new £23m investment will see 170m wet wipes a year produced in Flint

New £23m investment in a wet wipe production line at Kimberly-Clark’s Flint facility has been completed.

The new production line will help produce 170 million packs of wet wipes a year in Flint and support expansion into new and existing export markets.

The investment, which creates 35 new jobs, was backed by £160,000 business finance from the Welsh Government and helped secure the project for Wales as a number of potential manufacturing locations were considered for this expansion.

The new jobs include process leaders, maintenance technicians and skilled equipment operators.

The news has been welcomed by Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates.

He said: “This is a strategically important investment for Kimberly-Clark’s facility in Wales that will further embed this key employer into the regional economy.

“I am also pleased to note that it also marks a new strategic collaboration between Welsh Government and Kimberly-Clark that is not only creating direct jobs but also supporting employment through the supply chain.”

The new production line is accommodated in a 2,642 sq. mt. extension and provides the additional capacity needed to support entry into new markets as well as meeting the high growth anticipated in emerging markets.

Significant growth is projected in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region over the next five years while existing, developed markets in Europe are expected to grow at a rate of nearly 5% up to 2020.

Graham Tongue, Kimberly-Clark Site Manager, Flint Mill said:

“We are delighted that our new Huggies wet wipes facility has given us the opportunity to attract new talent to Flint, complementing our existing highly-skilled and experienced team. I am confident that by working in partnership we will deliver world class results”

The 96 acre Flint site is home to two Kimberly-Clark production facilities employing 209 staff.

Flint Mill is part of the K-C Consumer Business and following a £40m investment in 2003 now exclusively manufacturers Huggies baby wipes.

Coleshill Mill, part of Kimberly-Clark Professional Business, was constructed in 1991 and manufactures folded and rolled bathroom tissue and wiper products for professional customers.