The investments are intended to streamline the upgrading of technology and renewable energy solutions. These include the acquisition of two top-of-the-range fluting machines for our packaging facilities in Oporto and Leiria packaging facilities, and we have upgraded a corrugator unit for optimal performance at our packaging facility in Lisbon with the installation of a 2,800mm (approximately 9.19 ft) wide Dry End. We have also invested in a large processing machine that is specifically intended for the heavy-duty marketplace and for corrugated cardboard solutions that are robust enough to transport heavy, large, or bulky products for industrial and agricultural sectors. DS Smith customers in the e-commerce sector are benefitting from the upgrading of machinery to produce padded paper envelopes, and designers have innovated a sustainable fibre-based alternative solution to plastic-based bubble-wrap.

This significant upgrade represents a key transition for the PM11 paper machine, which will now produce high-quality packaging board from 100% recycled wastepaper. The conversion process involved transforming the stock preparation system from a deinked pulp line to an old corrugated containers (OCC) line. Heinzelpaper Laakirchen chose a combination of the ANDRITZ FibreFlow drum Prime (FFD) for pulping and ANDRITZ ADuro shredders for reject treatment. This innovative setup ensures superior fiber quality for the company´s high-end products while optimizing resource usage and reducing waste. Thomas Welt, CEO of Heinzelpaper Laakirchen, commented: “The successful start-up of the new recycled fiber line marks an important milestone. ANDRITZ's advanced technology and expertise have played a key role in meeting our sustainability and efficiency targets.”

First Quarter Operating Highlights: Consolidated net sales of $799 million in the first quarter of 2018 increased by $33 million, or 4 percent compared to $766 million for the 2017 first quarter. The increase in net sales is primarily due to higher prices, partially offset by lower sales volume. The Company sold 662,000 tons of paper during the first quarter of 2018 compared to 699,000 tons a year earlier. Net income of $33 million for the 2018 first quarter increased by $27 million, or 446 percent, compared to the 2017 first quarter. The higher earnings primarily reflects: •Higher selling prices and a better product mix of $48 million, •Favorable productivity of $10 million mainly due to higher mill production, •Lower recycled fiber costs of $6 million. Click Read More below for additional information.