1. SAATECHS MODULAR SORTING AND STACKING SYSTEM FOR PLANERMILLS SAATECH Module Sorting System This slide show will automatically advance, but if you want to manually advance or return to a previous slide, click on the buttons below. Copyright © Saatech 2002 A New Modular System for Automatic Sorting & Stacking in the Planer Mill Press to exit

2. NOTE The illustrations depicted in this presentation depict a 5- Module Sorting System installation, but systems may be comprised of 4 to 40 modules. SAATECH Module Sorting System Copyright © Saatech 2002 Australian Patents Pending NZ Patent No 511358 For the first time, sawmillers can purchase a planermill sorting and stacking system that is economical for small and medium scaled mills, but also competitive with drop and tray sort systems for larger scale operations. With many compelling advantages over existing sorting and stacking systems, the Saatech Module Sorting technology offers all sawmill operators a highly effective means of making substantial gains in planermill productivity. A New Modular System for Automatic Sorting & Stacking in the Planer Mill Press to exit

3. FEATURES of the MODULE SORTING SYSTEM Integrates sorting and stacking function in each module Very gentle on product - hence no product damage. No dropping of timber, no unscramblers Produces accurately ended packs - end pressing at strapping station may not be required Packs built, conveyed and strapped on a 17.5° slant - therefore remain very stable Suited for structural and DAR products Cost-effective for small to medium sawmills - combine with short manual sort if necessary Module system can comprise 4 to 40 units Highly redundant system - in event of a fault, divert product to a spare module, continue operating Mechanically and electrically modular Can be simply added to at any time (modular) Low head room requirement - 2.15 m high Pack outfeed handling fully automated to strapping station infeed Requires only one operator for automated system System design piece rate 100+ boards per minute* Module unit rate - 60 boards per minute (* 8 board layer, 90mm boards) Automated strip placement - for pack stabilisation (3 or 4 strips per strip course) Very low noise level operation Advanced Networked computer management & PLC control Auto generation of finished pack reports, tracked to strapping station Production program comprises M1600 & M2000 Module models (800 and 1200 wide packs) Copyright © Saatech 2002 Australian Patents Pending NZ Patent No 511358 A New Modular System for Automatic Sorting & Stacking in the Planer Mill Press to exit

4. Ariel view of 5-Module Sorting System Note that the automatic traverser system, schematically shown in the illustration above, consists of dual transfer chain drive system for each traverser carriage. Depending upon the length of the system (the number of sort modules), the secondary traverser unit may accelerate to speeds up to 220m/min. Precise docking at each pack buffer belt is achieved via a quadrature encoder feedback to the high- speed counter fitted to the main system PLC. The automatic traverser system depicted below shows a dual carriage system. In fact, a dual carriage system would be normally associated with an installation featuring at least 10 sort modules, but is shown here to demonstrate how the most highly loaded modules can be serviced by a dedicated service carriage. Such a dedicated carriage normally remains aligned with the strapping station, but can be displaced 1 module pitch to permit docking of the secondary traverser unit. SAATECH Module Sorting System Copyright © Saatech 2002 Australian Patents Pending NZ Patent No 511358 A New Modular System for Automatic Sorting & Stacking in the Planer Mill Press to exit

5. To short manual sort deck (not shown) Outfeed from planer mill grading zone Slant rollcase to strapping station Scan Zone Finish Pack Outfeed Auto-positioning pack traversers system for automatic transfer of packs to the strapping station Pack buffer belts Safety Exclusion Fence The scan zone provides for length inputs, but will also support other inputs such as from Grade Mark Readers and the like. Except for one pneumatic system for high-speed operation of the live sorting gate, the Saatech Module Sorting system is an all- electric system. No hydraulic systems are employed. SAATECH Module Sorting System Copyright © Saatech 2002 Australian Patents Pending NZ Patent No 511358 A New Modular System for Automatic Sorting & Stacking in the Planer Mill Press to exit

6. Strip Placer magazine takes 100 strips 35x10 Strip Placement is fast, precise, and repeatable One Operator monitors the entire system and ensures supply of strips is maintained to the strip magazines. (Strip magazines not shown in this view.) Manual sorting deck not shown in these illustrations This side of installation module contains control MCCs, all but one module drive, and all safely accessible from floor level. Most field devices (PE cells, proximity switches, etc) are readily accessible from floor level on this side also. A New Modular System for Automatic Sorting & Stacking in the Planer Mill SAATECH Module Sorting System Copyright © Saatech 2002 Australian Patents Pending NZ Patent No 511358 Press to exit