tScale
Incoming goods and load measuring of bulk material - automated and efficient
Optimised supply control, acceptance and settlement of raw materials as well as factory-internal logistics are of central importance for the optimal flow of processes at timber processing factories
NEWS from Dralle: AI-Powered Measurement Portal tScale Achieves Official Certification
Dralle and the international forestry and wood products company Mercer International proudly announce the successful certification of their joint project, tScale. This groundbreaking, AI-driven measurement portal has earned the prestigious quality seal from the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national authority for precision measurement.
A Milestone in Timber Industry Innovation
With this certification, tScale is officially recognized as a reliable tool for volume measurement in the timber industry. It is the first system in Europe of its kind to measure loose materials, such as wood chips, using advanced photo-optical technology. This achievement marks a pivotal milestone in the collaboration between Mercer and Dralle, which began in 2018.
From Forest Measurements to Industrial-Scale Solutions
Previously, Dralle developed a mobile photo-optical measurement system for assessing timber stacks in forests, also certified by PTB. However, there was no comparable solution for stationary, industrial-scale applications that met Germany’s stringent measurement standards. To bridge this gap, Mercer and Dralle jointly developed the tScale portal, supervised by PTB, building on Dralle's existing technologies and refining them for this purpose.
3D Technology and AI for Accurate Volume Measurement
tScale uses 3D stereo camera technology and artificial intelligence to measure the volume of loose materials, such as wood chips, directly on trucks. The system integrates seamlessly with existing logistics systems, enabling automated, certified measurements as trucks pass through the portal. Its precise measurement data improves transparency and efficiency in settlements with suppliers and transporters.
Automating and Digitalizing Resource Delivery
At Mercer’s Rosenthal facility in Germany, tScale plays a key role in automating and digitalizing the resource delivery process. By reducing manual procedures and ensuring full traceability, tScale enhances both efficiency and reliability while also improving workplace safety.
Benefits for Suppliers, Transporters, and the Timber Industry
“With tScale, we are automating and accelerating processes in the timber industry,” says Anders Buch, CEO of Dralle. “The technology enables precise volume measurements for various materials, including grain and waste. PTB certification underscores the quality and reliability of tScale, and we’re proud to have reached this milestone alongside Mercer."
For Mercer, the implementation and certification of tScale represent a strategic advantage, strengthening processes and supplier relationships.
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“tScale digitalizes our logistics and optimizes the efficiency of resource delivery,” says Adolf Koppensteiner, COO of Mercer. “Automated measurement allows for faster truck processing while improving safety for our employees. Our collaboration with Dralle has been invaluable, and we look forward to expanding this technology to additional transport methods and materials.”
Future Outlook: Expanding Certification
The certification of tScale for wood chips on trucks is just the beginning. Dralle and Mercer are already working on extending the certification to include wood chips and roundwood on trains, as well as roundwood on trucks.
With tScale, the load handling of trucks and train wagons is automated and completely digitized.
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Incoming goods and load measuring are accelerated and the times on site in and around the company premises are minimised.
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tScale will be integrated into process flows and local structures to improve overall factory logistics.
tScale is designed and developed in collaboration with the international wood handling concern Mercer.
It is therefore tested vigorously in a live environment and with the expertise of both photo optical and machine learning programmers, but also with the expertise of wood handling and selling experts from Mercer itself.
It is a ready-to-go onestop package for bulk material measuring and trading, for the whole of the woodworking industry.
tScale is using state of the art stereo cameras in order to do photo measuring of all of the load to the smallest detail.
3 stereo cameras are used to record and analyse woodchips and other biomass material (marked in figure 1 with blue).
An additional 4 stereo cameras are added for the photo measuring and analysis of roundwood (marked in figure 1 with green), in order to catch the whole load of roundwood from all sides, and get the most precise photo measurement result possible.
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You can also find more information by downloading our tScale handout on our Downloads page.
Secure handling
of bulk material