Early Kotex advert. View larger image.
Early days
Our origins go back to 1926 when we imported and sold Kotex® Napkins from the USA. In the 1930’s we progressed to local manufacture of feminine care products and began importing Kleenex® Facial tissues. In 1939 the company began packaging Kleenex Facial tissue at its mill in Surry Hills, Sydney.
As business grew, the company moved to larger premises at Lane Cove, Sydney and the name was changed to Kimberly-Clark Australia in June 1956. Kimberly-Clark New Zealand commenced operations in Auckland in July 1991.
The business relationship between Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KCC) and Australian Paper Manufacturers (Amcor Limited) began in 1958 and progressed to a partnership in Kimberly-Clark Australia in 1963. Today KCA is 100% owned by KCC.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Has manufacturing operations in 40 countries and the Company’s products are sold in more than 150 countries worldwide.
Established in 1872 in Wisconsin, USA, Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a leading global manufacturer of a wide range of Family Care, Personal Care, Professional, and Health Care products, made from natural and synthetic fibres for use in the home, business, and industry.
The company continues to operate on the four founding principles:
- Manufacture the best possible product.
- Serve customers well and deal fairly to gain their confidence and goodwill.
- Deal fairly with employees.
- Expand capacity ahead of demand for products.
Australian manufacturing
Millicent Mill is the site where in 1960 Kimberly-Clark started up its first creped wadding machine to produce facial tissue. Today the mill is the Company’s major producer of toilet tissue, facial tissue and paper towel products. Also located on this site is a thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP) operation.
Tantanoola Pulp Mill was commissioned in 1992 to produce bleached pulp from plantation radiata pine trees for tissue products, nappies, feminine care and adult care products. Oxygen based bleaching is used as a major environmental initiative.
Lonsdale Mill was commissioned in 1989 to produce nappies, feminine care, and adult care products.
Ingleburn Mill began operations in 1988 and has undergone continuous capacity expansion and technology upgrades as a result of our highly successful nappy products, particularly the Huggies® brand.
Warwick Farm Mill was a converting operation for a diverse range of products for the Professional, Family Care, and Health Care markets. This facility started up in 1971, and ceased operation in 2007.
Albury Nonwoven Mill was opened in 1987 and produces unique polypropylene based nonwoven fabrics for internal and external customers. The major volume of production is dedicated to facing materials for nappies, incontinence and feminine hygiene products. Heavy weight fabrics are also marketed for industrial wiping and health care sterilisation applications.