1. ES138 - Engineering Concepts, Section 02
Instructor: Irvine G. Reinig II
Engineering Achievement Assignment
Prepared By: Kevin Bartosiewicz
Date Due: 10/6/2011
Kleenex
1. Introduction
When one reflects on significant engineering achievements, the first thought may be of the
telephone, or the internal combustion engine, or perhaps the construction of the first skyscraper;
things that we see or use everyday. But what about something that is much simpler, smaller in
scale, and perhaps taken for granted? Clearly it could still be labeled as significant.
Consider the number of times you’ve used a facial tissue in your life. In your home, at your job,
or maybe from the pocket packet that you keep with you while battling a cold, Kleenex tissues
are convenient to keep on hand and are used on a regular basis throughout the world. However,
before the 1920’s, this simple, easily-disposable facial tissue had yet to come to fruition.
Launched in 1924 by Kimberly-Clark, the Kleenex tissue was initially intended for use mainly
by women in order to remove cosmetic products. The facial tissue was to eliminate the need to
use a bathroom towel when removing cold cream. For this reason, the first Kleenex ad was
placed in Ladies Home Journal. It was marketed as a beauty secret used by Hollywood stars.
Eventually, it would become clear that there were a variety of uses for the product.
2. Benefit to Society
After the initial flood of advertisements targeting female buyers, the Kleenex started to be used
by many consumers as a disposable handkerchief. As Kimberly-Clark became aware of this
trend, it shifted it’s marketing efforts to reflect the tissue’s use for blowing one’s nose. This
greatly increased sales, as their product was no longer intended for just ladies, but for women,
men, and children alike. The benefit was obvious; a small, disposable soft tissue that could be
used to blow your nose, as opposed to carrying around a handkerchief. The used Kleenex can be
thrown away immediately, whereas a handkerchief becomes germ-filled after use, and remains
that way until it has been properly washed.
3. Design Problems
The Kleenex was actually born out of filling a need to eliminate unused production materials.
This necessity was the mother of invention. Before arriving at the ever-popular soft tissue, paper
manufacturer Kimberly-Clark developed the Kotex feminine hygiene product. However, it was
not well-received in the marketplace at the time. The challenge for the company was to find a
way to use its abundant supply of creped wadding. The use of different pulps and changes in the
ingredient blends helped form a softer crepe. This initially led to the idea of the facial tissue.

2. Another challenge was creating a convenient form factor. From the late 1920’s through the early
1930’s, a variety of packages were developed. This included the common the perforated-top
cartons, color and printed tissues, and the pocket packet of Kleenex tissues. These options
quickly outshined the bulkier bathroom towels, for cold cream removal, and the handkerchief,
for blowing your nose.
4. Engineering Branches
There are a variety of engineering disciplines involved in the creation of a product, and even
something as simple as the Kleenex is no exception. In general, Mechanical Engineers are
needed to design manufacturing processes to make production easier and more efficient. Civil
Engineers plan, design, and oversee the construction of the very buildings that a product is being
manufactured in. Additionally, since Kimberly-Clark already had plentiful supplies originally
intended for its Kotex product, chemical engineers were needed to formulate a cleansing tissue
that was soft to the touch. A modified mixing formula for the ingredients and the use of other
fibers transformed the creped wadding into the Kleenex we use today.
From this, it is easy to see that the success of the Kleenex would not have been possible through
one branch of engineers. The clever use of a surplus of materials, a cohesive group of engineers
spanning many disciplines, and proper marketing has helped the Kleenex reach consumers in
over 150 countries worldwide. A technological marvel? Perhaps not. Significant? Without a
doubt.