Teknosavo claims its AI platforms cut pulp mill wood consumption by up to 5 percent

Holistic optimization from gate to digester

The Finnish technology supplier Teknosavo has stated that pulp mills utilizing its integrated artificial intelligence systems are achieving a 3 to 5 percent reduction in raw wood consumption. According to the company, these savings materialize when mills optimize the entire raw material flow, from the moment logs arrive at the gate until the chips enter the digester.

In an industry where wood procurement represents the single largest variable cost for pulp producers, a reduction of this magnitude translates directly into millions of euros in annual savings and higher fiber yield. Hannu Hämäläinen, CEO of Teknosavo, recently noted that this 3 to 5 percent reduction is the result of holistic optimization rather than isolated equipment upgrades.

Integrating measurement and machine vision

The operational architecture relies on three interconnected platforms. The process begins with TruckSmart, which digitizes incoming wood measurement by scanning arriving truckloads in 60 seconds, integrating the volume directly into the mill's accounting system. The core of the processing efficiency lies in WoodSmart, an AI-driven machine vision system that automates the control of the debarking drum. By continuously calculating the optimal control variables, the system maintains a stable wood flow, prevents line interruptions caused by broken logs, and minimizes the amount of usable fiber lost during bark removal. Finally, ChipSmart monitors the output, measuring chip quality in real time to ensure optimal conditions for the digester.

Historically, debarking and chipping have been managed as separate operational silos, often relying on manual adjustments that lead to inconsistent bark content and unnecessary wood loss. Teknosavo's approach shifts this paradigm by integrating real-time data across the entire preparation line. The company has previously deployed these systems in major European facilities, including Holmen's Braviken mill and Södra Cell Mörrum, where automated debarking control demonstrated measurable reductions in wood loss and increased overall capacity.

By linking gate measurement, debarking control, and chip quality surveillance into a single automated loop, Teknosavo is pushing pulp mills toward a more resource-efficient model. The ability to produce the same volume of pulp with up to 5 percent less raw material not only improves the financial margins of the mills but also reduces the logistical and environmental footprint associated with harvesting and transporting timber.