Koskisen has launched a new sawmill that is being built around the large-log SL250 model by HewSaw, which includes three machines: a chipper canter, cant saw and rip saw.
According to Koskisen, the sawing line is 85.6m long in total, and will feature functions that boost productivity, such as Prologic’s sorting and optimisation scanners, log spacing control, a log rotator, curve sawing, optimised edging, high-speed feed, scan and set technology and fast setting changes.
To ensure durability, the frames of the chipper canter were made of a particular kind of steel, whereas previously the steel used in aircraft landing gear was used.
The new sawmill’s production target of 400,000m3 was calculated based on two shifts a day for a five-day period. Tommi Sneck, director of Koskisen’s sawn timber industry, said there is room for growth in volumes before the line’s full capacity is reached.
“The sawing line comes with the DX option, which makes it possible to ramp up the line’s speed and use thinner kerf saws. Thinner kerf saws result in either a higher yield or a longer interval between blade changes. In Koskisen’s case, this would mean a production increase of as much as 200,000m3. More efficiency can also be achieved by adding circular saw blades to both the cant saw and the rip saw.”
The line’s maximum speed is 180m/min, but with DX sawing, the speed could even reach 230m/min. Faster speeds are not the goal at least for the time being, since Koskisen’s line is meant for sawing larger logs.
From a sales standpoint, the line’s scan and set technology, combined with optimised production planning, will open up new possibilities.
Log optimisation means more products can be directed to processing and, for example, the constant headache sawmills face with regard to side boards will be eased.
“Previously, side boards could not be fully optimised and 3m logs could not be sawn. These limitations have now been eliminated, and particularly in our main market of Japan, where 3m-long products are in demand, customers will have more options,” elaborated Sneck.
For customers, the new sawmill will mean not only new products, but also better quality.
“The products’ dimensional accuracy and technical quality will improve. For example, straightness will improve, as we will switch to using 11 drying sticks in the drying loads. As production volumes grow and errors decrease, deliveries will become more reliable,” concluded Sneck.
