Essity buys out Playtex brand for $340M, adds Dover plant to network

DOVER – Global hygiene and health company Essity acquired Edgewell Personal Care’s feminine care business, including the Dover plant and its more than 450 employees, in a $340 million deal.

The Dover plant traces its roots back to the late 1930s when the International Latex Corporation first opened its Dover manufacturing facility in 1939. Over the years, ILC split into several divisions, including Dover’s Playtex in 1940, as well as ILC Dover in Frederica which is known for its aerospace suits and other products. Playtex evolved from industrial latex products to brands that include feminine-care products such as Carefree, producing items such as tampons, pads and liners.

The Playtex facility in Dover was bought out by Edgewell Personal Care in 2007 which continued to manufacture the Car