Vacuum suction spider SSP-HD: efficient handling of cross laminated timber

Biber Holzbearbeitung GmbH was faced with a major challenge: constantly climbing up and down stacks of wood several meters high was strenuous and dangerous. Schmalz released a solution to this problem with the vacuum suction spider SSP-HD specially developed for cross-laminated timber panels. The result is 20 % more productivity, reduced cycle times, a 25 % higher storage capacity and maximum safety.

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Особенности истории успеха

Промышленность	Дерево
Заготовка	Панели из массива дерева
Группа продуктов	Вакуумные пауки
Тип обработки	Автоматизированное перемещение

С Шмальцем

процент

повышение производительности

процент

оптимизация времени цикла

Клиент: Biber Holzbearbeitung GmbH

Biber Holzbearbeitung GmbH is a medium-sized industrial wood working company with over 20 employees. The joinery center is a subsidiary of ABA HOLZ van Kempen GmbH (sales partner for Germany) and KLH Massivholz GmbH (manufacture of cross laminated timber). The company specializes in the processing of cross laminated timber (CLT) and is known for its precise manufacturing processes and high-quality timber products. With its modern production facilities and a motivated team, the company has established itself as reliable partner in the timber industry.

Задача

Biber Holzbearbeitung GmbH faced considerable challenges in the manual handling of cross-laminated timber panels. Five employees per shift had to move around 50 wooden boards with weights of up to four tons every day using forged squared hooks. This manual process was not only inefficient, but also safety-critical. The biggest strain was the physically demanding material handling: stacks of wood up to five meters high had to be regularly climbed using ladders. This work at height required constant attention with regard to occupational safety. With only ten lifting operations per hour and a cycle time of around three minutes per operation, productivity in timber logistics was significantly limited. The lack of automation technology for pre-sorting the raw boards led to delays in the material flow and limited the growth potential. In addition, several squared timbers had to be manually inserted or removed between each sheet in order to be able to reach underneath with the squared hooks. The company recognized the potential to significantly increase the process speed with modern automation technology. The key challenges were to improve safety and speed up the process at the same time. The company was looking for an innovative, semi-automated solution for handling cross laminated timber that would sustainably improve both occupational safety and efficiency.

Stacks of wood up to five meters high no longer have to be climbed with a ladder.

∼ Christian Weidenhüller, Operations Manager Biber Holzbearbeitung GmbH

Решение Шмальца

The company's online research led them directly to Schmalz, one of the market leaders in automation with vacuum and ergonomic handling systems. Following an in-depth consultation, a custom-made solution was quickly developed: a specially configured suction traverse for the semi-automated handling of cross-laminated timber panels. The vacuum suction spider SSP-HD was designed as a custom solution for special requirements. Using advanced vacuum technology, it safely and precisely handles large-format wooden boards – even joint-glued ones. With a load capacity of four tons, it is designed specifically for heavy cross-laminated timber panels. Its special feature: The platform's suction units are rotatable and adapt to the orientation of the deck layer at the touch of a button on the remote control. This ensures a reliable suction force on length- and cross-oriented wooden lamellas and enables precise pre-sorting of raw boards. The result is an optimized material flow in wood logistics without delays from manual transfers. Implementation began in spring 2023. Plant manager Christian Weidenhüller described the collaboration with Schmalz as "very good" – a clear sign of the professional project management and technical expertise of the Schmalz team. The vacuum solution addresses safety concerns and represents future-proof automation technology for material handling. Thanks to the innovative vacuum technology and semi-automated operation, the solution significantly increases occupational safety, reduces manual physical strain and boosts productivity in wood working.