Rebecca Haller shows how TiCom, Timbertec’s ERP system, is used © Martina Nöstler
An ERP system is there to support and facilitate the automation of production processes as well as other activities within a company, such as purchasing, sales or logistics. TimberTec’s TiCom offers exactly that for manufacturers of cross-laminated timber. Put simply, every user can have their own ERP system put together from a number of various modules. Holzbauwerk Schwarzwald is one of the most recent projects involving the implementation of TiCom.
Holzbauwerk Schwarzwald was founded by the three companies Sägewerk Echtle of Nordrach/DE, Holzwerk Kübler of Haiterbach/DE, and Sägewerk Streit of Hausach/DE. All three companies are equal shareholders. Manuel Echtle and Jörg Kübler are the managing directors, with Kübler being mainly responsible for operations. Production started in September 2022. Kübler puts the single-shift capacity at 20,000 m³ a year.
Relying on the market leader
In the ERP system, a label is created for each finished construction element. Once all the elements for a truck are there, the delivery note is printed © Martina Nöstler
“Of course, we followed developments on the ERP systems market,” Kübler explains and adds: “TimberTec is already involved in many large CLT plants and has considerable experience. We also liked the interface to Hundegger’s Cambium software because it allows us to collect all CAD data and transfer them to the ERP system. Actually, no other solution was an option for us.” TimberTec also responded to Holzbauwerk Schwarzwald’s wishes and together, the two companies further developed the CLT module in TiCom. Robert Rother, project manager at TimberTec, gives batch planning in BSPN as an example. “This was the first time we handled a major project with Weinig. The collaboration worked very well,” Rother comments.
Holzbauwerk Schwarzwald’s entire CLT production process is mapped in TiCom – from purchasing, sales and warehouse management to production planning and truck loading. Production planning is done based on the BVX files of the construction elements or projects. The files are fed into the Cambium software, where the nesting of the raw panels is done in a first step. These data are then transferred to the ERP system, and the orders are created automatically. “At a click of the mouse, I receive all the geometric data and the price list,” Andreas Bauer tells us. He is responsible for joining at Schwarzwald Holzbauwerk and also played a leading role in the implementation of TiCom.
In production planning, the packages of the finished CLT elements are planned first as are the routes and the graphical loading plans. For the latter, there is a module which groups CLT elements into logistically optimized packages in order to simplify route planning and make transport more efficient. “Planning the packages is very important. This way, we don’t have to load and unload elements multiple times on the construction site, which can sometimes lead to damage,” Bauer explains.
New form for optimized production
In the glulam production order form, upcoming production orders can be optimally planned © Timbertec
In the Cambium software, the nesting is visualized in the BSPN module. It is also possible to carry out the optimization across several projects. In practice, this functionality is used for individual components that need to be reproduced. The next step involves the above-mentioned batch planning – a solution which TimberTec developed together with Holzbauwerk Schwarzwald. Batch planning helps to optimize production even further. “For example, we can group panels of the same length or thickness to keep set-up times as short as possible. The form decides whether it will be a good production day or not,” Bauer explains. In Seewald, it is also possible to press two completely different components in the same CLT press. “Thanks to batch planning, we can perfectly control production using just one form,” Rother adds. In the production order form, TiCom calculates the structure of the laminations – from single-layer panels to individual laminations – in terms of quality, dimensions and crosswise/longitudinal layers. TimberTec then transfers this information to the Weinig master computer. In joining, the master panel is still processed manually based on the component number. “But there is also the option of using a barcode scanner in order to automate the joining process,” Rother explains.
Each finished construction element receives a label with a QR code. The production employee then scans the label and can assign the element to the right package. “The delivery note can only be printed when all elements have been scanned and the package is complete,” says Bauer, explaining how the final check works.
“We took an interest in ERP systems very early on. Once you understand how it works, it’s easy to use. Now, after one year, we know how our processes work, and we will further adapt TiCom to our requirements. Nevertheless, TimberTec delivered a perfect package,” Bauer says. “The collaboration with TimberTec and especially with Robert Rother was very fruitful. For us, it was the right decision to rely on TimberTec,” Kübler adds.
