Strategic investment for a reduction of shifts

Oak, beech, maple, walnut, and other hardwoods – the logs that find their way to the Antu Pecenec sawmill in Kapela Podravska/HR are sourced exclusively from Croatia. The company cuts around 35,000 m³ of hardwood logs a year, most of which is used for in-house further processing. Pecenec produces 5,000 m³ of mass timber panels with continuous or finger-jointed lamellas each year. Part of the lumber produced at the sawmill, i.e. edge-trimmed goods of a single quality, is also sold to Italy. In order to have control over the quality of the lumber, Pecenec invested in a log bandsaw from manufacturer EWD of Altötting/DE already back in 2013. At the time, it was the first machine tilted by 17° that EWD put into operation in Croatia.

The same volume in less time

A second, nearly identical EWD log bandsaw has been in operation at Pecenec since November 2024. “With the first machine, we were cutting in three shifts. In order to eliminate the need for night shifts, we decided to invest in a second log bandsaw,” Marko Pecenec says, explaining the reason for the investment. He manages the company, which was founded by their grandfather in 1987, together with his brother Antun and sister Valentina. “We have always been extremely satisfied with EWD’s machines and service. The reliability and quality have always impressed us. That is why it was clear to us from the start that we would choose an EWD log bandsaw for our new project as well,” Pecenec explains and adds: “Our goal is not to increase the cutting capacity with the second log bandsaw. Rather, we want to be able to cut the current volume in a single shift in the future.” 

Pecenec built an additional hall for the new log bandsaw. On a log conveyor, the logs are transported directly from the debarking unit to one of the two EWD log bandsaws. The operator of the debarking unit decides whether a log should be sent to the old or the new log bandsaw for cutting. The mechanization transfers each log to the log feeder, which in turn passes it on to the EW2 log bandsaw carriage. Twelve lasers measure each log from above.

Quality cutting

After the log is placed in and clamped to the carriage, all clamping blocks move forward in parallel until all measuring sensors are occupied. Once a sensor is occupied, the system records the corresponding position of the clamping block. The initial alignment after measuring is done automatically. EWD’s eWood optimization software then suggests a cutting pattern, which is displayed on the screen via Live View projection. “The machine operator can accept the suggestion depending on the wood quality and requirements, but they can also make manual changes to it later in the cutting process,” Ivan Ojdanic, responsible for planning and sales at EWD, explains. Cutting thicknesses typically range from 24 to 84 mm.

EWD supplied an EBB 1800 log bandsaw module which is tilted by 17°. “As with the existing machine, we decided to work in forward cutting mode only, as this allows the operator to determine each cut in a quality-optimized way,” Pecenec tells us. There is no machining unit; the slabs with bark go directly to the chipper after being cut off. The company processes 2.1- to 6-m-long logs with a diameter of 20 to 80 cm, the average being 45 cm.

Pecenec is very satisfied with EWD’s handling of the project: “A major advantage of choosing EWD again is the ease of use. Our employees are already familiar with the technology, so hardly any additional training was necessary.”