DS Smith has unveiled a £48 million investment in a new fibre preparation line (F-line) at the firm’s Kemsley paper mill.
Kemsley is the largest mill for recycled papers in the UK, and the second largest in Europe. It produces 830,000T of paper every year, all made from 100% recycled fibre.
DS Smith explained the new line will supply recycled fibre to PM3, a versatile paper machine capable of producing white top test liner, plasterboard liner and other corrugated case materials (CCM) grades.
A drum pulping and screening system that DS Smith said more efficiently separates contaminants from fibre such as plastics, barriers and coatings will also be installed.
The upgrades support the company’s refreshed Now & Next sustainability strategy by offering environmental benefits to Kemsley’s operations. The system is designed to maximise the use of materials in the recycling process in addition to reducing water usage and energy consumption.
Niels Flierman, head of paper & recycling at DS Smith, said, “Kemsley paper mill is an important part of our business and of the UK’s recycling capacity, recycling up to one million tonnes of paper and card every year. The installation of the new fibre preparation line will ensure that we can continue to make high performing papers more efficiently while delivering on our medium and long-term sustainability goals.”
DS Smith revealed it aims to send zero waste to landfill by 2030 and, through implementation of the stock preparation system, will ‘maximise’ the materials that arrive at Kemsley by improving the fibre-yield per tonne and therefore reducing waste to landfill
Commissioning of the new stock preparation plant is due early in 2026.
