Fourstones commissions PM6 at Sapphire Mill, boosting UK tissue capacity with virgin and recycled grades
Fourstones Paper Mill has successfully started up its new tissue paper machine, PM6, at the Sapphire Paper Mill site in Leslie, Scotland. The new PM6, which began production in March 2025, features advanced technology including a Crescent Former, a fabricated steel Yankee cylinder, and a high-temperature drying hood. With a trimmed width of 2.75 metres and a design speed of 1,700 m/min, the machine is engineered to deliver both high productivity and consistent quality.
Following the initial success of PM6, Fourstones decided to integrate the new unit with existing stock preparation systems to enable production of recycled tissue grades. The first recycled reels were produced in August 2025, confirming the machine’s flexibility to switch rapidly between virgin and recycled fibres in response to market demand.
This major investment increases Sapphire Paper Mill’s annual capacity to over 60,000 tonnes, covering both virgin and recycled toilet tissue and towel grades for consumer and away-from-home applications. In line with its sustainability strategy, Fourstones manufactures exclusively FSC®-certified products, including FSC Recycled 100% grades, thereby promoting responsible forest management and ethical supply chains.
Peter Duxbury, Owner and Managing Director, commented: “The new paper machine marks a step change in the company’s production capability and opens up a new sector of the market for us. The products we are producing are of very high quality and are being well received in the market.”
Representing the largest investment in the company’s history, the project directed more than 70% of its expenditure into the local economy. The installation of PM6 has created over 25 full-time jobs and will continue to contribute to regional economic growth.
This investment reaffirms Fourstones’ long-term commitment to sustainable development and to supporting UK tissue converters with reliable, high-quality domestic supply.
