Veneer drying machine blockages to be monitored by artificial intelligence

“Our mission is to create a competitive advantage for the wood industry with smart solutions,” says Joonas Isoketo, who works as a leading data analyst at Siemens.

"Our customer companies from various industries have measurably improved their efficiency through artificial intelligence, simulation and digital twins. We see a lot of similar potential in the wood industry to increase profitability with new technologies."

In Lithuania, the Sakuona plywood mill has implemented Siemens TM NPU AI card in the veneer dryer on an automated plywood production line, which warns the operator of an incipient blockage before it escalates. Before the AI ​​solution was implemented, the veneer dryer jammed several times a week, and cleaning operations stopped production for several hours. According to Sakuona, the blockages reduced production by up to 10 percent. The customer raised the issue, and a solution was found in cooperation between Siemens and VGM Technics.

The TM NPU AI card integrates directly into the Simatic S7-1500 logic installed in the dryer. By utilizing the AI ​​model, the module detects motor current irregularities during production, allowing developing blockages to be located. At the same time, the AI ​​model learns to become a better predictor using accumulated data.

“If there is a deviation in the flow curve, it can be predicted that there is a blockage in the formation. In this case, the operator can change the way the dryer operates to avoid the blockage,” says Joonas Isoketo.

Isoketo says the product has been on the market for a few years, and has been well received.

"Customers have found the benefits to be significant in relation to the size of the investments. We intend to continue developing artificial intelligence solutions and scale them to meet the needs of various industries."