Quality description of sawn birch

There is a research gap between forest and end product regarding the holistic view of the properties of sawn birch material from Swedish forests. Such knowledge can be used to optimize the value of the product mix and better understand the conditions in the current production system. Skogforsk has an ongoing study where birch expected to be found in future forests is collected. This complementary project studies its properties for sawn products by sawing, drying, and measuring the properties at plank and board level.

Knowledge of log quality (measurement data, X-ray) linked with timber quality (scanner data and testing) enables a holistic view of birch and through simulation possibilities of quality outcomes, development of the product mix from sawmills is enabled, e.g., new products for construction. Applied, the results lead to gains for forest owners through increased willingness to pay from the more competitive sawmills and, in the long run, more sawmills investing in birch. The project conducts testing through sawing and subsequent experiments to produce quality data in scanners and strength testing. The data is compiled for a simulation environment where log data and, if possible, X-ray data are also used. X-ray of birch has not been done in an industrial environment before.

The project's results provide conditions for sawmills, both existing and new actors, to better understand changes in a product mix. Thus, the project's simulation possibilities facilitate dialogue between buyers and sellers. The linked data between forest and sawmill is unique and can be used to create updated cutting instructions in the forest or verify existing instructions. The results enable actors to simplify and accelerate their product development for new innovative birch-based products