The traditional Wedge User Days will now be held for the first time as part of the Trimble Forestry User Conference. For Wedge users, there is a dedicated track called Wedge User Group at the event focusing on topics that will allow you to diversify and deepen your own use of Wedge.

The user conference is a two-day event. By participating, you will get to hear interesting user experience presentations from other Wedge users and receive tips and tricks directly from Wedge developers.

Time: September 10-11, 2024
Venue: Clarion Hotel Helsinki, Finland

More information and registration >>

Secure your seat today!

Note: All contracted Wedge users, please contact your Wedge sales representative for a promo code.

As of 2022, Brazil has been the world’s largest producer of pulp, and the industry continues to grow. Pulp is also the main export product of Brazil, with an annual value of USD 8.4 billion (2022). 

To meet the high demands of the international market, the pulp and paper industries in Brazil are making investments in data analysis and management technologies. With a powerful data analysis tool, Wedge, companies like Klabin are able to better monitor internal processes, quality control and compliance.

The use of Wedge technology for data analytics is also bringing results to companies in other parts of Latin America, such as Arauco in Chile and UPM in Uruguay, who are among the largest producers and exporters of pulp in Latin America.

Read more in an article by Madeira Total (in Portuguese)

Global forest company Arauco strives for sustainable solutions and excellent energy efficiency in its operations. Arauco’s new production line in Chile is the newest line to implement this objective.

The history of this production plant goes back 50 years, with the installation of Line 1. Line 2 has produced radiata pine pulp approximately since 1990. Line 3 (initially called Project MAPA) is the largest eucalyptus pulp project in the world and Arauco’s most significant investment ever, and it has an annual production capacity of 2.1 million tons.

To achieve its high targets for sustainability, energy efficiency, and impeccable quality, Arauco has been relying on Trimble’s process data analytics system, Wedge, since 2018. Wedge has been used on two plants in Chile, and the new production line will also use Wedge for its process diagnostics.

With Wedge, Arauco can streamline its processes and reduce the time engineers spend on process data analytics. By quickly identifying the root causes of any production problems, Arauco can now minimize waste and ensure the consistent quality and smooth production of its products.

Arauco produces boards and wood that are used in furniture, construction, and packaging, as well as cellulose to manufacture, for example, papers, packaging materials, and diapers. Arauco’s products are available in more than 80 countries.

2024 will be a busy year for events. We hope to see you at least at one of these events:

• IMPS | Munich, Germany | March 19-21
• Pulp and Beyond | Helsinki, Finland | April 10-11
• Paper & Tissue One Show | Abu Dhabi, UAE | April 16-18
• Nordic Nuclear Forum | Helsinki, Finland | May 21-22
• Zellcheming | Wiesbaden, Germany | June 18-20
• MIAC | Lucca, Italy | October 9-11

See you soon!

Klabin, Brazil’s largest producer and exporter of packaging paper and sustainable solutions in paper packaging, expanded its Puma Unit in Ortigueira, Paraná. This expansion, called the Puma II Project, includes two new paper machines, and represents an annual production capacity of 910,000 tons of paper.

The Puma Unit has been using Trimble’s process data analysis tool, Wedge, since 2021. Wedge has helped Klabin with advanced analyses to identify and correct deviations and optimize production processes. Based on user experience, Klabin has extended the use of Wedge to the new Puma II Project production line.

“In times when large volumes of data from production processes are made available online, the ability to interpret this information, combined with the speed and quality of decision making, are fundamental factors in maintaining and increasing plant performance. The ease of obtaining and processing data, in line with the robustness for processing calculations and advanced analyses, make Wedge a differentiated and fundamental resource for carrying out analytical activities,” says Elielson Batista, Process engineer at Klabin.

The Puma II Project was designed to become a global benchmark in sustainability, technology, and innovation, and it is aligned with Industry 4.0 principles. Efficient analysis of all process data is essential to achieving and maintaining the ambitious goals and objectives Klabin has for its operations.

We are thrilled to announce that two new language versions of Wedge have been released this autumn! Joining the linguistic lineup are Italian and Norwegian, making Wedge even more accessible and user-friendly for a wider audience.

Wedge is now available in an impressive total of 11 languages. Whether you prefer expressing yourself in English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, or Swedish, Wedge has got you covered.

This expansion reflects our commitment to breaking down language barriers and fostering global connections.

Finland-based SharpCell is one of the newest airlaid manufacturers in the world. They take pride in their consistent quality and reliable delivery of airlaid products for wiping, hygiene and personal care products, table top applications, household cleaning applications, baby care, and feminine hygiene.

To ensure consistent quality and trouble-free production processes, they have chosen Wedge for analyzing their process data. With Wedge, all process data can be utilized fast and easily to ensure zero waste, zero emissions, and minimal use of resources at all times.

“Wedge is a powerful piece of data mining software and a useful tool for understanding our production process on a more detailed level. The visualizing process and quality data help us widen our understanding of the current status of where we are on all organizational levels. Wedge is also a great asset in troubleshooting, and a tool for minimizing process variance. All this is supporting us in our main target, which is to be quality leaders in the airlaid segment.” says Production manager Eero Ollila, SharpCell.

Forest company giant UPM has opened a new factory in Paso de los Toros, Uruguay with the capacity to produce 2.1 million tons of eucalyptus pulp annually. The mill incorporates the latest and best technology available and represents the very best in modern factories. It is energy efficient with minimal environmental impacts and optimized maintenance.

Wedge is Trimble’s process data diagnostics system that will help UPM Paso de los Toros to achieve and then maintain the highest standards of performance by enabling faster and better data-driven decision making. Trimble’s Wedge will result in reduced waste, mitigated risks and increased productivity at the new mill. 

Choosing Wedge as its main tool for process diagnosis and monitoring was easy, since UPM’s first mill in Uruguay, Fray Bentos, has been using Wedge since 2019 and the results have been convincing. It is seamlessly integrated with the different systems that provide process data throughout the factory and is actively and widely used by operators, engineers, supervisors and process coordinators. UPM Fray Bentos also uses Wedge at the management level, with dashboards that summarize important steps in the process.

Trimble Wedge is sponsoring the MIAC 2023 which is the number one event for the paper and packaging making industry in Italy. MIAC will take place in Lucca, October 11-13, 2023.

At MIAC you can meet our process data analytics experts Jürgen Missel, Matti Häkkinen, and Teemu Möykkylä to discuss if Wedge could be the system for your process improvement.

MIAC also offers an excellent opportunity to learn from your peers. We recommend you not to miss Eugenio Ciucani’s (Holmen Iggesund Paperboard) presentation, “Online data analysis for process optimization”. The practical presentation is taking place on Friday October 13 at 11:50 at the MIAC Conference Room.

Did you know that Wedge also works great for the metal and mining industries? We will attend the Digitalisation in mining Europe event in Stockholm, Sweden on 29-30 August. Welcome to discuss how we can help you make better use of your process data.

Teemu Möykkylä, Matti Häkkinen and Jürgen Missel are looking forward to meeting you!