Properties of birch for sawmilling and future processing in Finland

This thesis presents the possibilities to improve the efficiency of birch wood and timber utilisation in the mechanical wood industries, in sawmilling in particular. The principal objective was to describe the variation in selected stem and wood properties of mature silver birch and white birch in Finland. The causes of these variations and the possibilities of modelling them, were also studied. Although the primary aim was to produce scientific bases for the development of sawmilling and future processing of the sawn wood, virtually all the results and conclusions are also applicable to activities related to veneer and plywood production. The thesis consists of five peer-reviewed articles, and a synthesis based on these articles and current knowledge in the field. The study material consisted of 261 sample trees, originating from 20 mature stands located in southern and central Finland. As approximately the same tree material was used throughout the articles, they are therefore analogous and comparable.

This thesis is in paper form located at Puutuoteteollisuus ry.