Modernizing sawmill equipment without replacing serviceable machinery offers wood processors another approach to improving production performance. Comact has introduced its Carriage Optimizer, a system designed to update cutting optimization and controls on existing carriage equipment.
The first installation was completed at Scierie Carrière, a hardwood sawmill in Quebec. The project focused on integrating updated optimization technology into the mill's existing operation while maintaining production continuity.
The system is designed for compatibility with different types of carriage systems. This allows sawmills with ageing or unsupported optimization technology to upgrade their cutting processes while retaining equipment that remains mechanically functional.
The Carriage Optimizer combines high-density geometric scanning with optimization software and automated carriage positioning to determine and execute opening cuts. It can also recommend sawing speeds to support more efficient cutting operations.
The technology is intended to improve the speed and precision of optimization decisions and carriage movements. At Scierie Carrière, the installation was followed by improvements in optimization speed, positioning accuracy and the execution of opening faces and subsequent cuts.
The mill reported productivity gains of up to 5% following the upgrade. Performance will continue to be monitored over a longer period, so the reported increase represents the initial results observed after installation rather than a long-term measured outcome.
Preparing the project before installation helped Scierie Carrière integrate the new system with its existing equipment and operations. The mill returned to its normal production pace after two production shifts, with no reported reduction in production speed compared with its pre-installation performance.
The installation also included a control system upgrade. Project preparation, commissioning and technical support formed part of the implementation process, according to the details provided by the companies.
No installation cost, project duration or additional production-volume figures were disclosed.
For sawmill operators and wood-processing businesses, the Carriage Optimizer provides an option for updating cutting technology without replacing an entire carriage system. The approach may be relevant to facilities seeking improvements in cutting accuracy and productivity while continuing to use existing mechanical assets.
The initial results at Scierie Carrière provide an early example of the technology operating in a Quebec hardwood mill. Longer-term performance data will help establish whether the reported productivity gains are sustained under ongoing production conditions.
Source: Comact.
