Virtual Event
OptiSaw 2021 Virtual Summit
September 16, 2021 at
11:00am EST
OptiSaw is a one-day education forum focused on the future of sawmilling. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our ability to get together and travel, OptiSaw will once again be virtual this year. In just a few hours of online sessions from industry-leading technology manufacturers and researchers, you will come away with solutions to increase your mill’s productivity and efficiency.
Since the summer of 2020, lumber prices have reached record highs, driven by strong consumer demand for housing and wood products. To meet that demand, sawmills need to be as efficient as possible, especially as severe wildfires in the western provinces and states impact available fibre supply, regulations change and operating costs increase. Staying up-to-date about the latest technology in the industry is crucial, and the OptiSaw 2021 Virtual Summit is the place to learn about what’s coming down the pipeline!
Canadian Forest Industries and Opérations forestières have once again partnered with industry experts to present this time-effective and affordable learning opportunity for those driving the future of sawmilling operations. It’s your annual update on the newest technology and processes – including robotics, AI, IIoT and automation – that can help increase sawmill profitability today.
Schedule
11:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speaker: Ellen Cools, editor of Canadian Forest Industries
11:05 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Revolutionary rotation: Extracting value through accurate log rotation
Speaker: Mathieu Papillon, research and development specialist, Autolog
In today’s markets, extracting as much value as possible from each log is critical. But rotation errors in log turners can decrease the extracted value by up to five per cent. Autolog’s Mathieu Papillon will explain the source of rotation errors and possible solutions, including Autolog’s new R-TRAC Rotation Tracking sensor, which takes live degree measurements while the log is rotating. This system measures log rotation in real-time, allowing the log turners’ control system to perform more accurate log rotations.
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Massive opportunity: a look at Element5’s new mass timber facility
Speakers:Seth Norris, wood specialist, Element5
Robert Mlinarič, CSO, Ledinek
Mass timber construction presents an exciting new opportunity for the wood products industry as the environmental benefits of wood are increasingly recognized by the public. Element5’s Seth Norris and Ledinek’s Robert Mlinarič will offer an inside look at Element5’s new mass timber facility in St. Thomas, Ont., providing an overview of the highly automated CLT line, how the equipment has been working and the opportunities for growth in the mass timber manufacturing sector.
12:10 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Management advantage: tracking wood chip output to optimize productivity
Speaker: Patrick Browne, technical sales representative, Brunette Machinery
Demand for wood products is higher than ever, so it’s critical that sawmills boost their productivity and fibre utilization, including the production of wood chips. Patrick Browne will explain how the inclusion of the Optical Belt Scale technology in Brunette Machinery’s Chip Supply Systems can help provide a management advantage to the sawmill industry. The technology provides live data that a sawmill can use as a management tool for tracking wood chip output in both volume and weight, helping to optimize the productivity of the plant.
12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Break
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Top performers: Characteristics of top quartile operations
Speaker: Bryan Beck, president, The Beck Group
What separates top performers from the rest of the pack? Bryan Beck, president of The Beck Group, will explore the keys to successful sawmill management observed over years of consulting and benchmarking in the sawmill industry.
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Closing the loop: Using IIOT and real-time control to increase mill profits
Speaker: Justin Williams, CEO, Williams & White Equipment
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) represents a massive opportunity for the sawmill, andspecifically, the filing room, to improve efficiencies and increase profits. Williams & White CEO Justin Williams will present on the applications for IIoT in the mill and share details on their newest product, SawSense, which offers real-time saw temperature feedback and control. This new and exciting technology allows sawmills to adjust guide lubrication as required, based on real-time saw blade temperature analysis. SawSense helps mills increase profits by improving efficiencies and reducing crashes and unscheduled saw changes.
2:00 p.m.
Closing remarks
ON DEMAND SESSIONS
On DEMAND
Easy money: Upgrading outdated sawmill scanning equipment
Speaker: Joey Nelson, president, JoeScanJoeScan president Joey Nelson will discuss some of the obvious and not-so-obvious ways that new 3D scanners can improve sawmill profitability and make your life easier. You’ll walk away with better tools for evaluating the return on investment of a system upgrade and the confidence to finally pull the trigger on that project you’ve been putting off.
Product Demos
Lucidyne GradeScan Product Demonstration Animation 
Frequently Asked Questions About OptiSaw 2021 Virtual Summit
When & Where?
OptiSaw 2021 Virtual Summit will take place virtually via GoToWebinar on September 16, 2021 at 11:00am EST.There will be a 15 minute break between live sessions.
Why Virtual?
The safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers, and community is our number one priority. By making this event an online experience, it eliminates the need for attendees and sponsors to travel in-person, while enabling them to still benefit from the event content.What’s Included?
Your registration provides you with access to watch the virtual keynote, all live sessions, and on-demand recorded content and product demonstrations.How do I access?
We will email you an access link to the virtual event the morning of September 16, 2021.If you don’t see an access link in your email inbox, please check your junk folder. If you are still unable to locate the email, contact Tara Jacobs.
