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READiStrength

The project aims to improve the current concepts of sawn timber strength grading towards more flexible and adaptive approaches prior to conversion at the raw material stage to make best use of Europe's wood resources.

READiStrength -

Resource Efficient And Data driven integrated log and board Strength grading

 

The objectives are to develop roundwood strength grading approaches for different specifications of construction timber or glulam, for industrial production systems of large high-end sawmills or smaller rural sawmills in European regions, and to develop approaches for a continuous flow of wood quality information in the wood value chain for optimised strength grading.

Expected effects and results

– Combined knowledge in log X-ray and CT scanning, sawing optimization, traceability and sawn timber strength grading to develop combined log and board strength grading concepts supported by newest technology.
– Application of the novel concepts to important softwood species of European economic relevance and to regional, less used softwood species in the research design will enable a synchronous evolution of strength grading applicable for all softwood species;
– Grant new insights in the strengths and weaknesses of each species with respect to construction timber products.

Planned arrangement and implementation

– Novel strength grading scenarios for timber will be defined based on proven industrial standard and recent technology in roundwood scanning. Interviews in the sawmill industry to depict the scanning technology and grading specifics and adapt new approaches for regional sawmill industry.
– 1200 logs of softwoods from Sweden, Austria and Germany and their sawn boards will be characterised and tested for strength. Information will be collected according to a joined protocol for cross-referencing in data analysis and strength modelling.

Summary

Project name

READiStrength

Status

Active

RISE role in project

Participant

Project start

Duration

39 months

Total budget

1,01 M€

Partner

Norra Timber, FVA, Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg, HFA, Holzforschung Austria

Funders

READiStrength is supported under the umbrella of ERA-NET Cofund ForestValue by Vinnova & Formas (Sweden), BMNT (Austria), BMEL (via FNR e.V.) (Germany]. ForestValue has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020.

Project website

Coordinators

Supports the UN sustainability goals

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
11. Sustainable cities and communities