INOLA, Okla. (From news reports) -- Sofidel, a world leading producer of tissue for hygienic and household use, broke ground on a $775 million expansion of its plant at the Port of Inola.

Tulsa Regional Chamber said Sofidel will construct a new building to house the 75,000 tons-per-year Valmet Through-Air-Drying (TAD) tissue machine and install converting lines with matching capacity to produce finished goods.

The project also includes the expansion of the pulp and parent reel warehouse and the construction of a fully automated finished goods warehouse, developed using E80 technology, with 100,000 pallet positions.

Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel Group, spoke about what the expansion means to him.

"Today is really a great day for all of the people that are here, old friends that we are meeting here. It is a very important day. It solidifies our interest in education, our involvement in Oklahoma," said Lazzareschi.

The expansion will encompass around 1 million square feet and will bring its total footprint at the port to about 3 million square feet. The machine start-up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.

"We are really very dedicated to this factory, to the U.S. in general. I mean in the last 12 years, most of our investments have been dedicated to our U.S. expansion," said Lazzareschi.

Tulsa Regional Chamber said the new facility will also feature state-of-the-art internal logistics.

An automatic system using Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) will transports parent reels from the paper machine to the warehouse, and an automated loading system will be connected directly to the finished goods automated warehouse.

The choice of TAD technology addresses the growing demand in a dynamic North American market that is increasingly oriented, also in the Private Label segment, toward premium products, Tulsa Regional Chamber said.

"The Tulsa Regional Chamber applauds our fabulous Italian partner, Sofidel, for its ongoing commitment to economic development in northeast Oklahoma," said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber. "This $800 million expansion signals that Sofidel isn't satisfied with the status quo; it is intent on setting the standard for manufacturing excellence while enhancing the lives of hard-working Oklahomans. Congratulations to the Port of Inola for nurturing a business partnership that is built to last for generations."

The Port of Inola operation adds to Sofidel's recent major investments in the United States, including the acquisition of ST Paper in Duluth, Minnesota, the tissue division of Clearwater Paper Corporation in Lewiston, ID., Shelby, NC., Las Vegas, NV., and Elwood, IL., as well as the acquisition of four Royal Paper facilities, three being in Arizona and one in South Carolina.

Tulsa Regional Chamber said it also mirrors the recent expansion in Circleville, Ohio, where a new building was constructed to house a 70,000 tons per year Valmet DCT 200 tissue machine, which began operations in September 2025.

Today, Sofidel Group operates 14 production sites in 11 states, and maintains a corporate office in Horsham, PA.