SOUTH CAROLINA (From news reports) -- A company with a large manufacturing operation in Aiken County completed a major land purchase in the last quarter of 2023.

The Kimberly-Clark Corporation acquired approximately 95 undeveloped acres at 303 Old Ferry Road for $5.5 million.

The property is adjacent to Kimberly-Clark's Beech Island facility, which began production in 1968, three years after the company revealed its plan to purchase an industrial site in Aiken.

"We look forward to the opportunities this provides for our operations," a spokesperson for Kimberly-Clark wrote in an email. "At this time, no final plans for the property have been developed."

Founded in 1872 in Wisconsin and now headquartered in Texas, Kimberly-Clark manufactures a variety of personal care products, including Kleenex tissues, Cottonelle toilet paper and Huggies disposable diapers and baby wipes.

Nearly 2,000 people work at the Kimberly-Clark facility in Aiken County. In addition to employees, they include third-party vendors, according to the Kimberly-Clark spokesperson.

Will Williams, president and CEO of the Western SC Economic Development Partnership, said Kimberly-Clark is the second-largest private sector manufacturer operating in Aiken County based on the number of employees.

No. 1 is Bridgestone Americas, which has more than 2,000 people working at its two tire plants, according to Williams.

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