Four months. That was all FORCE Technology had to develop, test and deliver a new sensor system for German company EWS. It needed to be fast and precise, as requested by their customer, who wanted to meet market needs and requirements as quickly as possible.

Through its network of customers, Electronic Wood Systems, which produces and sells measurement equipment for the wood industry, had identified an opening for a compact and intelligent sensor system that could take readings within a continual wood panel board production system. The system needed to be compact, since this would save a lot of space in the production area. It also had to be intelligent, because data would be communicated via the company's existing IT system.

"As soon as we heard from EWS, we knew that this was a challenge we couldn't pass up." "Although we only had four months to play with, we knew the basic technology for the new system - although this needed to be upgraded and designed to meet EWS requirements," say Technical Manager Torben Sevel and Engineer Stig Ole Vilsen of FORCE Technology.

Getting the team together

FORCE Technology was aiming to develop a sensor that could be adapted to the relevant tasks on a modular basis, one which could function independently, but could also connect to existing sensors in order to add new information about the product. This would be extremely useful to process and product control systems. The system needed to be able to deliver production data - both online and in real time - to document the production process and provide information that was necessary in order to adjust production on an ongoing basis.

"While FORCE Technology took care of the sensor system development, we looked for a competent partner who would be able to lift the project by designing the data communication. It's not uncommon for us to work with different companies on various projects in order to resolve a particular task. This means that we have a good idea as to how we can supplement our knowledge from external sources. Our choice fell on Glaze A/S, a development company that we have worked with in the past," says Vilsen.

Danish software

Glaze A/S developed the communication software and functioned as a kind of sparring partner for FORCE Technology throughout the process.

"When you have a very short time in which to develop a product, communication with the customer is crucial. There are often technical specifics that need to be discussed and examined before a product can be developed. In this case, we had a very specific, purposeful dialogue with FORCE Technology from the outset – and also with the end customer in Germany. We feel that our cutting-edge expertise was useful throughout the development process," explains Glaze A/S Managing Director Michael Carl.

Global market

German company EWS is responsible for producing and selling the sensor system through its global sales network. And there is plenty of demand for it.

"The short development period made managing costs easier, and that obviously makes the final price more attractive in the long run. We have also been able to respond quickly to the industry's need for continual measuring of wood fiberboards and particleboards, in a manner that incorporates the latest production methods in the wood industry. We have a reputation among our customers as a supplier of technologically innovative solutions. The new sensor system merely builds on this, since we are the sole producers on the market. In conjunction with FORCE Technology, we have created a sensor system that may in future become one of our main products," says general manager Matthias Fuchs of Electronic Wood Systems.

Problem solved

The sensor system has undergone its baptism of fire in the wood industry, and will soon be rolled out to other industries that use continuous measurements and documentation. It is well-suited to production processes in which the production flow cannot be halted, or where the need for space necessitates minimal equipment.

Torben Sevel and Stig Ole Vilsen see great potential in the sensor system, which may be used in any number of industrial sectors because of its flexible design. Next in line are manufacturers of plastic film, insulation material and roofing felt, but the list is endless.