24/7 production, which will only be halted for more extensive maintenance shutdowns. “Giving up manual production calls for completely new tech- nology throughout the production chain. What this means in practice is more measurements, a variety of cameras, robotics and artificial intelligence used in monitoring and controlling the production process as well as product quality. The goal is to au- tomatically remove any defective parts from the production line early in the process.” Material and energy efficiency are other important consider- ations. Thanks to new technology, use of the raw material will be increasingly efficient. Data collected at different points of the production chain will help develop the production process and the final quality of sawn timber. From the customers perspective, highly automated production based on the 24/7 approach will result in more consistent and se- cure sawn timber deliveries that meet their needs better than ever. “New technology is allowing us to increase sawing speed and production volumes, ensure consistent product quality and fur- ther improve our delivery reliability. In addition, it will enable the provision of increasingly detailed product data to customers. Other important aspects include energy efficiency, traceability of raw materials, and fossil-free operations.” Development spanning several years In previous years, individual improvements and development measures have been carried out at all Metsä Fibre sawmills. For example, Vilppula has already introduced many of the techno- logical solutions that are being used in Rauma – though Rauma is more advanced and on a different scale. “We monitor each of our sawmills with various production and quality indicators and key figures that also steer their development investments. This enables us to focus on the right things when de- veloping production, regardless of the sawmill’s age. Ultimately it amounts to improved delivery reliability and product consistency, wherever production takes place,” says Pehu-Lehtonen.
“New technology will further improve our delivery reliability.”
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