Sveza Group Implementing Robotic Systems at Its Plywood Mill to Offset Labor Shortage

Sveza Group, a Russian company that specializes in producing plywood, chipboard, and laminated chipboard, is investing 400 million rubles (US$3.97 million) to install robotic systems at its production facility in Tyumen to help offset an acute labor shortage.

The Tyumen enterprise will serve as a “pilot project for the comprehensive robotization of production, covering many processes, while robots are also being introduced into specific processes at other plants,” Sveza said.

Plans are in place for using 20 robotic manipulators to sort and repair veneer and plywood, as well as to feed sheets to the package assembly station. The equipment is expected to be operational this year.

“Robots demonstrate stable productivity and mathematical precision while maintaining a high level of operation quality. Undoubtedly, an important factor is that the machines help to compensate for the shortage of skilled workers,” Sveza said.

A single robot can lift more than 160 kilograms (353 lbs), allowing it to handle heavy plywood formats. “The robots have shown agility in handling various materials. Thanks to the articulated joints of individual components, robotic mechanisms possess high maneuverability and flexibility, replicating human hand movements. To ensure safe interaction with people, the mechanical units are equipped with advanced features such as collision detection and safety sensors,” Sveza said.