High Impact Action Projects
Universal Digital Tools for Forest Machines - Uniforma
Project partners: EMPK Oy, Centria UAS, MTY Holsti
There is a keen need for better digital solutions and improved automation in the raw material part of harvesting of the wood and timber value chain. This project creates a system for forest machines that enhances the work done on a forest machine, using modern optimization calculation formulas developed by EMPK Oy. The system is developed to optimise the harvesting work in advance for the operator, to reduce carbon emissions from harvesting work, and to reduce damage to the environment. In addition, the project lays the foundation for a communication system that focuses on improving communication between forest machine operators.
Key project phases include:
- Development of digital calculation and optimization tools for harvesting work, including a user-interface and communication system suited for forest machine operators.
- Comprehensive testing of these tools in relevant environment
WoodHeat: Increasing value of the forest-wood biomass
Project partners: SFTec Oy, Biomega Oy, Lapland UAS
The WoodHeat is a strong collaboration project between two SMEs, SFTec Oy and Biomega Oy, and a research institution, Lapland UAS. The WoodHeat project aims to valorize raw materials from the forest-wood industry (wood chips and bark materials), increasing their calorific value and bringing direct benefits to wood-based power plants as end-users of the production chain. The WoodHeat will implement an artificial drying operation to speed up and optimize the production of the forest wood industry. Currently, such processes are not employed due to the high investments and operational costs of the existing drying technologies, which make the drying operation unprofitable.
The WoodHeat proposes a unique and innovative solution for the problem trough the usage of the ModHeat® drying technology. ModHeat is a Finnish patented drying technology, which can use waste heat for industrial drying, presenting considerably lower costs than its competitors and being a feasible option for creating a fast wood forest supply chain. The main target of WoodHeat project is to execute a long-term campaign, drying the forest wood raw materials handled by Biomega, increasing their calorific values as well as producing valuable by-products, and proving the economic feasibility of the process in collaboration with Lapland UAS.
Digitally Connected Forest Operation Value Chain – ForOps
Project partners: Arbonaut Oy, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Rajaforest Oy
The aim for the Digitally Connected Forest Operation Value Chain (ForOps) project is to develop a new digital platform promoting enhanced and more efficient cooperation between various forest service providers, individual entrepreneurs and forest owners. The developed end product will aid in division of work in forestry sector, improving the overall capacity to manage and maintain valuable forest resources in East and North Finland.
In ForOps project the main goal is to develop Arbonaut’s ProMS platform in order for it to be used as a “forest work bank”; as a general silvicultural work assignment, tracking and reporting platform. In addition to technical development to the platform, together with the project partners Lapland UAS and Rajaforest the new platform will be tested in real operational environment. The new solution can also be used to manage work outside actual silvicultural operations – this includes for example forest road maintenance planning and management, as well as multiple uses of forest, such as berry-picking or other non-wood product collection purposes.
Planewood
Project partners: Atol Avion LtD, Mikpolis at Southeast Finland University of Applied Sciences
The PLANEWOOD project develops high-value wood products using pine trees (Scots pine) that grows and is harvested and processed in the area (eastern and northern Finland). In the project, the properties of the pine wood will be applied in an innovative way to build a new type of two-seater aircraft. High quality pine has optimal characteristics of a light aircraft structure: the specific strength, corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance and environmental friendliness.
Another aim of the project is to improve the utilization and the efficiency of pine wood in wider production of high-value wood products; not only for the furniture and interior decoration industry but also for example in the automotive industry.
The Scots pine has been studied extensively as a raw material for wood products. High quality pine is a valuable raw material. In many final applications, its properties provide increased value that is reflected in the price of the raw material. When the needs of the final application are taken into consideration, the value of the raw material can be increased considerably in the raw material and manufacturing chain. This benefits all the participants in the wood product value chain.
Intelligent biomass analyzer (IBA)
Project partners: Puumit Ltd, Prometec Ltd, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), University of Eastern Finland, Torrec Ltd, Kuopion Energia Ltd, Kainuun Voima Ltd
In this project, new intelligent biomass analyzer (IBA) will be tested and further tailored for Prometec Q-robot. Networking in ENF-region with RDI and business companies is another task. The developed method and prototype (TRL 6) are based on electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and AI. By using the method, it is possible to classify the biomass quality, type and to determine moisture content (MC). New sensors will be tested and evaluated including real-time monitoring. By using quick and more accurate data from the raw-material and modified material properties, it is possible to improve the upscaling of biomass based products for multiple end-users including energy, pulp, inorganic chemistry, textile, food, and bio-plastics industries.
The outcome of the project will be better valorisation of the circular bio-economy side-streams including wood chips, tree bark, and saw dust. The project includes investigations of technical feasibility including in-site testing and investigations of the main industrial challenges with different type of end-users. A detailed roadmap, operations and business plan for full upscale is one of the main results of the project.
NutC
Project partners: NollaC Oy, University of Eastern Finland, VTT
The aim of the project is to combine two industrial waste side streams that are thermally processed with a new process to produce a nutrient rich product. It is a new product of the circular economy for both plant nutrients and carbon. The product is carbon negative and used as growth promoter or growing media for plants. The project will provide knowledge on production methods on an industrial scale. The aim is to produce new industrial scale production for the circular economy.
Key measures in the project are identifying raw materials and energy flows as well as processing technologies. During the project NollaC Oy, UEF and VTT will design the energy and raw material flows needed for the processing of raw materials and the appropriate equipment assemblies.
GreenLine Platform for Sustainable Forestry
Project partners: Fomatec Oy, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Funlus Oy, University of Eastern Finland, DigiCenterNS, Motoajo Oy
In this pilot, we will further develop and test the GreenLine (GL) Digi solution and the GreenLine Platform for Sustainable Forestry. The GL platform brings together Low Carbon Solutions, Innovative Technologies and Automation as well as Digital Solutions. GL platform and all its’ products, as well as, included Fomatec’s patented SHARP automation, were all selected to support recycling and sustainable use of natural resources in logging. In addition, the GL platform makes harvesting more efficient, thereby it also saves customers time and money.
The aim of this pilot is to reach TRL7-8 and to get information for customers about the environmental and economic benefits of the GL Platform. To reach those, we will
- Further develop the GL digital solution,
- Analyze environmental impacts (LCA, Carbon Footprint) and benefits of the GL Platform, and
- Test and demonstrate the GL platform in operational environment i.e. in co-operation with logging company with large end-users.
The GL platform eliminates waste, promotes resource efficacy and sustainable use of resources in bioeconomy and forest industry sectors’ during logging. In future, the GL platform can be applied (replicated and scaled) also to the other sectors like to more sustainable mining.
Project Kick-off
December 2019
Helsinki
Mid-term meeting
March 25, 2020
