Peter Edström has been working with Swedish sawmills since 2000 and knows what’s required to create an efficient production line. Over the years, he has helped many customers overcome challenges related to machine settings and alignment. When Wood Control Technology was founded in 2021, Peter became one of the first employees – bringing with him decades of valuable experience into the young company.
Initially, the company focused entirely on selling control systems to sawmills, planing mills, paint shops and other segments of the wood processing industry. But before long, Peter began receiving calls from old contacts asking for help with mechanical issues. That was the start of a new business direction.
"When several of my former customers reached out for help with alignment problems, we decided to expand our services to include mechanical support," says Peter.
Today, there are two people working with alignment and technical support – and demand just keeps growing.
Small errors, big consequences
A constant challenge for sawmills is maximizing lumber yield and cutting each board to the correct dimensions. To do this, they rely on advanced 3D optimization systems that calculate the most efficient way to saw each log.
"And those systems work," Peter says. “But how much sawn lumber actually ends up in the yard? The optimization program might say we should get a certain volume, but when we look outside, it’s less. That’s because the sawing isn’t centered, and safety margins are added to account for minor wobbling. So the machines aren’t positioned exactly as the system expects, which leads to lower yield and less lumber in the end.”
Achieving optimal results requires precise machine alignment. And that's where laser technology, combined with the expertise of companies like Wood Control Technology, makes a big difference.
From problem to solution
When a sawmill calls for help, Peter and his colleague head out to inspect the saw line. A typical line includes an infeed section that centers the log, a canter, four band saws, and an outfeed section that separates and transports the cut lumber. It’s common for issues to arise already at the log feed stage, such as log rotation or feed errors, meaning the log isn’t properly centered.
"We usually say that a 1 mm feed error in an otherwise standard sawmill can reduce yield by 1%. And 1% less yield means roughly $100,000 USD annually. So it's a lot of money. And 1 mm is really not much for this industry."
It typically takes two people about two days to align an entire saw group in a saw line, which fits perfectly into a weekend when production is paused. The cost? Often less than what just one hour of downtime would cost in lost revenue.
Bands saws are one important part of the saw line that needs to be aligned.
The importance of preventive maintenance
Peter sees a clear connection between regular alignment and financial health in a sawmill. It’s all about staying ahead of problems. Many sawmills are proactive and include alignment in their preventive maintenance routines, but far from all.
"Sawmills are good at fixing things. Some go a step further and use preventive maintenance, including mechanical inspections. That way, you catch the issues before they cause a breakdown. But overall, the industry still tends to wait until something breaks,” he explains. "It's often a matter of cost. They cut back on things that aren’t immediately visible, like mechanical adjustments or lubrication. But those savings come back to bite you."
"Mechanical settings don’t stay perfect over time, either. Parts get replaced, which can throw off the centering or cause looseness.”
Machines should ideally be aligned at least twice a year, or even four times if production volumes are high. But in practice, it happens far too rarely, Peter says. Many wait until quality issues become unavoidable or customer complaints start rolling in. By then, the financial losses are already significant.
Laser technology makes a difference
When Peter started working in the early 2000s, laser technology was still quite uncommon.
"At first, people were skeptical. They were used to wires and rulers, and optical tooling like theodolites were common. But now everyone wants laser,” he says.
He explains how much quicker and easier it is to set up a laser system compared to older methods.
"You set up the system, then do a rough alignment. You can follow the laser beam along the chains, it’s much faster than using a wire. And the results are more accurate."
Peter has been using Easy-Laser systems since the beginning of his career and has even contributed ideas for the various fixtures included in the sawmill alignment system. A long-standing, close collaboration.
"I’ve used these systems for so many years, and they’ve come a long way. Even though the software and hardware evolve, like today's XT980 system, it still feels familiar,” he says, adding:
"They’re stable, reliable systems with incredible repeatability. And they’re easy and intuitive to use. I love that it’s wireless. You can sit in different places and still see the live values. You don't have to be inside the machine."
The right setup maximizes yield
For Peter, it's all about giving sawmills the best possible conditions for success, from the first log to the final board.
"Every sawmill would benefit from increasing yield, improving cut dimension control, and enhancing quality,” Peter concludes.
With the Easy-Laser XT980 and the expertise of companies like Wood Control Technology, sawmills have everything to gain – both in quality and profitability.
