<p><em>After many months of not being able to meet with customers due to travel restrictions, the Orkel team was thrilled when a collaboration for a wood shavings demo came into play.</em><br><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Waste Products from Lumber</h2>



<p>The Orkel team is consistently searching for potential partners, which explains why Orkel representatives reached out to Talgø MøreTre, the department of production of wood materials at MøreRoyal, a company located in the mid-west of Norway.</p>



<p>In particular, it was the "waste products" from the production line of MøreTre that caught Orkel's interest: Best described as wood shavings. Previously, Orkel has conducted significant testing concerning the ability to bale sawdust and wood waste, so naturally a more extensive mapping of the capability of baling different types of wood shavings was in place.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Wood-Shavings-Storage-3.jpg" alt="A pair of hands with red sleeves holding a handful of wood shavings with a dark background." class="wp-image-931"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wood shavings, also referred to as saw shavings or wood waste.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">25,000 Cubic Metre of Surplus Material</h2>



<p>Handling lumber and different wood materials result in significant amounts of surplus material. MøreTre estimates that 100,000 cubic metre of lumber passes through their production facilities annually, where 25% of the material, or 25,000 cubic metre of the initial lumber, is eventually left as wood shavings.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Wood-Shavings-Storage-4.jpg" alt="A half-wrapped wood shavings bale with the bale sides still exposing the yellow material." class="wp-image-933"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Due to its "fluffy" consistency, wood shavings is defined as a baleable material.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking for New Storage Methods</h2>



<p>Luckily, the company identifies multiple usages for the surplus material, such as the production of chipboard, firelighters, or livestock bedding. However, most of these usages are directed by the seasons, where the spring and summer markets require less of the mentioned products.</p>



<p>Additionally, due to the material consistency and the potential fire hazard that the wood shavings represent, MøreTre was on the lookout for a more optimal storage method.</p>



<p><strong>Saw Shavings</strong></p>



<ul>
<li>1/4 of the lumber is normally left as saw shavings</li>



<li>A medium sized sawmill produce between 20,000 and 30,000 cubic metre of saw shavings each year*</li>



<li>Often stored in bulk either inside or outside, or compacted into small square bales</li>



<li>One of the most useful by-products in the world</li>



<li>A popular product for livestock bedding<br><em>*based on examples from Norway</em></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Could High-Density Baling be the Solution?</h2>



<p>After uncovering the interest from both Orkel and MøreTre, as well as local farmers and contractors, a potential demo started taking form. And as the formalities was set in stone, a team of Orkel representatives travelled to Surnadal bringing our most popular model, the MP2000-X, along for a local demonstration of high-density baling of wood shavings.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Wood-Shavings-Storage-2.jpg" alt="A crowd of people wearing yellow safety vests standing in front of an MP2000-X baling wood shavings, with a large pile of wood shavings in the background." class="wp-image-929"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A baling demo was organized using the MP2000-X and recycled film.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Benefits of Baling Sawdust</h2>



<p>The Orkel team, together with the Talgø representatives, were thrilled with the success of the demonstration. Multiple high-density bales were made using the MP2000-X where the bales ranged from 250-300 kilograms, and after speaking with local farmers and potential customers, it was apparent that they found the demonstration insightful and fun!<br></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Wood-Shavings-Storage-5.jpg" alt="Numerous people in yellow or orange safety vests standing around white round bales." class="wp-image-935"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Orkel representatives and Talgø MøreTre representatives joined forces for the baling operation.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Additionally, baling the sawdust offer a number of benefits to the material:</p>



<ul>
<li>Simplified material handling</li>



<li>Greater market access</li>



<li>Verstile storage opportunities</li>



<li>Reduced fire hazard</li>



<li>Simplified logistics from bale weight measurements</li>



<li>Increased profitability from reducing flyaway and informative logistics</li>
</ul>



<p>Coming down from the high of a successful baling demo, the Orkel team would like to thank Talgø MøreTre for the great collaboration, and everyone who found the time to participate in the saw dust demo. May there be more to come!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://wp.orkel.no/app/uploads/2023/03/Wood-Shavings-Storage-6.jpg" alt="A row of white round bales lying on their round side, concrete flooring and blue skies." class="wp-image-937"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The average wood shavings bale came in at 250-300 kg.</figcaption></figure>

Wood Shavings Storage: Is Baling the Solution?

Hi-X

Features baling wood shavings silage

MP2000-X

<p>Wood shavings are widely used as animal bedding for animals like horses, poultry and small pets, due to its abilities to control moisture and odour and simultaneously be a comfortable surface for the animal.</p>
<p>Shavings and sawdust are both byproducts from wood processing, but they differ in size, shape and how they are produced. Sawdust will absorb more than shavings because it has a higher surface area. While more absorbent, sawdust is dustier than shavings. <a href="https://www.orkel.com/benefits-of-baling">Sawdust can also be baled with an Orkel compactor.</a></p>
<p>As mentioned, simplified handling is one great advantage of baling this material. Other advantages include easy transport, reduction of fire hazard and a clean and dry product at all times. Bales can be stored outdoors without compromising the quality, and when they are needed elsewhere, the packaging offers easy and cost-efficient transport.</p>


Business Developer

Sigrid Skjelstad

<p>Wood shavings are thin, small pieces or shreds of wood that are typically created through wood planing or shaving/milling. They are commonly used in various applications such as animal bedding, mulch and as packaging material due to their desirable properties. Simplified handling is one of many advantages of baling this material.</p>


wood-shavings

wood shavings

<p>Wood shavings</p>


Wood shavings are thin, small pieces or shreds of wood. They are commonly used in various applications such as animal bedding.

Get in touch

Features baling wood shavings silage

Between

80 - 90%

Dry matter

Up to

350

Bale weight

Up to

20

Tons per hour

Features baling wood shavings silage

Between

80 - 90%

Dry matter

Up to

350

Bale weight

Up to

20

Tons per hour

Wood Shavings Storage: Is Baling the Solution?