Moving, sorting and stacking wood

Sorting, Grading & Material Handling

Sorting lines, stackers, transfers and conveyors that connect processing stations and automate the flow of lumber and panels.

Roller conveyor and gantry with stacks of planks in a plant
Panel and plank handling — roller conveyor and stacks · representative photograph

Overview

What this category covers

Between every machine in a wood-products plant sits handling equipment: transfer decks, roller and chain conveyors, unscramblers, sorters, stackers and stick-placers. Well-designed handling keeps saws, moulders and presses running at their rated speed and reduces manual labour.

Euro-Wood represents European manufacturers of handling and sorting systems and can specify them as part of a complete line or as a stand-alone upgrade to an existing plant.

Intended applications

  • Green and dry lumber sorting
  • Trimmer, sorter and stacker lines
  • Panel stacking and pack handling
  • Kiln stick placement and de-sticking
  • Line-to-line transfers and buffering
  • Plant automation and material-flow upgrades

Equipment and features typically specified

  • Chain, belt and roller conveyors
  • Unscramblers and lug loaders
  • Bin and tray sorting systems
  • Stackers, de-stackers and stick placers
  • Turning, tilting and centering devices
  • Line controls and tracking systems

Technical specifications

Specification parameters

Exact figures depend on the manufacturer and model selected for your project. These are the parameters Euro-Wood confirms with the manufacturer before issuing specifications and a quotation.

ParameterWhat we confirm
Material handledBoards, cants, panels, packs or beams
Piece dimensions and weightLength, width, thickness and mass range
Line speedPieces per minute or packs per hour
Number of sorts / binsGrade, length and size categories
Pack formatLayer pattern, height, sticks and strapping
Upstream and downstream interfacesExisting machines the system must connect to
Installed power and utilitiesElectrical and pneumatic requirements
Footprint and layoutAvailable floor space and building constraints
ControlsPLC / HMI, tracking and plant-network integration
SafetyGuarding and interlock requirements

Documentation. Manufacturer brochures, technical data sheets and layout drawings for the equipment in this category are available on request. Request specifications and Larry will send the relevant documents.

Photographs

Handling & Sorting in the plant

Representative photographs of this type of equipment and its applications. Photographs of the specific machine proposed for your project are supplied with the manufacturer's quotation.

Boards spread across a sorting and grading line
Board sorting and grading line
Automated gantry positioned over stacks of panels
Gantry handling system over panel stacks
Isometric rendering of a complete wood processing production line
Complete production line — layout rendering

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Contact Euro-Wood

Need handling & sorting for your operation?

Tell Larry what you produce and what you need to accomplish. He will coordinate specifications, documentation and a quotation with the manufacturer.