DS Smith Proposes PM4 Closure and £20m PM6 Investment at Kemsley
DS Smith has proposed closing Paper Machine 4 (PM4) at its Kemsley Paper Mill in Kent, UK, alongside a proposed investment of around £20 million in Paper Machine 6 (PM6).
The packaging and paper company said the proposals reflect changing market conditions across the paper and packaging industry and are aimed at strengthening the mill’s long-term competitiveness.
The proposed closure of PM4 would result in changes to the site’s workforce. DS Smith said it is proposing to align its workforce structure with future operational requirements, with the changes subject to formal consultation with employees and trade union representatives.
At the same time, the proposed £20 million investment would modernise and expand PM6, allowing the machine to produce new paper grades at higher volumes.
Consultations are currently underway covering the proposed PM4 closure, the PM6 investment, the implementation timeline and potential support measures for affected employees. DS Smith has not yet disclosed the specific number of jobs that could be affected.
Rogier Gerritsen, Managing Director, Paper, at DS Smith, said the investment proposal is intended to ensure Kemsley delivers the products customers need while remaining cost competitive.
He added that the company recognises the impact the proposals could have on employees and that its immediate priority is to support affected colleagues through the formal consultation process.
Located in Sittingbourne, Kent, Kemsley Mill was originally built in 1924 by Frank Lloyd to produce newsprint. The mill currently has an annual production capacity of around 830,000 tonnes, making it one of Europe’s largest recovered fibre-based paper operations.
According to DS Smith, PM4 currently produces around 250,000 tonnes per year, with a grammage range of 125–210 gsm. PM6 produces approximately 290,000 tonnes annually, covering grammages from 85–130 gsm, while PM3 has an annual capacity of around 290,000 tonnes, with a grammage range of 115–280 gsm.
The latest proposal follows DS Smith’s £48 million investment in a new fibre preparation line at Kemsley, announced two years ago, as part of efforts to improve the mill’s efficiency and capabilities.
The proposed PM4 closure and PM6 investment remain subject to consultation and further discussions with employee representatives.
