A New Era for Ovens – Less Waste, More Consistent Quality, Greater Results

It's about the usage relationship and quality

A key advantage of the Finnos wholesale scanner is Improvement in usage ratio. Another equally important advantage is the log measured by X-ray scanning internal quality. With a scanner, the sawmill knows exactly which raw material to use for which final product, and what quality to deliver to the customer at any given time.
 
There is demand for all quality classes and final products, but with the data generated by the scanner, good raw material is not wasted on wrong final products or for purposes where lesser quality is sufficient for the end customer.

Why is Finnok's scanner better compared to old scanners?

The comparison takes into account the saw's starting situation compared to the old scanner. Sometimes, saws may even still be in a situation where no scanners are in use at all. 
 
In the Nordic countries, payment to the seller of timber is based on receiving measurements. For this reason alone, the implementation of a modern and precise log scanner improves a sawmill's profitability, as the scan results in the sawmill paying for exactly the correct amount of timber received.
 
Log sorting has traditionally been done by diameter from the outside of the bark. The Finoc scanner utilizes X-rays, allowing for precise measurement of the under-bark diameter from a debarked log, eliminating the need for traditional bark tables. 
 
– Example 1: When the log diameter is 100 mm, all logs with a smaller diameter will result in outer so-called side boards that are too waney for a setting intended for a 100 mm log. As a result, excessive waneyness is trimmed in board sorting, leading to waste. 
 
– Example 2: If the diameter is too large for the setting, for example 102 mm, all the planks can still be obtained from the log according to the desired setting, but the extra two millimeters are wasted as sawdust. The extra wood is chipped and goes into sawdust during the sawing process. This again wastes raw material.
 
The significance of the scanning accuracy and dispersion of a log scanner is highlighted precisely in these stages. If the scanner is inaccurate and the dispersion is greater, the amount of waste increases with volume.
 
So far, we have only discussed volumes and the resulting improvement in utilization ratio. Another, at least equally significant factor in modern X-ray log scanners is the internal quality of the log. This means that sorting is done based on precise under-bark diameter and shape defects, as well as internal quality. Log properties influencing quality include, among others, knots, their number, size, and type, density, growth ring thickness, etc. Finnos's scanner measures a total of over 120 different wood properties, which sawmills use for sorting according to their needs. As a result, the sawmill can utilize raw material of precisely the right quality for a specific end product, such as clearwood grades, etc.

How quickly will the new investment pay for itself? 

Finnos thoroughly examines the superiority of scanners by comparing old scanners and the results after installing new scanners. 
 
The sawmill’s efficiency is measured by the utilization rate, which reflects how effectively the sawmill converts raw material into finished products. The payback period is calculated based on improvements in the utilization rate—that is, on how much more finished product is produced. An increase in the sawmill’s production volume from 2 to 3 tons per hour translates to significant financial gains. The payback also depends on the accuracy of the receiving measurement. The sawmill pays neither too much nor too little to the forest owner. 
 
Typically, less than 50 % of finished product—that is, sawn timber—is obtained from a cubic meter of logs. For illustrative purposes, let’s use a simplified utilization rate of 50%, or 2 in Finnish terms. If this is improved by 2 %, it means a new utilization ratio of 50% x 1.02 = 51%, or 1.96 in Finnish terms. This translates to thousands more cubic meters of sawn timber per year based on the sawmill’s production volume. Thus, the payback can be calculated, for example, based on the price per cubic meter. In terms of volume alone, the scanner easily yields an improvement of 2 %, and it is possible to reach closer to 5 % through quality factors.
 
With Finnos’s new scanners, the typical improvement in utilization is 2–5 %. In some cases, the improvement has been as high as 10 %, but in those instances, the starting point was low. Depending on the sawmill’s volume, the investment has paid for itself in as little as a few months. 

Finnos ensures that the saw's utilization rate improves

Finnos has consistently delivered on its promise of improved operational performance. Finnos’ track record in this regard is 100% %.
 
In Finland, more than 70% of all sawmill logs are currently scanned using Finnos X-ray scanners. Sawmills are purchasing new scanners for their facilities because all customers have seen tangible improvements in operational efficiency. 
 
According to Finnos, the proven functioning scanner and the very essential 24/7 service related to it are the most important reasons for the high customer satisfaction.