Kemsley Paper Mill
Kemsley Mill was originally built by Edward Lloyd in 1924 to produce newsprint. At that time, its four paper machines were the largest in the world.
The mill has an annual production capacity of around 825,000 tonnes and is the second biggest recovered fibre-based paper operation in Europe. In 2008, DS Smith invested over £100m to purchase and rebuild PM6 to make lightweight corrugated case material (CCM). Kemsley Mill produces Light Medium, the first recycled lightweight paper manufactured in the UK.
Products
- White Liner A / White Liner A Plus
- White Liner B
- Light Liner
- Liner 3 highly sized
- Medium HP Plus
- Light Medium Plus
- Medium
- Dual Use
- Plasterboard liners
Machinery
PM3 Fourdrinier
Grammage range: | 115-280 g/m2 |
Production: | 280,000 tonnes/year |
Speed max: | 920 m/min |
Trim max: | 5.45 m |
PM4 Fourdrinier
Grammage range: | 115-220 g/m2 |
Production: | 240,000 tonnes/year |
Speed max: | 750 m/min |
Trim max: | 6.18 m |
PM6 Fourdrinier
Grammage range: | 85-125 g/m2 |
Production: | 280,000 tonnes/year |
Speed max: | 1,050 m/min |
Trim max: | 6.72 m |
Milestones
1924 |
Kemsley Mill was built by Edward Lloyd commencing production in 1924, originally to produce newsprint |
1936 |
Bowater’s acquired and expanded Kemsley Mill, increasing output on all machines |
1970s |
Kemsley had diversified into the production of corrugated case materials and fine papers. A pulp mill was added to produce semi-chemical fluting and PM3 was given a new multi-ply wet end with the ‘Manchester Former’ configuration to produce corrugated case liner |
1980s |
UK Paper completed a management buy-out and the site was split in two. The CCM operation was sold on to St Regis and the fine paper operation remained with UK Paper and then M-real |
1986 |
St Regis became part of DS Smith and, since then, its history has been one of constant investment and reshaping to turn it into the UK’s leading papermaker |
2008 |
DS Smith acquired the entire site and began a heavy programme of investment in new infrastructure, ensuring a long and commercially successful future for Kemsley Mill in the 21st century |
2012 |
Rebuild of PM3 to enable production of high quality White Liner |
Contact mill
DS Smith Paper Ltd
Kemsley Mill
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 2TD
Tel: +44 01795 518900