Reducing Good Wood Fiber Loss in High-Capacity Pulp Chip Screening

Overview

Advancements in sawmilling technology have significantly increased processing speeds and overall throughput. While these improvements boost productivity, they also introduce new challenges downstream—particularly in pulp chip screening, where higher volumes and increased fines can negatively impact product recovery.

To address these challenges without compromising pulp chip quality, a modern screening approach was required—one capable of keeping pace with increased capacity while maintaining efficient separation of acceptable material.

Challenges

The pulp chip screening process faced several industry-wide challenges:

• Increased generation of fines due to higher saw line speeds
• Conventional screening systems unable to handle higher throughput efficiently
• Reliance on enlarging screen openings to maintain capacity
• Loss of acceptable wood fiber reporting to fines streams
• Reduced screening efficiency and overall material recovery
• Limited ability to optimize screening performance as process conditions evolved

Existing screening practices forced producers to choose between throughput and fiber recovery.

Solutions

An advanced gyratory pulp chip screening solution was engineered to address both capacity and performance limitations.

Key elements of the solution included:

• High-energy gyratory motion to keep smaller screen openings clear and effective
• Larger, balanced screening decks designed to manage increased chip volumes
• Screening systems engineered to maintain pulp chip quality without enlarging apertures
• Application-specific screen selection based on fines content rather than throughput alone
• Laboratory-based screening tools that replicate full-scale gyratory motion for material testing
• Custom-configured screening solutions tailored to individual process requirements

This approach allowed screening performance to scale with production increases while preserving acceptable fiber.

Results

The modernized screening solution delivered meaningful operational improvements:

• Improved recovery of acceptable pulp chips
• Reduced loss of good wood fiber to fines handling systems
• Consistent pulp chip quality under high-capacity conditions
• Enhanced screening efficiency without sacrificing throughput
• Lower waste generation and improved material utilization
• Greater overall process stability and profitability

By aligning screening technology with modern sawmilling demands, producers were able to protect fiber value while supporting increased production rates.