Sawmill Scanner Design & Installation
The scope
A Bay of Plenty sawmill relied on a wood-processing scanner to identify defects in its timber and determine where cuts should be made to remove imperfect sections. The scanner played a critical role in maintaining product quality and ensuring accurate, efficient processing.
However, the existing scanning system was no longer delivering the accuracy and reliability the sawmill required. The client engaged Hutec to develop an improved solution that could better meet the demands of their production environment.
Our Solution
Hutec worked closely with the client to replace the existing scanning system with a new Biolouma scanner, designing the installation around the sawmill’s existing infrastructure and foundations. A Hutec designer spent several months on site developing the solution, 3D modelling the complete processing line and identifying the equipment modifications required to integrate the new scanner with the existing plant.
With a shutdown window of just four days, detailed planning and preparation were critical. Hutec condensed more than 1,000 hours of installation work into the four-day shutdown, pre-manufacturing and modifying dozens of components including shafts, rolls, tensioning equipment, sprockets, chutes and a complete end-docking saw assembly.
The scope included the manufacture of shafts, rolls, tensioning equipment, sprockets and chutes, as well as a complete end-docking saw assembly. Hutec managed the project end-to-end, providing the design, engineering, fabrication, resourcing and installation required to deliver the complete solution.
Despite the extremely tight timeframe, all modifications and installation works were completed within the four-day shutdown, avoiding a significant delay to the client’s production schedule.
The new scanner now processes up to 1,000 cubic metres of timber per day, helping the sawmill identify defects accurately and maintain consistent product quality.
