Modern sawmills are high-performance systems
Modern sawmills are continuous, high-throughput production environments where hundreds of drives, motors and control points must operate as one coordinated system. From log intake to final sorting and drying, every stage is interconnected.
Raw material varies constantly in diameter, density and moisture. Loads are cyclic and dynamic. Mechanical stress, dust and vibration are part of daily operation. At the same time, production must remain stable, energy-efficient and safe without interruption.
Sawmill owners measure performance across the entire line. Success depends on seamless integration — where every axis, every drive and every control system works together simply and reliably.
Every tree is unique. So is every machine builder.
Woodworking machines vary widely in application, but all demand productivity, reliability, energy efficiency and safety to operate in demanding environments.
ABB partners with machine builders to deliver scalable drive, motor and automation platforms for complex production systems — supported by global expertise and regional OEM hubs.
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SIX BUILDING BLOCKS OF A MODERN SAWMILL SYSTEM
ABB supports OEMs with all-compatible drives, motors and automation platform designed for demanding, system-level performance.
01 Scalability across the entire sawmill
Standardized tools. Familiar interfaces. Reduced engineering complexity. ABB’s all-compatible drive portfolio helps OEMs manage complex sawmill installations efficiently — from single machines to complete lines.
02 Productivity and reliability without complexity
Accurate motor and position control, without external encoders. Reduced components, improved robustness and reliable performance from zero speed to demanding positioning applications.
03 Energy efficiency for cyclic and high-load applications
ABB’s ACS880 regenerative drives and common DC systems reuse braking energy in cyclic applications. High-efficiency SynRM motors further reduce losses in continuous operation.
04 Integrated safety for demanding applications
ABB’s PLC AC500-S provides SIL 3 / PL e certified safety with secure Ethernet communication. Integrated drive-based safety functions simplify machine design while ensuring safe operation.
05 Efficient lifecycle management at scale
Consistent tools, global availability and condition-aware drives simplify commissioning and maintenance across large sawmill installations — supporting long-term availability and productivity.
06 Local presence. Global support. Regional OEM Hubs.
Local support, regional OEM Hubs and global expertise – helping machine builders design, develop and deliver high-performance sawmill machines.
Engineering reliable sawmill performance
As sawmill systems grow in size and complexity, machine builders must deliver consistent uptime, optimized energy use and integrated safety. This guide demonstrates how ABB’s drive, motor and automation platforms support scalable, high-performance sawmill machines — from single machines to full production lines.
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Customer success stories
Jartek and ABB drive innovation in wood processing
A long-term collaboration delivers harmonized automation and motion control solutions for high-efficiency sawmill operations.
HewSaw developed a more energy efficient power unit
HewSaw developed a new hydraulic power unit using ABB SynRM motors and drives to improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and enhance sawline performance.
Faster conveyors and optimized log gap control boost productivity
Nordautomation and ABB achieved record log conveyor speeds while improving precision and energy efficiency through advanced drive technology.
Maximizing kiln energy efficiency
Valutec improves kiln performance and sustainability by using ABB IE5 SynRM motors and drives in its advanced lumber drying solutions.
HewSaw joins the ABB’s Energy Efficiency Movement
The Finnish sawmill technology company partners with ABB’s Energy Efficiency Movement to advance sustainable and energy-efficient wood processing worldwide.
Leading the shift to energy-efficient sawmills
Kuhmo leads the way in sustainable sawmill operations by using ABB IE5 SynRM motors and regenerative drives to significantly reduce energy consumption.
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Designed to perform where it matters most
Cut energy losses
By aligning power with real process demand, variable speed drives reduce energy use across sawmill applications. Combined with high-efficiency motors, they deliver measurable savings in energy-intensive processes such as drying.
Reliability you can trust
Built for harsh environments and continuous operation, ABB drives, motors and automation deliver stable performance and high availability across the entire sawmill — keeping production running with confidence.
Build together with OEM Hub
ABB Motion OEM hubs support sawmill machine builders with regional expertise, application testing and hands-on collaboration. Working closely with ABB specialists helps accelerate development, reduce engineering risk and deliver machines that perform reliably in demanding sawmill environments.
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EU Machinery Regulation 2027
Safety, Cybersecurity and Compliance — Engineered In
From 20 January 2027, the EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 will replace the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), introducing new requirements for functional safety, cybersecurity and digital documentation. Compliance will be mandatory for CE marking and for machines placed on the EU market.
Machine builders designing and manufacturing wood process machines must ensure that connected systems — including drives, PLCs and automation components — are integrated so that cyber incidents cannot compromise machine safety.
Read our article to learn why the new Machinery Regulation is a wake-up call on Cybersecurity ➞
Learn more ➞
Engineered with sawmills in mind — for decades
More than 50 years ago, one of the first variable speed drives installed in a sawmill marked the beginning of ABB’s long journey in woodworking applications. Since then, we have continuously developed drive, motor and automation technology to meet the evolving demands of modern sawmills.
Today, that experience is reflected in a scalable, all-compatible platform designed to simplify engineering while delivering reliable, energy-efficient and safe machine performance.
Scalable drive platform for sawmill OEMs
ABB offers a complete portfolio of variable speed drives covering applications from compact machinery to high-power industrial processes. Built on the all-compatible platform, ABB drives share a common control architecture and engineering tools — simplifying design, commissioning and lifecycle management.
ACS880 industrial drives for demanding applications
Widely used in sawmills, ACS880 delivers precise speed and torque control for high-inertia and cyclic loads. Encoderless positioning, regenerative solutions and integrated safety enable reliable performance in harsh environments.
AC500 – The integration backbone for modern sawmills
Sawmills combine machines from multiple suppliers. AC500 connects them reliably. With open fieldbus support, integrated safety (AC500-S) and seamless drive communication, it creates one secure and scalable automation platform for the entire line — engineered in a single environment.
CP600 HMI – Clear insight. Faster decisions
CP600 provides centralized visibility of process and drive data in one intuitive interface. Integrated diagnostics and secure OPC UA connectivity enable efficient operation, faster troubleshooting and seamless digital integration.
Low-voltage motors for demanding sawmill environments
ABB’s low-voltage IEC motors are engineered for mechanical robustness, high efficiency and long-term reliability in harsh sawmill conditions. With durable construction, strong protection against dust and vibration, and seamless integration with ABB drives, they deliver stable, energy-efficient performance in continuous heavy-duty operation.
Next-level efficiency with SynRM technology
ABB’s magnet-free SynRM motors deliver efficiency levels up to IE6, reducing losses and operating temperatures while improving long-term reliability. Without rare-earth materials, they support sustainable, future-ready sawmill machine design — especially when paired with ABB drives.
Motors, Generators and Drives services
Helping industries run at high performance and become more productive, efficient and sustainable so they can outperform.
- Extended equipment lifetime and reduced replacement costs
- Reduced energy consumption and operating costs
- Future-proof and digitally enabled operaitons
- Maximized reliability and uptime
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Ready to engineer the next generation of sawmill machines?
Hi, I’m Olli-Petteri Karjalainen, Application Manager for Woodworking at ABB Drives. I work closely with machine builders to support demanding woodworking applications.
With strong local expertise and access to ABB’s global know-how, we help OEMs design reliable, efficient and scalable sawmill machines. I would be happy to discuss your next project.
