Raimo Seppänen, Chairman of the Board of Pronor Control Oy, which provides automation and electrification design to the sawmill industry, has extensive experience with sawmills and their functionality.
"A few new sawmills have been built in Finland in recent years. Still, most of the projects are modernizations of varying degrees."
Pronor Control offers automation and control systems for the sawmill industry's piece goods handling, from software and user interfaces to complete control solutions and project deliveries. In addition to the automation and user interface part, electrical design, component selection and procurement, parameterization of frequency converters, installation supervision, commissioning and training have been a major part of almost all deliveries.
The reference list includes Westas, Versowood, Stora Enso and UPM.
“Our role only begins after the logs are sawn. We are responsible for controlling sorting lines and packaging equipment, for example.”
Investments are lagging behind
According to Seppänen, the automation of sawmills has progressed rapidly.
"Automation is the future of sawmills. Previously, it was common for sawmill operators to be present in certain locations, but now the trend is towards centralized control rooms where operators monitor operations run by artificial intelligence."
Still, automation development has its challenges.
"The most significant challenges for the customer base are probably that investments have been lagging behind for a long time. Even today, there are systems that date back to the 1990s, even 30 years old."
Old systems do not directly adapt to automation systems.
When renovating older sawmills, the question usually arises as to whether the entire plant, including its structures, or just its automation should be renovated.
"If we end up also renewing the entire mechanics of the plant, then of course the price tag of the investment will increase quite a bit."
Karelia was closed
Pronor Control also has some operations in Sweden. There have also been some projects underway in the Baltics.
“However, the Russian war is having a greater impact there, meaning the projects are on hold.
The general economic downturn has also affected the company's daily life. Some layoffs have even been necessary.
"Sawmills have postponed their investment decisions in uncertain times. We also have a reasonable offer base, but the final decision has been postponed. However, it looks a little better now. The order books are already full for certain periods this year. Perhaps a plug is being pulled. And yes, at least in Finland there is room for a company of our type and size."
Corona did not change the company's situation.
“It really just eliminated on-site negotiations. Remote meetings took their place.”
Geopolitical turmoil has hit harder.
The company also initially had operations in Karelia, even before 2022.
However, that direction was abruptly cut off by Russia's war of aggression.
Going to work to play saw?
Seppänen is also thinking about the future of the industry for a while. A large number of automation and electrification designers will be retiring in the coming years, including himself.
“Younger people could be awakened to how game-like working in sawmill control rooms can be in the age of artificial intelligence.
“The operator is also playing a game in a way, but his actions are concrete and financially justified.”
According to him, this could well update the image of sawmills as heavy, messy, and physically demanding workplaces.
"Of course, that would also require activity from us, for example. We should visit educational institutions in the industry to market the modernity of sawmills."
Pronor Control Oy
– founded in 2005 in Heinola
– current location Vierumäki
– staff 9
– turnover approximately 2 million euros (2024)
