DS Smith set to close Darwen paper mill
PACKAGING giant DS Smith has announced plans to close its St Regis Paper Company mill at Darwen in East Lancashire.
The Berkshire-based firm said that it had begun consultation with employees at the mill, where it currently employs more than 100 people.
Chief executive, Miles Robers, said the closure was part of the company’s strategy of “reducing our involvement in non-integrated paper manufacturing”.
“As previously announced, we plan to reduce our net capacity by 250,000 tonnes per annum. We are making progress on this objective and are announcing today the commencement of consultation regarding the proposal that we close a UK paper mill and make an investment in our Kemsley mill.”
He said the changes would reduce output by around 95,000 tonnes a year but would allow the firm to maintain the Kemsley Mill at Sittingbourne in Kent as “one of the most efficient production sites across Europe”.
DS Smith made the announcement as it announced a 10% increase in annual sales to £2.4bn and an 86% increase in pre-tax profits to £100.7m. It also said that it expects to achieve efficiency savings of around £3m a year from its UK operations.
