New Technology for Smarter Timber Drying
Timber drying is one of the most quality-critical and energy-intensive processes in sawmills. With better real-time information about timber moisture content, sawmills can reduce over-drying, save energy, and achieve more consistent product quality.
Drying accounts for a large share of the energy use in sawmills, yet the process is often controlled with limited information about the actual moisture content of the timber. This leads to over-drying, unnecessary energy consumption, and quality defects. We are developing a system based on high-resolution infrared thermal imaging technology that makes it possible to monitor the drying process in real time. The technology provides sawmills with better decision support, more consistent quality, and lower energy costs while strengthening the industry’s sustainability efforts and competitiveness. The goal is to enable a more data-driven and resource-efficient future for timber drying.
The research project on the Linnaeus University website.