2 Oct.  2023: Fourstones Paper Mill announced the installation of a new tissue paper machine at their Sapphire Paper Mill site in Leslie, Scotland.

According to the company, the paper machine was delivered to the mill in September and is equipped with a Crescent Former, a Fabricated Steel Yankee Cylinder and a High Temperature Drying Hood. The machine has a trimmed width of 2.75m and an operating speed of 1700m/min.

"This marks the largest single investment in the company's history, demonstrating our firm commitment to expanding the business and establishing a strong foundation for its future growth," said Peter Duxbury, Managing Director of Fourstones Paper Mill.

The civil and infrastructure works have now been completed, and the paper machine installation is set to begin in October, with commissioning scheduled for Q2 2024.

The company anticipates that the new machine will increase paper production capacity on the site to 60,000 tonnes annually. The machine will primarily produce virgin toilet tissue and towel grades for the consumer and away from home markets.

In line with their sustainability goals, Fourstones is actively working to secure a reliable and ethical source of pulp for their operations, ensuring responsible production.

This substantial investment will inject over £7 million into the local community during the installation phase, create 22 full-time jobs and will continue to contribute to local economic growth on completion.

This announcement highlights Fourstones Paper Mills' strong commitment to investing in the United Kingdom's paper industry, supporting local jobs, and ensuring that UK paper converters and end users have access to high-quality British paper.

Established in 1763, Fourstones Paper Mill is a privately owned UK based manufacturer of tissue paper and disposable paper hygiene products such as centrefeed (blue roll) and toilet rolls. Fourstones services multiple paper converting operations within the UK as well as operating its own paper converting operations.