Together with our industrial partners, we develop and optimise new products as well as production and quality assurance methods. Starting with the takeover of the raw material, we support our partners in the development of new evaluation and billing procedures. A major focus of our research is the assessment of round timber and sawn timber using different scanning technologies. We accompany product innovations from the product idea to the approval of the products for the respective area of application. Another research focus is in the field of adhesive and connection technology.
Together with technology partners, we develop new processes for increasing and ensuring the quality of products and production processes.
We offer
Raw material evaluation
The takeover of the raw material wood, be it as a trunk or as wood chips, happens exclusively on an automatic basis today. Billing is based on different sampling and evaluation procedures. Together with the various market participants, we develop and evaluate new processes for taking over saw round timber and taking over sawmill by-products.
Strength sorting of round and sawn timber
When wood products are used as load-bearing elements, defined strength and stiffness properties must obtain. With an assessment carried out by human beings, this is only possible to a limited extent. We are therefore intensively involved in the development of machine assessment methods and sorting systems. Together with the technology developers, we develop new evaluation algorithms and methods. These are incorporated into European standardization and are then available to industry.
Optimisation of the processing chain
In the course of processing timber, large amounts of data are collected, such as when measuring round timber or when sorting sawn timber. As a result of continuing technological development, the amount of data continues to grow, for example when new, previously unmeasurable properties become measurable. We are researching ways to use material tracking, digitisation, and simulation to create an integrated process flow which allows the continuous optimisation of resource efficiency in the use of materials and product quality in the production of load-bearing wood products.
Product and production optimisations
Together with our customers, we pursue new approaches in production and product development. We support and advise our customers from the first idea to the implementation. Thanks to our extensive research and testing facilities, we can also provide answers to innovative questions. Many product ideas subsequently lead to approved construction products.
Adhesive application and bonding strength
Detailed surface examinations of the parts to be joined, accompanied by light and scanning electron microscopic adhesive joint analyzes, form the basis for the optimisation of the adhesive application and the adhesion quality. Together with adhesive manufacturers, device manufacturers and the producers of glued components, we are continuously working on innovative solutions for the improvement and quality assurance of the bonding strength of wooden components.
Circularity concepts
Secondary raw materials are a major focus. We examine their characteristic properties such as strength, aging effects, and contamination, and develop concepts for how reuse can be resource-, energy-, and cost-efficient. Reuse and remanufacturing have proven to be functional concepts in many cases. These approaches can be applied at the individual product level or at the level of composite materials such as building components. We develop solutions that are inherently circular in design.
Contact Persons
Strength sorting, simulation, image analysis
Raw wood
Construction Products
Our services
Process chain analysis
Based on real production data, we analyse the process chain of your company. By means of a simulation study, sorting methods and their position in the production process are optimized, and new approaches are tried out.
Optimisation of the adhesion quality
Depending on the existing production process, the planing quality, and the adhesive used, company-specific studies are carried out to determine the optimal production parameters.
Development of new methods of feature detection
Using machine vision approaches, we develop the automated detection and assessment of new quality-related features for you.
Adhesive joint analysis
Light microscopes and a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX) provide us with images and measurement values that we need for analysing the structure and topography of planer surfaces, adhesive penetration into the substrate, and the formation of the adhesive joint depending on the existing production conditions.
Available infrastructure:
- Universal test devices for determining the bending, tensile, compressive, and shear strength as well as the modulus of elasticity
- Zwick 100 kN
- Zwick 250 kN
- Zwick 1200 kN (Zug)
- MiCROTEC Viscan (Laser interferometer)
- easyQ Delamination system
- Optical and scanning electron microscope for the detailed assessment of the adhesion quality
