Sciage 4.0, the Industry of the Future today!

The Finega Group, a French builder of machines for the timber industry covering the whole of first stage conversion, has just launched its “Sciage 4.0” (sawing 4.0) system. This complete, intelligent, interconnected process is a revolution in the sawing trade. We take a peek into the Industry of the Future with Finega’s director Michel Loyet.

An answer to sawmill issues

No matter what size they are, French sawmills operate in a competitive national or international context constrained by a variable quality forestry resource, often dear at the price, from which maximum value must be extracted and with a conversion cost in tune with market prices. The solution comes in the shape of a sawing process that is flexible, automated, responsive, configurable, and adapts to the market. It must assess the raw material and get the optimum material yield from each log while keeping the cost per cubic meter down.

A system that can handle 2 logs a minute

To address this challenge, the Finega Group, a conglomerate of big-name French manufacturers—MEM, SEGEM, Gillet-Rennepont, CIRIS, and of course EGA—started off with existing machines and developed them to include a 3D scanner and put together an automated, robotized, connected sawing line. The 3D scanner grabs an image of the log and determines the orientation required for optimum conversion with minimum offcuts. No need to sort the logs ahead of the sawmill; each log is analysed and dealt with individually. Based on the scanned model, the sawing line starts up geared to produce the desired finish product. The machines are interconnected and inform each other what they have done so far and what remains to be done. Intelligent IP cameras are also fitted to the sawing line to replace the human eye. Everything is recorded.

“Production is fluid,” adds Mr Loyet. “It never stops and gives us maximum yield.”

A production line that works all on its own

No more need for operators! A supervisory tool dialogues with the machines. If it detects a drop in speed or productivity, it either corrects it automatically or raises an alert. There’s a controller that verifies the sawing line is running properly but doesn’t interfere with the system. Instead, it is in contact with a secure cloud, “CloudMill”, that collects machine output data in real time. To provide customer assistance and guarantee the continuous, optimum operation of sawmill 4.0,  Finega specialists can also connect to the Cloud for remote troubleshooting.

“We don’t just sell machines; we provide a whole assistance package. Our specialists don’t need to travel; they remain with us. It’s more efficient, it’s quicker, and it costs the customer less! ” states Loyet.

Moreover, the machines are upgradable. Sawmills can be fitted out gradually, one building block at a time. If a single machine is acquired for the line, it comes pre-equipped and ready for connection to the next module installed.

Big data, tomorrow’s big issue

The Finega cloud records no fewer than 2500 data points per sawlog. Today, around 50% of this data is used for managing supplies and stocks as well as improving payback and managing the activity more effectively—a real strategic tool for the sawmill boss. That still leaves tomorrow’s intelligent algorithms to be developed for processing the thousands of remaining data points.

“A tremendous seam of data for taking things to the next level in the Industry of the Future and further optimizing production tools, applying intelligent predictive maintenance, and paving the way for easier access to technology by the sawmills” ends Loyet.

Discover the Sciage 4.0 video

Video Credit : Finega

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