Condition monitoring in wood processing
In one of the world’s oldest industrial sectors, safety, productivity, and maximum yield from raw materials are vital parameters. The use of timber in construction is increasing, and wood products are in high demand. Malfunctioning production equipment can directly affect throughput and the entire supply chain. Maintaining efficient operation is essential to keeping expensive and complex equipment running safely and with minimal disruption.
Increase safety and profitability with wood processing monitoring
With its exceptionally high production pace, process and quality improvements are the keys to higher profit in this industry. The production equipment in sawmills – with sharp blades, sawdust, and heat-generating machinery – creates a multi-hazard environment. Staying on top of maintenance needs to prevent unplanned downtime and personal injury is critical. Early warnings of machine problems help reduce the risk of breakdowns and increase plant and operator safety.
"Unplanned stops in the major drives in the process can take anything from one to several shifts to rectify, which results in major production loss, which is difficult to catch up on since more or less everything we produce are sold products. With the measurement system, we can maintain higher machine availability and better profitability.
The investment has already started to pay off as we have avoided replacing a large part of the production site in conjunction with a major breakdown. This was possible because extra control measurements could be performed via the measurement system. These measurements showed good values, giving us a decision basis to avoid unnecessary replacement of process parts."
Joakim Jonasson, Maintenance Manager Mechanics at Norra Timber
Reliable condition monitoring solutions for optimized wood processing
We offer patented technologies for condition monitoring of rotating machinery with proven exceptional pre-warning times. Our product range includes online systems, portable instrumentation, wireless solutions, and accessories specifically designed for detecting misalignment, gear and bearing problems, and balancing issues.
Vibration levels, temperature spikes, lubrication condition, and process-related signals, such as vibration relating to rotational speed rather than mechanical issues, are all efficiently monitored.
Data transfer possibilities enable integration into other systems and platforms.
Robust installations withstand dusty, hot, and humid environments. For use in potentially explosive atmospheres, ATEX-compliant equipment is also available.
Condition monitoring applications in wood processing
Targets are production-critical equipment and machines causing downtime if failing, such as:
Sawlines
Blowers
Debarkers
Trimmers
Edgers
Planers
Log reducers
Motors
Wood chippers
Fans
Portable instruments
Our range of handheld instrumentation includes equipment for shock pulse measurement, vibration severity measurement, and vibration spectrum analysis....
Intellinova Parallel EN
Intellinova Parallel EN is a powerhouse of functionality and performance, ideal for condition monitoring of industrial equipment with high availability demands....
Transducers and transmitters
Selecting the right transducer for your application is vital to measurement accuracy. We offer a wide range of high-quality transducers and transmitters....
Airius wireless vibration sensors
Optimal for remote condition monitoring of standard production equipment and remote or inaccessible machines, the wireless Airius sensors perform time-based vibratio...
Process optimization for wood chippers in wood processing
In wood processing operations, wood chippers are a crucial component of the production line, where consistent chip quality is essential for stable downstream processing and the efficient use of raw materials. Knife wear and damage can lead to uneven chip size, increased waste, and unplanned production stops.
Our knife wear monitoring solution provides insight into the condition of wood chipper knives. Through the Condmaster.NET dashboard, operators can analyze performance data and monitor knife condition over time, enabling them to make proactive knife replacement decisions based on actual wear. The graphs clearly indicate whether a knife is damaged, dull, detached, or missing from its holder.
With better control of knife condition, wood processing operations achieve more uniform chip size and thickness, reduced reject rates, and improved material utilization. This leads to higher production efficiency, increased throughput, and more predictable operation of the chipper line.
