It is worthwhile analysing the processes of the sawmilling industry all the way from the end users and customer’s customers down to forest.
In this regard, a large development has happened in terms of the flow of information.
Technological development
A sawmill’s ability to serve their customers with the correct product specification has improved through better control of the process, right from the start with logging guidelines. This way sawmills will have a better access to correct logs that are suitable for the customers needs at the right time.
The development of measuring technology has helped improve the raw material yields and labour productivity.
Latest development
When measuring the logs, it is becoming more common to use x-ray measuring equipment and the quality sorting of sawn timber mainly happens automatically, with the use of developing camera technology.
The sawing process itself, as well as the kilning and the handling afterwards, have all developed step by step. With new investments into equipment and machinery, the outcome is usually a rise in productivity for both in the raw material use as well as labour. Additionally, the development in technology has improved sawmills’ capabilities to improve the quality throughout the production process.
For example, wrapping a pack of sawn timber has been a manual process. However, there is a robotic option available for this job.
Growing productivity will come from improving individual series of operations through automation.
Future innovations
The innovations of sawn timber’s basic processes have contributed to the industry’s productivity, quality assurance capability, safety and the flow of information. Large revolutionary changes have not happened, but rather the continuous improvement of technology.
Future innovations will be related to improving the features of sawn timber by adding value. Timber’s properties, in particular the resistance to decay and fire protection are being developed and improved.
Development of IT applications means there will be an improvement in internal flow of information as well as fulfilling customers’ information needs.
In long-term customer relations IT will automate information flow and logistics. Customer’s sales forecasts and stock needs will drive the future logging instructions. If necessary, customer specific logs can be tracked during different stages of the process.
Similarly, if forest owners want, then they can track the timber produced from their logs to whatever corner of the globe the product is being used in. The need for IT solutions will increase in the future.
Logistical services are an essential part of the sawmilling industry’s activity. The significance of logistics in the future will also be high, with changing customer structures, the sawmilling industry is delivering considerable volumes of sawn timber straight to customer’s factories. With those scenarios there will be less flexibility for deliveries, or conversely more accuracy is needed compared with today’s way of operating. The significance of stock holding importers has decreased.
Finnish sawmill technology industry
Finnish sawmill technology has from the 1800’s been at the forefront of the industry and driving it forward.
The Finnish sawmill industry’s success is based on for the most part local, world class technology and automation.
Technology has had a large significance on the whole industry, developing and maintaining a competitive edge internationally.
At the start of the 2000’s, improvements in production yield were highlighted because of expensive raw material and the relatively falling price of the by-products. The importance of automation, measuring and production steering systems is still growing.
Production line solutions even from the late 1970’s have been kept in good working condition and useable by adding new controls and optimisation technology.
Providers of sawmill technology have had a significant position for sawmill’s product development as well as with new technological solutions, as these are usually made possible with newly developed product technologies.
Finnish sawmill technology is also a successful export product.
