Increased precision in the pulp industry with digital prognosis tools in the forest-to-mill value chain (DigiPulp)

Important results from the project

The project aimed to link forestry and pulp industry through tools to predict wood and fiber properties of pulp wood and sawmill chips. The models would be built into a demonstrator and tested. The project´s aim and objective have been partially fulfilled through increased integration between forestry and pulp industry through the dialogue and cooperation that the project facilitated and the demonstrator built within the project to make property forecasts. However, the models have not been able to be fully tested as the sharp mill tests proved more challenging than expected.

Expected long term effects

The project has led to increased collaboration between forestry, pulp industry and research as well as development of a digital tool according to application. Challenges have included no factory visits during the pandemic, staff turnover and sick leave, and greater than expected problems with data collection at industry. The factory trial was carried out but interpretation of results was made difficult by deviations from the trial plan during the trial. The conclusion is that wood and fiber properties of pulpwood can be predicted and that verification in operation should be deepened.

Approach and implementation

The project had access to all the skills needed for the implementation, however, the work was made difficult first by the pandemic when industrial visits were not possible during the start of the project and then by several key people either changing jobs or being on sick leave during the project period. This led to interruptions and rescheduling. The factory trials were carried out as planned, which was very valuable, but necessary re-prioritization in production during the trials made the results more difficult to interpret than expected.