Article in Holzkurier, issue 17, April 25, 2024 Text and image: Raphael Kerschbaumer and TimberTec
("A world without (SIPal)? Would be unthinkable today...") This is what daily users of the SIPal software solution from TimberTec say. The logistics program is already used in over 80 companies in Scandinavia and the number is constantly increasing. Cost savings and improvements in the entire goods management, including production and logistics planning, convince both in Sweden and abroad.
JGA is one of the most satisfied SIPal users in southern Sweden. The family-owned company was founded in 1928 and is now in its fourth generation. JGA employs a total of around 150 people at its two sites and mainly manufactures high-quality building products for international customers in Europe, the UK and the USA. With an annual production volume of 250,000 m3, the logistical effort in the sawmill is correspondingly high. "Almost all companies here in the region rely on SIPal. That's how we became aware of the solution and we didn't hesitate for a second to implement the software here", says Magnus Ragnarsson, Production Manager at JGA.
Harnessing undiscovered potential
"Many sawmills give little or no thought to their internal logistics because they don't see it as something they can easily and smoothly optimize and improve," says Anders Marklund, CEO of DataPolarna, and continues: "This is exactly where we come in with SIPal. Logistics is a major cost factor for sawmills and wood processing companies, which we can reduce by an average of 20 percent. This means, for example, fewer forklifts in daily operation or an increase in production without having to upgrade the package logistics."
Focus on international exports: JGA produces more than 250,000 m3 of sawn timber per year, 70% of which is exported internationally.
Employees are enthusiastic
The list of benefits that SIPal offers its users is long. JGA implemented the program back in 2018 and today, almost eight years later, the software has become an integral part of employees' daily work. "A world without SIPal would be unthinkable", says one of JGA's employees aptly. The Timber Courier meets the longtime forklift driver as he transports a package sawn timber from the dry sorting area to the warehouse. Thanks to SIPal, he not only knows which package it is, but is also assigned a suitable storage location, which can be set up and defined according to customer-specific rules. "The entire company premises can be digitally mapped in SIPal. Depending on the assigned characteristics of the products, such as dimensions, quality or destination country, the entire warehouse management can be optimized quickly and easily. In addition, the employee saves a lot of time because there is no need to search for package or storage locations", explains Marklund.
No more convincing needed: JGA's Production Manager Magnus
Ragnarsson (center) is convinced by SIPal together with DataPolarna's CEO
Anders Marklund (left) and Per Durlind, Sales and Marketing Manager at
TimberTec (right).
Solutions without satellite connectivity
An RFID tag is installed in the floor in front of each storage location. The system is complemented by an antenna, which is mounted on the underside of the truck, and a card computer that can also be used offline. Together, they ensure that the forklift driver knows exactly where he is and where to place the package at all times. This significantly reduces the likelihood of errors. "During the implementation, we spent a few days drilling holes in front of the individual storage locations and placing the RFID tags there. Once attached, they last a lifetime," says Ragnarsson, describing the few technical requirements of the system. The RFID solution has additional benefits, as Marklund explains: "Our solution works without GPS. In sawmills, trucks are constantly driving back and forth between indoor and outdoor areas or moving around in drying chambers. GPS connections often break, but an RFID tag in the floor is always recognized."
Influence extends beyond logistics
JGA's management team is equally enthusiastic about the logistics tool: "We constantly receive good feedback from our employees, but we also benefit greatly from SIPal in sales and production planning. We know exactly what is in stock at all times and can therefore quickly and easily keep track of our entire stock. This also has a positive effect on production planning, which can be controlled and adapted to needs much better by looking in the system. Before SIPal, we also had a number of package every year that we simply did not know where they were. That can no longer happen to us," says Ragnarsson.
Easy upgrade for existing customers
SIPal works independently of the customer's ERP system. "The implementation is particularly easy for TimberTec customers, as they can utilize the new standard integration between TiCom and SIPal," says Marklund. "With TimberTec, you have a single supplier for ERP and logistics and can optimally utilize all the synergies that arise." TimberTec has a large customer base, especially in Central Europe. Since the acquisition of DataPolarna last fall, SIPal is now also part of the TimberTec family. "SIPal is a must-have for the daily handling of countless timber packages. For existing TiCom customers, our tool takes efficiency to a new level, as the many positive experiences from Scandinavia show what our solution can achieve. This can also be transferred to the rest of Europe in a simple, fast and, above all, efficient way," the industry expert concludes.