Located in the heart of the Valley of Mexico , the Essity plant in Ecatepec has become a key part of the Swedish multinational’s global network. With 45 years of operation, this facility is not only the company’s second- largest personal care plant in the world, but also a benchmark in innovation, efficiency, and sustainability .
Each month, the plant produces around three million boxes of products , equivalent to 100,000 boxes of Saba feminine pads and TENA incontinence diapers per day.
From here, between 40 and 45 trucks depart daily for the company’s distribution centers in Mexico, guaranteeing supply to a market where 80% of its production is destined for Mexican consumers and the remainder for exports to Central America and the United States.
“It’s a dynamic, world-class operation, with hundreds of different SKUs (codes that identify a product) and a high level of complexity. Our commitment is to be efficient, predictable, and avoid disruptions in the supply chain to meet our customers’ needs on time,” said Ubaldo Hernández, Site Manager of the Ecatepec plant, in an interview with T21.
The Ecatepec plant is part of a logistics network that includes more than 10 distribution centers across the country , strategically located in regions such as Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tlaxcala, and Hidalgo. From there, the company serves customers in retail , wholesale, and healthcare institutions, maintaining high service and inventory standards.
To meet the challenges of growing demand, the company has implemented short, medium and long-term planning processes .
“We work with horizons of up to 18 months and five-year cycles. The key is to anticipate and have solid strategies to adjust capacity, resources, and relationships with suppliers,” explained Hernández.
He added that thanks to this discipline, the plant has sustained production growth of 6% to 7% annually over the past five years .
“The key is to anticipate with robust planning processes and a long-term strategy,” Hernández emphasized.
In this sense, managing an operation of this magnitude requires cutting-edge technology. In Ecatepec, the SAP ERP system is used to plan production and coordinate the supply of materials from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the United States, and Mexico.
With an 11.5-hectare site and more than 20 production lines , the Ecatepec plant not only meets current demand but is already preparing for growth in the coming years with new facilities and additional capacity.
“The global environment is increasingly changing, but we are convinced that, with innovation and planning, we will continue to maintain Essity’s leadership in Mexico and the region,” Hernández emphasized.
In terms of the environment, the plant has achieved significant milestones. Since 2021, it has operated under a zero-waste-to-landfill scheme , which involves recovering and recycling 70% of its waste and using residual biomass to cover up to 30% of its energy consumption .
These initiatives have helped reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of both the transportation of finished products and the receipt of raw materials.
Furthermore, with more than 800 employees , the plant is committed to developing talent as part of its strategy.
“Closeness to our customers and internal transparency are key to our success. We want to be strategic partners with those who trust us and grow hand in hand with them,” he emphasized.
In addition, operations at the Ecatepec facility are backed by international certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 13485 .
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