Tuesday, November 4, 2025
The bedrock of the timber industry—the precise identification and marking of logs—is on the verge of a technological overhaul. For years, the industry standard in regions like southern Sweden has relied on the use of roll labels to mark timber volumes. While functional, this method introduces inefficiencies and safety risks in the demanding forest environment. In early 2025, the Swedish forest industry giant Södra completed crucial field tests with the technology company Logscom, trialing an innovative system for marking timber directly on the forwarder using specialised inkjet printers. The goal of this collaboration was clear: to validate a more efficient, safer, and more reliable alternative to the cumbersome roll label process, ultimately accelerating the timber supply chain.
Logscom’s equipment, already proven robust in the challenging conditions of northern Sweden, consists of an industrial-grade printer unit mounted directly on the forwarder’s gate. The system integrates seamlessly with the machine’s existing computer, providing the operator with a digital interface.
The process is simple and performed entirely from the safety of the cabin:
The primary focus of Södra’s tests was not the operational reliability of the equipment—which is already well-established—but its tangible impact on safety, user experience, and supply chain efficiency in a high-volume forestry operation.
The triple bottom line
The results of Södra’s field tests, which included a reference period measuring the time and risk associated with the traditional method, have delivered a compelling case for the transition to digital marking.
1. Dramatic gains in operational efficiency
The most direct financial benefit comes from the time saved by the forwarder operator. Data collected during the reference period indicated that drivers were spending between 20 and 30 minutes per day dealing with issues related to roll labels, such as handling label rolls, clearing jams, or physically applying the labels.
By eliminating this time-consuming manual process, the Logscom system has the potential to create a significant operational increase, translating to an estimated one to two extra forwarder loads per week, depending on site conditions. This time-saving is crucial for maximising productivity in harvest operations.
2. Enhanced operator safety and reduced stress
In the forestry industry, safety is paramount. The roll label system inherently forces drivers to be physically near or on the timber stacks to apply markings—a high-risk scenario.
The inkjet system removes this danger entirely. All marking is performed non-contact, from the secure enclosure of the machine cab. Furthermore, a highly valued, positive side effect identified during the test was the reduction of driver stress. Under the old system, forwarded volumes could not be definitively reported for truck transport until the roll labeling was completed. This led to significant pressure and potential bottlenecks, especially during periods of high demand for timber. With the inkjet system, wood is marked instantly upon loading, allowing volumes to be reported for transport immediately. This synchronisation between harvesting and haulage removes a major logistical stress factor for both Södra and the haulage companies they partner with.
3. Streamlined traceability for the supply chain
The digital marking process improves the entire chain of custody for the timber. Logscom’s printed markings enhance the secure identification of timber. This is particularly beneficial for haulage companies and for organisations like Biometria (Sweden’s official organisation for timber measurement and data services), which requires clear identification for subsequent image measurement processes. More logs are marked clearly and visibly per felling, facilitating easier and more accurate measurement during later loading stages.
The successful field tests confirm that the Logscom marking equipment not only works well but significantly contributes to higher safety and efficiency standards for the wood procurement process. However, adopting this new technology requires more than just successful hardware trials.
The next critical phase for the project involves integrating the system within the existing industry framework. As roll labels have been the undisputed standard across southern Sweden, Södra is now focused on developing comprehensive new procedures internally, within its execution operations, and most critically, in close collaboration with Biometria. These efforts are aimed at ensuring the new marking system meets all necessary technical and regulatory requirements to be officially recognised and utilised across Södra’s vast operations.
The move from manual, paper-based labels to an automated, digital, and non-contact marking system is a key step in the continuous drive toward a smarter, safer, and more efficient Swedish forest industry. The successful transition promises a profound increase in operational uptime and a much-needed improvement in the working environment for forest machine operators across the Nordic region.
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Tags: Biometria, digital supply chain, forestry efficiency, Inkjet Timber Marking, Logging Safety, Södra, Swedish forestry
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