Södra's sawmill in Värö is the first in the industry to adopt a new, enhanced scanning solution that enables strength grading of timber with even greater precision. This investment allows Södra to make better use of each tree and strengthen its competitiveness in the market.

The new technology, Goldeneye Transverse SE from MiCROTEC, offers four-sided scanning at record speeds of up to 240 boards per minute and performs strength grading in accordance with EN 14081. The system includes MiCROTEC's patented Reduced Shadow Chain Conveyor, which minimizes shadowed areas in the image data. Södra is the first to use this solution for certified strength grading.

This investment is part of Södra's long-term commitment to innovation, digitalization and sustainable development in the wood industry.

"This investment is at the absolute forefront of scanning equipment for sawn and planed wood products. It will increase our efficiency with improved quality assurance, enabling us to produce competitive products for the market," says Kerstin Jonasson, Sawmill Manager at Södra Wood Värö.

AI-powered scanning improves sorting and reduces waste in production

Goldeneye Transverse SE is known for its precision and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for Södra. With this technology, Södra can accurately scan and analyze more product characteristics using an AI solution. The pith detection function enables classification according to ALS/NGR standards without the need for additional equipment such as end cut or end camera.

AI is also used to reconstruct parts of board images that are obscured by conveyor chains using an inpainting function. Combined with Microtec's Reduced Shadow Chain Conveyor, this enables gap-free scanning without the need for extra hardware. By combining advanced image analysis with AI technology, Södra strengthens its ability to use raw materials more resource-efficiently - with less waste and higher quality in the final product.

"The new technology offers major benefits for the work environment in terms of dust and noise, as we can eliminate an additional end cut in the sorting line. We look forward to a long-term value-creating partnership with Microtec. Goldeneye Transverse will give us better quality outcomes and more quality-assured sorting," concludes Kerstin Jonasson.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with L.O.A.B and installation is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2025.