As Norra Timber continues to develop the sawmills of the future, technology is becoming increasingly important. Since 10 August, Axel Östman will take on the role of Head of Technical Development, with responsibility for managing and further developing the major technology investments made in recent years.
“It is incredibly inspiring to be able to focus on development and really explore the opportunities offered by the new technology. We have made major investments, and now it is about getting as much value as possible from them,” says Axel Östman.
Axel joins the role from his position as Production Optimisation Specialist at Sävar sawmill, where he has worked since 2022. He began his journey with Norra Skog in autumn 2021, when he completed his degree project at Sävar, and has since been involved in several major development projects related to measurement technology and production.
He holds a Master of Science in Engineering Physics and sees great potential to apply his expertise in data analysis and technology development in his new role.
“A large part of what I learned during my studies was about handling large volumes of data and analysing it. These skills are becoming increasingly important as we take the next step in areas such as CT scanning and advanced measurement technology,” he says.
Over the past four to five years, Norra Timber has made substantial investments, particularly in X-ray and computed tomography technology. By scanning logs and creating a three-dimensional image of their internal properties, the sawmills can make better-informed decisions about how each log should be sawn to maximise its value. According to Axel, the next step is to build expertise and ensure that the technology delivers even greater value for Norra Timber’s owner, forest owners’ association Norra Skog, while also creating additional value for the association’s forest-owning members.
“With CT scanning, we can make smarter decisions about each individual log. This allows us to maximise the value recovered from the raw material and create even greater value for our members,” says Axel Östman.
Norra Timber is at the forefront of adopting this new technology – only a handful of sawmills worldwide have facilities this advanced.
“That means we cannot rely on someone else having made the journey before us. We need to drive the development ourselves. And that applies not only to our technicians and engineers, but to the entire organization – from production to sales and customer relations.”
In his new role, Axel will also take responsibility for the technical department and its employees, something he is looking forward to.
“The leadership aspect is new to me, and I find it both exciting and rewarding. I look forward to developing both the business and the people around me.”
He succeeds Johan Oja, who will remain with Norra Timber in a part-time advisory role.
“Johan has meant an enormous amount to me. He supervised my degree project and has been a mentor throughout my journey. Having him remain as a source of support and someone I can bounce ideas off is incredibly valuable,” says Axel.