Customer Success Story: DS Smith Enhances Sustainability, Quality & Yield with Moisture Gate (IMG‑P)
How Moisture‑Sensing Portal Technology Improves Paper Quality, Supplier Transparency, and Yield at DS Smith
Customer Background
DS Smith is a leading British packaging and paper group, founded in the 1940s as a box-making business in East London. Today, it operates across more than 30 countries, employs approximately 30,000 people, and is celebrated as Europe’s largest cardboard and paper recycler. The company is deeply committed to a circular business model, emphasizing recycled content, sustainability, and innovation to eliminate waste.
At its mills in Rouen (France) and Dueñas (Spain)—both important hubs in DS Smith’s European network—separate innovations like Moisture Gates and NIR scanners have been deployed to ensure high-quality input materials and maintain the integrity of recycled paper in production.
“By improving measures of incoming Paper for Recycling our mills could see increased manufacturing yields. Not only this, but our transparent reporting system will provide clear communications to customers.”
- Nuno Messias, Paper for Recycling Purchasing Director, DS Smith Iberia
Challenge: Measuring Moisture in Waste Paper Bales
DS Smith faced persistent challenges in accurately measuring moisture content in Paper for Recycling (PfR) arriving at its mills. Traditional methods—including moisture plates and oven testing—only sampled small portions of a load, leading to inconsistent and unreliable readings. This was especially problematic given seasonal moisture fluctuations, which could cause up to a 6% variation in paper yield between summer and winter.
Furthermore, suppliers expressed frustration over unverifiable results and outdated measurement methods. DS Smith’s ambition to maintain transparency and fairness in supplier dealings made it clear that a better solution was required.
Solution: Industrial Moisture Gate (IMG‑P)
Implementation of the Moisture Gate, developed collaboratively with Dunakontroll, transformed DS Smith’s moisture measurement process:
Automated scanning: All PfR-carrying trucks pass through the portal at 3–5 km/h, scanning about 75% of the load within just 30 seconds.
Full-load assessment: The system calculates the average moisture content for the entire truck in under a minute—without manual interference.
Seamless logistics: Trucks are not delayed; readings are recorded instantly and sent to suppliers, enabling transparent performance tracking.
Benefits & Impact
01
Benefit
Details
02
Quality & Yield
Moisture Gates increased measurement accuracy and helped raise manufacturing yield by reducing material waste.
03
Supplier Transparency
Suppliers now receive reliable, verifiable moisture data via easy-to-read reports, fostering stronger trust and enabling fair pricing.
04
Operational Efficiency
System automation eliminates manual sampling, reduces delays, and integrates seamlessly into workflows.
05
No Training Needed
With no moving parts, drivers continue operations without additional training requirements.
06
Sustainability & Circular Strategy
Strong alignment with DS Smith’s circular model, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency.
Future Outlook
Based on proven success in France and Spain, DS Smith is now rolling out Moisture Gates across Europe to other key sites. This expansion further reinforces their leadership in sustainable and transparent packaging operations.
Why This Matters
This case study exemplifies how Dunakontroll’s IMG‑P technology helps industry leaders like DS Smith:
- Elevate input material quality and consistency
- Streamline operations while ensuring transparency
- Drive sustainability goals across the supply chain
Want to Learn More?
Discover how your facility can benefit from IMG‑P technology to improve raw material quality, supplier relationships, and operational excellence.
Contact Dunakontroll today to explore your tailored solution.
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Project Information
Completely synergize resource taxing relationships via premier.
Client Name
DS Smith
Category
Paper Mill
Start Time
Installation: 2021
Location
Spain, Portugal