Efficiency for SMEs as well

“Actually, we already had a contract with a machine supplier. Unfortunately, they backed out at the last minute, so we started looking for a new one,” Matthias Watschinger, who runs the company with his brother Markus in the fourth generation, recalls. He finally found what he was looking for at Springer: “We liked their plant design. Also, Springer has been working with Microtec for many years – that was a bonus.”

Up until now, Watschinger had been using a simple longitudinal sorting line, and stacking was done manually. “That was an outdated way of doing things and time-consuming, too. Also, it is increasingly difficult to find staff,” Watschinger says, explaining the decision to invest. The first step in modernizing the sawmill was taken in 2024/2025, when a new Primultini block band saw was purchased. The second step involves the sorting and stacking line that Springer has been installing since March. Work is scheduled to be completed soon, and the line is to be commissioned in June.

For a wide range of dimensions

The line is designed for a cutting capacity of up to 25,000 m³ of log wood a year. Lengths range from 3 to 4.5 m. Boards are 17 to 100 mm thick, and 70 to 420 mm wide. “This means that our machinery has to be to handle a very wide range of cross-sections,” Christoph Kerschbaumer, project manager at Springer, explains.

The new line will be housed in a new building. Springer first supplied the entire steel structure, which will be integrated into the sorting hall. The façade and roof will only be installed once assembly is completed. “We sold Watschinger Holzindustrie a complete package. We also supplied all the electrical components, including CE safety technology, the control system and the central lubrication system. The sorting electronics and the Variosort control suite are from Microtec,” Günter Reibnegger, responsible for sales at Springer, says and adds: “Watschinger supports our Springer assembly team with qualified staff.”

Springer’s mechanization handles all the boards downstream of the block band saw. The main grade lumber goes directly to packaging, while the sideboards pass through the sorting line with its six horizontal levels. The wood is conveyed to the new Springer line via a buffer deck and a 90° curved conveyor along the saw line. Then, the boards are separated and aligned on a roller conveyor. After that, they pass through the assessment station and an end-cutting saw. After measuring, any boards that the operator thinks are not suitable can be sorted out into a transport cart via a hatch.

Multi-level system for space reasons

A turning wheel moves the boards to one of the six horizontal levels, each of which can accommodate one stack. “For space reasons, we designed a multi-level sorting system. This solution is also gentler on the material during the emptying process,” Reibnegger explains. The operator can monitor the fill level on a display. Once a level is full, it is emptied by means of a conveyor. The wood is then conveyed back to the aforementioned separating device and the assessment station. After that, it is transported to the packaging area.

Springer equipped the stacking line with magazines for stacking sticks that are filled manually. Transfer forks place the layers on the lifting table. Once a stack is complete, the lifting table lowers it onto the stacking conveyor, where the forklift driver can pick it up at any time. According to Kerschbaumer, the stacks have widths of 1,000 to 1,200 mm and heights of 800 to 1,200 mm. Depending on the dimensions of the wood, the line has a maximum output of 60 cycles per minute, with a continuous output of around 40 boards per minute. There is also the possibility of transporting special grades from the sorting spaces into a belt box. “These goods are then manually unloaded by our employees,” Reibnegger tells us.

“In the future, we will only need one employee for lumber packaging. That’s a huge advantage for us. We will also be offering modern workplaces. We are confident that we made the right decision in working with Springer and are looking forward to commissioning our new production line,” Watschinger says.