth its Weight in Fabric
13 July 2011Kimberly-Clark’s Albury Mill will be upgraded with an investment of $6.5 million providing new broader innovative opportunities for the fabrics it produces, as well as reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by converting key processes from coal based electricity to gas.
The upgrade is one of three investments totalling $65 million announced this month by Kimberly-Clark Australia’s Managing Director, Glen Watts. It includes a $28 million investment at the company’s Ingleburn Mill in Sydney to locally manufacture disposable pants products like Huggies Pull Ups and Nappy Pants and a $30 million investment to greatly increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the company’s Millicent tissue mill in South Australia.
Glen Watts Managing Director Kimberly-Clark Australia New Zealand
With all the talk on Carbon Tax and businesses making a commitment to reducing their emissions, it’s great to see Kimberly-Clark making an investment for the future at the Albury Mill.
The reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the three investment upgrades across each of the company’s mills will be about 90,000 tonnes a year by 2013.
‘This reduction is equivalent to removing 32,000 small cars from the road or alternatively to planting 10,000 hectare of trees per year,’ said Mr Watts. ‘These investments demonstrate Kimberly-Clark’s commitment to maintaining an effective Australian manufacturing presence. We continue to look to the Australian Government to play its part in maintaining a ‘level playing field’ for Australian manufacturers versus imported products’.
The Albury plant employs over 50 employees and has been an established part of Albury Manufacturing sector since 1987. Albury Mill Manager, Vivienne Worden said ‘This is very exciting for our Albury Team and a vote of confidence in the Albury Mill. The project will be managed locally by our team members working with Kimberly-Clark’s Global Nonwovens Team in the US so it’s also a great opportunity for our people here’.
Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand major consumer brands include the Huggies®, Kleenex®, Viva®, U By Kotex®, Poise®, Depend®, Wondersoft®, Snugglers® and Thick & Thirsty® range of products. Specifically the Albury mill manufactures nonwoven fabric products, which include fabrics found in HUGGIES® nappies, fabrics for medical applications including KIMGUARD* Sterile Wrap and fabrics for the KLEENEX® VIVA® range of Clever Cleaning solutions.
It is only a matter of time before all manufacturers will have to take these factors into consideration. The investment needed to operate as more sustainable, energy efficient businesses is not one which is taken lightly, though the benefits to our environment will be greatly appreciated.
For more information on Kimberly Clark visit www.kca.com.au
