This week Canfor corporation announced that they will acquire 70% of the stake in Swedens largest private owned sawmill company Vida AB. Forestry.com paid a visit at one of Vidas samwills in Sweden last year. Here is a video from the small log sawmill in Alvesta, Sweden.
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Small log sawmills has been popular during last decade in Sweden and Vida is one of the leading producers with several dedicated sawmills for short logs in diameters from 11 to 20 cm (4,5 to 8 inch). Logs are normally cut in short lengths, like 2,5-3 meters (8-10 ft). Those sawmills use reducer technology that fast and instantly cut the sides to pulp chips. The blocks are profiled by the chipping reducers and then in the next step divide into lumber by saw blades.
The Vida sawmill in Alvesta also have stress grading equipment and most of the production is planed before sale. Most of the lumber will be construction wood for export as well as domestic use. All production is kiln dried.
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More information about Vida can be fond here at Vidas webpage.
Here is a video showing the production (Swedish audio/text) and below some pictures.
Typical log size at a sawmill specialized in processing small logs is 11-20 cm, in short lengths
Intake and feed of short logs to the debarking unit.
Logs after debarking.
Every log are measured by laser technology to decide the optimal cut.
The small log sawmill is using a reducer technology that cut and shape the log at four sides in a very high speed
After reducing four sides the block is divided into 2-4 boards or beams
Here is a view from the control room at Vidas sawmill in Alvesta. Just some few persons runs the whole sawmill operation
Boards in same dimension are leaving the sorting rack for stacking and Kiln drying.
All lumber produced by Vida are kiln dried (and planed) before sale
Lumber from Vida ready for export worldwide
Vida is the largest private owned sawmill company in Sweden
