Using automation to maximise yield from increasingly rare and costly raw materials is a solution that can help secondary wood producers improve their profitability. By integrating an automated defect detection system, lumber producers can potentially increase production output and grade recovery, helping them to strengthen their strategic business advantage.
To develop a reference tool to assist in the choice of an appropriate defect detection system, Forintek conducted a detection capacity evaluation of commercially available equipment. Nineteen (19) manufacturers who work in the area of defect detection in lumber were contacted; of these, four agreed to participate in the study.
The project objectives were based on requests from the producers: the evaluation focussed on the detection capacity of specific defects and not on the performance of the overall system. Defects were identified and an experimental evaluation was conducted to determine if the equipment recognised the defects or not. A decision tool based on a multi-criteria analysis has been proposed in the completed project report, to help producers identify the most appropriate defect detection system. However, no evaluation can be offered for the overall performance of the systems assessed, as production needs differ from producer to producer.