2018 International Forest Industries IFI Feb March 2018 Digital | Page 38
HewSaw – A quality commitm
in the factory and reaches far
By providing customers with the latest primary break-
down technology and a commitment to quality control,
HewSaw is changing the way modern sawmillers work.
Following a walk through HewSaw’s bright and modern
factory in the small town of Mäntyharju, in Finland’s
scenic Lake District, most visitors quickly understand
how important HewSaw’s philosophy of implementing
exacting quality control standards and continuous
improvement is to the company’s success.
“The outstanding performance of our equipment
once it is in production at one of our customer’s
sawmills starts right here at our factory,” explains
HewSaw’s Vice President, Tuomas Halttunen. “We
have a highly trained, long-term work force and we
use exacting leveling equipment, special assembly
platforms, extremely accurate CNC technology in
the manufacturing of many of our parts, and as of last
year, robotic welding in the building of our frames.
We also use steel sourced from Europe and the UK
for our frames and many of our components, and
approximately 80 per cent of the parts that go into
our machines are manufactured by us, which also
contributes to our high level of quality control.”
The Modern Vilppula Sawmill
A couple of hours drive from the HewSaw factory is
a prime example of a modern sawline manufactured
by HewSaw – an SL250 3.4 primary breakdown line at
Metsä Fibre’s Vilppula Sawmill. Commissioned in the
Autumn of 2013 and coming in at over 100 metres in
length, this line features some of the latest HewSaw
technology and has the ability to produce up to
eight edged sideboards from each log, eliminating all
downstream edging.
With a goal of replacing two older lines and making an
investment in the sawmill that would
provide flexibility, high operational
reliability and production, safety and
environmental efficiency, Metsä Fibre
turned to HewSaw for a practical and
cost-effective solution.
HewSaw’s factory in Mäntyharju, Finland utilizes modern manufacturing
processes and technology to maintain an extremely high level of quality control.
“The modernization of the sawing
line was a significant technological
step forward for us,” explains Harri
Haapaniemi, VP Production, Metsä
Fibre Sawmills. Noting that industrial
efficiency is a priority at all of Metsä
Fibre’s operations, Harri goes on to
explain that with the HewSaw they
can “provide a consistent supply
of high-quality products demanded
by customers, consistently operate
reliably, and maintain environmental
efficiency at the Vilppula sawmill.”