How Cutting-Edge Composing Solutions Maximize Veneer Recovery

Every millimeter of raw material counts in the veneer and plywood market. Raute’s advanced composing family is designed to maximize recovery while minimizing waste and manual labor. With innovative technologies ranging from core and green to face composing, Raute is setting new benchmarks for quality, productivity, and cost efficiency. 

Advanced Composing Technologies for Optimal Recovery 

Raute offers a range of composers to meet diverse production needs. Its core veneer composers employ modern, camera-controlled defect clipping, allowing operators to adjust the balance between quality and recovery. This approach preserves valuable raw materials while maintaining high quality. 

Meanwhile, its green veneer composers, including both green and green/dry models, increase total veneer volume by automatically integrating green randoms into plywood production. By processing full sheets in the drying and layup, these systems achieve higher efficiency and less labor, leading to improved energy usage. 

The face veneer composer enhances production by achieving up to 20% higher veneer sheets, meaning face sheet recovery, compared to traditional methods, which doesn’t have face composing at all. It also enables the production of larger sized panels compared to the maximum veneer size you have on the clipping line. Its innovative defect clipping process creates “invisible” butt joints that are ideal for high-quality plywood overlay and satisfy liquefied natural gas (LNG) proofing requirements. 

Expanding Raw Material Utilization 

Raute’s composing solutions optimize raw material usage through several key innovations: 

• Superior Defect Detection: Advanced veneer visual analyzers, such as the R7-Composing with AI or R5-Composing systems with optional luminescence sensors, ensure precise clipping that saves potential face grade sheets. 

• Negative Clipping Margin: By adopting a negative clipping margin (e.g., –10 mm instead of the conventional +5 mm), clipping waste is significantly reduced – resulting in high yield improvement. 
• Automated Feeding Systems: The patented random feeder concept is designed for both green and dry veneers, handling various wood species and thicknesses efficiently. 

These innovations combine to reduce the cost of raw materials – a significant expense in LVL and veneer production – while improving overall process efficiency. 

Driving Efficiency with High Automation 

Raute’s systems are built for modern mills where automation is key. Fully automatic composing lines, supported by machine vision and user-friendly interfaces, enable one operator to manage multiple lines with minimal intervention.  

Pre-set programs and multilingual interfaces ensure production flexibility and consistent quality across different plywood grades. Additionally, the integration of scanning and AI solutions further refines defect detection, leading to improved labor utilization and increased throughput. 

In the pictures, we can see the same veneer sheet visualized with the old system and the new system with the AI feature. There are three bark defects in the sheet. With the old system, the camera correctly detected one bark, incorrectly detected one as a wrong defect type, and failed to detect one bark altogether. When analyzed with AI, all defects are outlined in green, indicating that the barks have been detected correctly. In addition, for instance, usually challenging sound knots are detected very accurately with AI. For the full story, check out the case story on how Koskisen, a global leader in birch plywood, partnered with Raute to modernize a 30-year-old veneer composing line. 

Lower Production Costs & Superior End Products 

By improving raw material recovery and ensuring tighter joints, Raute’s composing technologies help lower production costs while delivering superior end products. This cost-saving feature makes Raute's solutions a smart investment for any mill. 

The advanced systems create stronger, high-quality veneer sheets that are well-suited for a range of applications, including specialized panels for LNG plywood production and custom plywood grades. 

Whether processing veneers from 4ft to 8ft or accommodating various wood species on a single line, Raute’s scalable solutions are designed to adapt to meet diverse production needs, providing reassurance to the industry's decision-makers. 

Unmatched Support for Peak Performance 

Raute’s commitment extends beyond cutting-edge technology – it ensures long-term operational success for its customers. With high-quality components, real-time monitoring with MillSIGHTS data collection and continuous improvement based on real data, as well as a proactive maintenance network, mills can achieve maximum uptime and efficiency. Local service teams, readily available spare parts, and comprehensive training programs empower mills to maintain peak performance with confidence. 

Through an integrated customer portal and digital support services, Raute remains a trusted partner in continuous process optimization. Its advanced defect detection, automated random feeding, and AI-driven solutions are revolutionizing production processes, enabling mills worldwide to maximize material recovery and enhance product quality. 

Raute’s innovative composing solutions signify the future of veneer production – where every sheet matters and quality is never compromised. By choosing Raute, you're not just investing in a solution; you're investing in the future of your production process. 

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The future of plywood and LVL production lies in smarter, more sustainable solutions. Green veneer composing not only boosts efficiency and recovery but also aligns with industry demands for cost-effective and eco-friendly practices. Read our full article and take the next step toward a more optimized and sustainable manufacturing process ».