Sanitex teams up with ANDRITZ to install baby diaper and sanitary napkin lines in DRC
Start-up of the new equipment is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.
DRC – Sanitex, a Kinshasa-based manufacturer of hygiene products, will install two baby diaper production lines and one sanitary napkin line at its Maluku facility in Kinshasa.
The new lines from Andritz, an international technology group, are expected to expand Sanitex’s manufacturing capacity and improve its ability to supply the domestic market with locally made, high-quality absorbent hygiene products.
They will produce a broad range of baby diapers and sanitary napkins featuring absorbent cores made from pulp and superabsorbent polymer (SAP).
The supply package includes advanced forming technology for the absorbent core, precise SAP dosing systems, advanced web tension control, and quality inspection systems designed to support high productivity, operational flexibility, and consistent product quality. Andritz will also provide fully automatic integrated packaging machines, along with installation and commissioning services.
Thierry Lasoen, Managing Partner of Sanitex, stated, “This investment is a major step in expanding reliable local production of modern absorbent hygiene products in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With ANDRITZ’s proven technology and support, we will significantly increase our production capacity and ensure consistent product quality.”
He added, “As part of our growth strategy, we will continue to strengthen our production capacity with additional investments in new production lines from ANDRITZ.”
Lasoen also said Sanitex plans to continue strengthening production capacity through additional investments in new Andritz production lines.
The launch comes at a time when the market for baby diapers and sanitary napkins in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expanding rapidly, driven by rising urbanization, population growth, and increasing demand for locally produced hygiene products.
Meanwhile, ANDRITZ recently got awarded a new order to supply an additional production line for flushable wipes to Dalian Ruiguang Nonwoven Group in China, reinforcing the company’s footprint in the country’s sustainable hygiene‑product sector.
Under the agreement, ANDRITZ will deliver a Wetlace™ line dedicated to manufacturing premium‑grade roll goods for eco‑friendly, flushable wipes that comply with the latest flushability standards.
The project is booked into ANDRITZ’s order intake for the second quarter of 2026, with start‑up slated for the end of the year, underscoring the fast‑tracking of capacity upgrades at Dalian Ruiguang’s facilities.
The new Wetlace™ line will allow Dalian Ruiguang to expand its total annual wipes production capacity to 40,000 metric tons, marking a significant step‑up in scale.
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