Sofidel and E80 Group: thirty years of collaboration and a new project in the United States

A journey spanning three decades, built on continuous innovation and a shared, long-term vision. E80 Group, among the leading companies in the development of integrated and automated intralogistics solutions, and Sofidel, one of the leading global tissue paper manufacturers, are strengthening a partnership that began in the late 1990s and is now more strategic than ever, with a new investment in the United States.

Sofidel plant in Ohio

The collaboration between the two Italian companies began in 1997 with the introduction of E80 Group's first Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) at Sofidel's production facilities. Over the years, the partnership has grown stronger through the implementation of numerous intralogistics solutions across the Group’s manufacturing sites including palletizers, stretch wrappers systems, different LGVs, and automated warehouses. One of the most significant milestones along this journey is the Circleville plant in Ohio, inaugurated in 2018 and highly automated - from raw material handling to storage. This key project has contributed to the integration and digitalization of the Group’s logistics processes supporting its international expansion.
This shared vision is taking shape in a major new development: the 90,000-square-meter expansion of Sofidel’s Inola plant in Oklahoma. The project features the expansion of the existing production site with the construction of new facilities, to support the increase of the Group’s production capacity, thanks to the implementation of a fully integrated intralogistics ecosystem. The solution features a high-density automated warehouse with a capacity of up to 100,000 unit load positions, directly connected to production via LGVs, the installation of palletizing and wrapping systems, and a significant expansion of the laser-guided vehicle fleet to support higher volumes.

E80 Group Laser Guided Vehicle (LGV) at Sofidel's plant in Sweden

“This investment further strengthens our presence in the United States and confirms Sofidel’s commitment to continued growth through innovation, efficiency, and sustainability,” said Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel Group. “Our collaboration with E80 Group represents a well-established cornerstone of our international development journey.”

The expansion of the Inola site marks a further step forward in terms of operational efficiency, technology, and safety. The project represents the transition to fully automated operations, including automatic truck loading and reel handling to support both existing and newly installed converting lines. The site will also include the installation of a third paper machine, alongside the two already in operation: a Through-Air-Drying (TAD) system with a capacity of 75,000 tons per year for the production of premium-quality tissue paper, requiring highly advanced reels. At the heart of this ecosystem is SM.I.LE80, E80 Group’s proprietary software platform, which connects technologies, data and processes while coordinating flows and systems. 

E80 Group LGV in Jumbo Rolls Warehouse (Ohio)

“This partnership is the result of a long-term industrial journey built over time, based on a shared vision for the future,” said Enrico Grassi, President and Founder of E80 Group. “We have developed increasingly advanced solutions that have supported Sofidel’s growth, helping to define new horizons for intralogistics in the tissue sector. The new facility in the United States represents a further step in this direction: a technologically advanced operation designed to consistently deliver the required performance levels. Looking ahead, the challenge is to continue creating flexible and scalable solutions capable of adapting to ever-evolving production scenarios.”