Profitability gain expectations for computed tomography of sawn logs

Abstract

As the wood sawing industry in Central Europe is highly competitive, sawmills constantly try to increase their efficiency in the production process. The computed tomography (CT) technology is a promising way to increase the economic outcome of the sawing process. Nevertheless, the number of successful industry applications is still rare. In this study, the potential advantages of a roundwood scanning CT in a sawmill which uses bandsaw technology are analysed. A discrete event simulation model covering most of the sawmill's activities was developed and six output-altering CT-factors were implemented to identify the effects of the CT on sawing strategies. The CT-factors are applied to all assortments and affect the output of the sawing process. Since the CT scanner presumably affects the selection of logs for the sawing process, each CT-factor scenario was applied to different log selection strategies. By testing several scenarios, the prospective economic impact of a CT scanner could be revealed and an investment appraisal was conducted. Under different assumptions, an internal rate of return of 5% up to 42% was calculated.

Computed Tomography as a Tool for Quantification and Classification of Roundwood—Case Study

“…This paper also demonstrates the need for a different approach to the detection and classification of hardwood defects. The issue of economic efficiency of the introduction of CT scanning was addressed by Pernkopf et al, specifically developed a simulation model to calculate the return on investment in CT scanning technology in the environment of a woodworking company [41]. Authors Gazo et al and Cao et al, developed a method for detecting logs from real-time CT scans.…”

Virtual sawing using generative adversarial networks

“…However, even if a system is not fully autonomous, the results can be used as a recommendation by the sawmill employees in order to define the most beneficial sawing pattern. The systems for optimization of sawing patterns are widely employed in the mill environment and proven to have considerable evidence in profitability gain [24,25].…”

Wood Products Manufacturing Optimization: A Survey

“…T HE forest industry plays a substantial role in the economic and social development of many countries, both at national and regional levels [1]. This industry provides a large set of base products for supporting the downstream value chain of different businesses such as pulp and paper, furniture, and construction [2], [3]. Wood products such as lumbers and plywood, and wood by-products and residues such as wood chips and sawdust, are among major products of forest industry accounting for a large portion of total exports of countries around the world, such as Argentina [4], [5], [6], Chile [7], [8], [9], Sweden [10], [11] [12], Canada [13], [14], [15], the United States [16], [17], [18], [19], and New Zealand [20], [21].…”

“…In general, the manufacturing process includes log sorting, sawing procedure, production schedule, as well as lumber drying, grading, and storing [2]. Figure 2 shows the participating sectors contributing to the wood-flow in the forest industry, beginning at the harvest area in forests, while transferring to the sawmill through a forwarder company at the first transportation phase.…”