A family-owned company based in Lahti, Finland, Jartek has deep expertise in providing sawmills with sawn timber handling and sorting lines, thermal modification kilns, and comprehensive automation solutions. The company has been successfully solving wood processing technology challenges for nearly 70 years.
Quality in all aspects adds up to best results
High-quality mechanical engineering forms the basic foundation on which each Jartek wood processing solution is built. Starting from this foundation, the company then adds the latest automation technology and long-term lifecycle support solutions to create significant added value, both for itself and for its customers.
Jartek uses this complete package of excellence in engineering, automation and lifecycle support – combined with its deep expertise in wood processing operations – to help customers get substantial benefits in sawmill line availability, increased output efficiency, and reduced operating and electricity costs, in both new and existing plants.
Cooperation has grown step by step
The collaboration between ABB and Jartek began in 2022 with a sawmill project done for Kuhmo Oy in Finland, where the entire plant was modernized through a €50 million investment. Starting with the Kuhmo project, the teamwork between Jartek and ABB has systematically grown deeper.
“Initially, our cooperation focused solely on ABB variable speed drives and fieldbus control,” explains Jani Wallden, Automation Engineer at Jartek. “But we soon realized there were other areas of mutual benefit, so it quickly expanded to include motion control synchronization, electrical systems, and most recently hydraulic pump control.”
Extensive and ongoing application development work in motion control and other areas is being carried out in close cooperation between Jartek and ABB’s OEM Hub. The collaboration is based on trust built over many years. Pictured: Jarno Kivistö (left), ABB, and Jani Wallden, Jartek. 
A significant step forward in energy efficiency has been the modernization of hydraulic pump control. Previously, the electric motor ran continuously at full speed, with flow regulated hydraulically by an outflow valve. Today, the motor and the pump pressure are controlled directly by an ABB variable speed drive, for large energy savings and noise reductions. 
Better energy efficiency, user-friendliness, and safety are key benefits that customers get with Jartek’s modern sawmill solutions.
Harmonized technology for sawmill lines
Jartek’s automation systems are continuously evolving to meet the specific demands of the wood processing industry. To achieve this, ABB plays a key role in supporting joint product development – from early testing of new ideas through to implementing innovative solutions in production lines.
Among the latest references, ABB and Jartek’s joint technology has been deployed in demanding sawmill projects across Finland, including production facilities operated by Pölkky Oy in Kajaani, Junnikkala Oy (now part of Stora Enso) in Oulu, and Iisalmen Sahat Oy (IPO Wood) in Iisalmi.
The solutions implemented include servo motor control for precise acceleration and positioning of stacking transfer arms, synchronized scraper applications, customized variable speed drive control of hydraulic pumps, and linear servo systems which respond within milliseconds. ABB drives have also been used to synchronize and precisely control the speed of chain conveyors.
At Junnikkala’s site in Oulu, a completely new sawmill has been built exclusively using ABB variable speed drives. The commissioning was a complex large-scale undertaking, covering two separate sorting lines and requiring multiple subsystems to ensure that the two lines operate seamlessly together.
“To succeed with projects like these, extensive and continuous application development has been carried out between Jartek and ABB’s OEM Hub. The close collaboration we have and the results that we have achieved are based on trust built over many years,” says Jarno Kivistö, Area Sales Manager at ABB.
Energy efficiency is at the heart of sawmill modernization
Automation projects are designed to meet the growing requirements of Jartek’s end customers that work with green and dry sorting of sawn timber. In modern sawmills, energy efficiency, user-friendliness, and safety have become key decision criteria, and ABB can assist in each of these areas.
A major step forward in energy efficiency has been the modernization of hydraulic pump control. Previously, electric motors ran continuously at full speed, with the flow regulated hydraulically. Today, ABB variable speed drives control the motors directly, allowing them to be slowed down or stopped entirely as required.
“The biggest benefit is that the motor can now be switched off when it is not needed, giving us significant energy savings. We also have enormously reduced noise levels,” says Wallden.
Safety is also a key consideration in all plant investments, as safety requirements continue to become more stringent. The built-in safety functions of ABB variable speed drives can play a central role in meeting these requirements.
Simplifying automation projects through a unified user experience
ABB’s all-compatible concept means that all ABB variable speed drives operate using the same logic and user interface, delivering a consistent and familiar way of working throughout the drive product family. This makes things easy for users by giving simpler operation, faster commissioning, and more straightforward maintenance.
“Our choice of ABB products is driven above all by strong technical support, reliability, a well-functioning overall solution, and fast, effective responses in problem situations. ABB’s experts are easy to reach, and issues are addressed immediately,” says Wallden.
