Hygiene and health company Essity, has reaffirmed its commitment to Latin America with the inauguration of a new automated distribution center in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia. Equivalent to an 18-story building, it is Latin America’s tallest automated self-supporting warehouse. The facility improves operational efficiency and sustainability while handling 45% of Essity’s sales in Colombia and accelerating the dispatch processes by 33%.

The distribution center integrates advanced automation technology, including state-of-the-art stacker cranes and an intelligent Warehouse Management System (WMS). Thanks to a more efficient electricity utilization, the new warehouse avoids the emission of 97 tons of CO2 per year. It corresponds to about 56% reduction compared to the previous building.

During construction, the project generated over 900 jobs, with 300 employees eventually joining the Rionegro team. The distribution center will serve 1470 delivery points across Colombia and support exports to 25 countries.

“This investment strengthens our capabilities and reinforces our presence in Colombia, enabling us to fulfil our service promise to customers while expanding our reach,” says Diego Loaiza, general manager for the Andean and Caribbean Region at Essity.

In August 2021, Essity acquired 95.8% of Grupo Familia and to conclude a 40-year joint venture, the company has now re-branded Grupo Familia to Essity. The company continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation, sustainability and economic development in Colombia, providing world-class hygiene and health solutions. With over$530 million in net sales in 2024, Colombia is Essity’s second largest market in Latin America.