Sofidel completes delivery of new Yankee Dryer at its Circleville plant
Installation of the equipment on the plant's third paper machine should increase the mill's production capacity to more than 200,000 tons per year
Sofidel has completed the delivery of a new Yankee Dryer at its Circleville plant in the United States on March 2, 2025. The dryer will be installed on the facility’s third paper machine, which is scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter of 2025, further consolidating the plant as a strategic production center for the group.
Considered one of the main components of the tissue paper manufacturing process, the new Yankee Dryer weighs approximately 160.5 tons and is 18.5 feet in diameter by 22 feet wide. The equipment was produced in Europe and transported by sea to the United States. The voyage began on December 12, 2024, with delivery to the port of New Orleans on January 14, 2025, after about a month of travel.
From New Orleans, the dryer was transported by river, via the Mississippi and Ohio, until it reached Portsmouth, Ohio, on February 22, 2025. Ground transportation began on February 27, with the equipment being escorted to Circleville, where it arrived on March 2, 2025, due to unforeseen technical problems during the final leg. To ensure the success of the operation, the route was meticulously planned, respecting the weight limitations of the roads and traveling between 40 and 60 miles a day.
The installation of the new paper machine, with a production capacity of 70,000 tons per year, will significantly increase the production capacity of the Circleville mill, which, when it reaches a total annual production of over 200,000 tons, will become Sofidel Group’s most important. The increase in capacity not only reinforces the company’s commitment to the quality and efficiency of its products but also strengthens its strategic position in the tissue paper market.
