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1. CASE STUDY
ROLD SKOV SAWMILL
TRACING TIMBER
IN REAL TIME
MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS’ WI-FI NETWORK AND BARCODE SCANNING SYSTEM
ROLD SKOV SAWMILL
Rold Skov Sawmill is one of Denmark’s largest sawmills. Located in the A/S Lindenborg Gods
estate, it cuts up soft wood for the building sector throughout Europe. The sawmill had previously
managed its operations using paper-based processes that relied on employees remembering what
stock was being held and where.
The mill therefore searched for an automated solution to track and trace its stock. However, to
create a communications network, the area is extremely challenging: equipment is subject to all
weathers and the spruce trees that dominate the forest have a powerful, deadening effect on radio
waves which impairs wireless networks. In addition, any equipment used by teams or attached
to vehicles has to cope with the knocks, bumps and drops associated with working in the tough
environment. Rold Skov Sawmill partnered with communications specialist Norris Print-Tech A/S to
help it overcome these issues.
Norris Print-Tech A/S recommended the installation of a robust Wi-Fi network from Motorola
Solutions. The network, which has recently been updated, connects handheld scanners and vehiclemounted computers from Motorola Solutions with the back office so that barcodes attached to
wood can be read in the field to track and trace products in real time. The technology provides Rold
Skov Sawmill with a complete real-time view over its inventory to help process orders quickly and
accurately, enhance operational efficiencies and better align production to customers’ demands.
CUSTOMER PROFILE
Organisation
Rold Skov Sawmill
Location
Århus, Denmark
Industry
Natural resources
Motorola Solutions products
l 10 VC5090 vehicle terminals
l 10 DS3578ER long-range
imager scanners
l 2 Motorola RFS6000 wireless
LAN switches
l 40 access points (mix of
AP300 and AP650 antennas)
l 6 Motorola MC7090 handheld
computers
Partner
Norris Print-Tech A/S
Application (s)
The tracking and tracing of
timber in real time using Wi-Fi,
barcodes and handheld and
vehicle-based scanners and
computers

2. CASE STUDY
ROLD SKOV SAWMILL
“The sawmill is subject to extremes of cold and moisture in winter and dust and heat in
summer – it’s a very tough place to build and operate a computer-based stock management
system. But with our expertise and the rugged build of Motorola’s Wi-Fi technology and mobile
devices we’ve overcome these challenges. The highly reliable technology is helping Rold Skov
Sawmill efficiently track and trace produce in real-time and understand which products are
selling well to adjust production accordingly.”
Jacob Norris, Key Account Manager, Norris Print-Tech A/S
CHALLENGE
Rold Skov Sawmill set out to deploy a barcode scanning
system and Wi-Fi network to enable the real-time tracking
and tracing of wood products. However, the deployment
presented several challenges. The equipment needed
to cope with the elements from the heat of summer to
the damp and cold of winter. Also, the spruce trees that
dominate the forest are dense and would impair the
progress of radio waves, while electronic devices – e.g.
vehicle-mounted computers – would need to cope with the
judders and jolts of the rough terrain and be impervious to
large amounts of sawdust.
SOLUTION
Rold Skov Sawmill selected Norris Print-Tech A/S to
recommend and deploy its new inventory management
technology. It proposed the installation of a robust Wi-Fi
network from Motorola Solutions, and the introduction
of barcode labels attached to wood products. The labels
would be read by cordless scanners connected by
Bluetooth™ to vehicle-mounted computers integrated
with the back office. Although the technology worked
well, key components had reached end of life, so Norris
Print-Tech A/S updated the Wi-Fi network and scanners.
The Wi-Fi network includes two Motorola Solutions
RFS6000 switches and the addition of new AP650 access
points alongside the existing AP300 access points. The
switches are extremely robust, providing the surety of
continuous service. In addition, the switches and the access
points include advanced self-healing and self-adjusting
technology to dynamically sense weak or failing signals and
automatically compensate for unforeseen gaps in coverage.
The handheld scanners used by teams to read labels
have been replaced with Motorola Solutions’ new
DS3578ER scanners. The devices are ideal for the mill’s
environment. They are cordless, allowing users to move
freely, and can scan lumber ID barcodes over distances
of up to 9m. And critically, the omni-directional scanning
technology built into the DS3578ER means that drivers
don’t need to spend time getting close to the barcode
or lining up the scanner parallel to it. In fact, they scan
barcodes from their vehicle through the windscreen.
Also, the scanners can capture data in bright sunlight and
are IP65 sealed so are impervious to dust and moisture
and can withstand the knocks and drops associated
with working in a busy sawmill. The VC5090 computers
attached to trucks are also extremely robust link to the
back office Microsoft® Dynamics ERP system.
Drivers get their instructions to pick up packs of wood
through their computers and as they fetch the goods
they scan the barcodes through the ERP system that runs
directly on their vehicle terminals using a citrix platform.
In addition, team members who manually move materials
by hand, scan products using the MC7090 rugged
handheld computer from Motorola Solutions. The devices
are similarly designed to work outside in all weathers
and cope with the demanding working environment.
Using these technologies, all movements are instantly
tracked and traced, from the moment goods are packed
to the minute they leave the mill on delivery trucks or are
picked up by customers.
RESULTS
Rold Skov Sawmill has a complete, real-time view over
its inventory with data communicated over a Wi-Fi
network that provides continuous operation whatever the
weather and in a very demanding operating environment.
In addition, by analyzing its ERP data, the sawmill can
better understand what stock is popular and adjust its
production schedule. Customer service is enhanced too
as orders are processed quickly and accurately.
The technology is also helping to save time. For instance,
replacing paper processes with electronic systems is
reducing administration. Also, drivers no longer need to
jump from their vehicle to scan barcodes. And, when a
driver needs to pick stock he does not need to rely on his
memory to find it as he’s directed to the location to find it
quickly and efficiently.
For more information on how Motorola Solutions’ Wi-Fi networks and rugged mobile scanners
and computers can improve the efficiency of your field service teams and inventory management,
please visit us on the web at www.motorolasolutions.com or access our global contact directory
at www.motorolasolutions.com/contactus
MOTOROLA, MOTO, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are
used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2013 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Benefits
l Traceability: Wood can be
traced through each stage of
the production process
l Enhanced customer
service: Teams can find
the right products faster for
customers
l Reduced administration:
Removing paper from the
inventory management
process is saving teams
administration time
l Enhanced planning: The
mill can understand which
products are proving popular
to better predict its future
stock needs