CIRCLEVILLE, OH – After a months-long journey spanning thousands of miles, a 321,000-pound Yankee Dryer has finally arrived at Sofidel’s Circleville Mill, marking a significant milestone for the company’s expansion.
The Yankee Dryer, a crucial component in tissue production, is set to be installed on a new Valmet paper machine—the third at the facility—which is scheduled to start operations in the third quarter of 2025. Once operational, the new machine will boost production capacity by 70,000 tons per year, making the Circleville plant the largest and most important in the Sofidel Group.
Journey from Sweden to Ohio
The Yankee Dryer was manufactured at Valmet’s facility in Karlstad, Sweden, before making its way across Europe to Bremen Ports, Germany. On December 12, 2024, it set sail for the United States, arriving at the Port of New Orleans on January 14, 2025.
Due to its massive size—18.5 feet in diameter and 22 feet wide—transporting the Yankee Dryer required careful logistical planning. After reaching New Orleans, it was loaded onto a barge and traveled up the Mississippi River, then the Ohio River, arriving in Portsmouth, Ohio, on February 22, 2025.
From Portsmouth, the dryer was carefully transported by road, moving 40-60 miles per day to comply with weight restrictions. The trip was scheduled to end on March 1, but technical difficulties delayed final delivery until Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Expanding Sofidel’s Circleville Operations
The addition of this new Yankee Dryer reinforces Sofidel’s commitment to high-quality tissue production and further enhances efficiency at the Circleville facility. Once the new machine is fully operational, the plant will reach a total production capacity of over 200,000 tons per year, securing its status as a key player in the global tissue market.
