New generation sawing tools
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Luleå tekniska universitet - Avdelningen för Träteknik |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 675 500 |
| Project duration | November 2019 - May 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme Bioinnovation |
| Call | Key Enabling Technologies for Biobased Products - joint call Sweden-Finland |
Important results from the project
The project´s goal has been to develop a new generation of band saw tools that lead to reduced chip losses and increased production capacity in sawmills. Through the project´s work, it has been possible to make an exchange from 1.47 bands to 1.2 bands as standard bands in production. The changes lead to a reduction in chip losses of at least 18%. The project has also led to opportunities to move towards even thinner bands by the introduction of new production capacity for even thinner bands, by new routines for band maintenance and by the introduction of regular test sawings.
Expected long term effects
The result of the project was a way of working for the future that enables a gradual transition to thinner bands and thereby reduced chip losses. A new band material has been tested and production capacity for thin band has been established. A systematic work procedure has been introduced to be able to test saw with thin bands and then analyze the results. The maintenance routines have been refined and the staff has been trained. 1.2 bands instead of 1.47 bands have started to be used and the plan is to continue to reduce chip losses without negative other consequences for production.
Approach and implementation
The project includes a collaboration between a band manufacturer, a sawmill, a saw machine manufacturer and an academic research performer in order to produce thinner saw bands that provide reduced chip losses in sawmills. The project work has been divided into working with test sawings, with band manufacturing procedures, with measurements on sawn surfaces, with the stability of the sawing machine and with the maintenance routines. The work has led to a reduction in the band standard thickness and a work method that enables further reductions in the saw kerfs.