Mercer and Dralle: Digital Measurement of Wood Chip Deliveries by Rail Recognized Under Calibration Regulations

The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) has issued a certificate of conformity for Dralle’s tScale optical rail portal. Mercer has been using the automatically determined volume data since September 1, 2026, to bill for wood chip deliveries by rail.

Mercer International Inc. and the Danish technology company Dralle A/S have digitized another part of Mercer’s raw material intake process. After the tScale optical measurement system had already been certified for wood chip deliveries by truck, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) has now also issued the certificate of conformity for its use with rail deliveries.

Automated Recording at Raw Material Receiving

With the approval of the rail portal, Mercer now records approximately half of its incoming raw material volume automatically and in compliance with metrology regulations. This includes wood chip deliveries by truck and rail. The new system digitizes many of our previously manual process steps in wood chip receiving, thereby simplifying billing for our wood chip suppliers, optimizing operations at the lumber yard, and improving workplace safety for all employees.

“With the rail portal, we’re digitizing another part of our logistics while also simplifying our internal billing processes,” explains Ronny Pötzsch, Head of Cross-Site Workplace Safety and Projects at Mercer. “The close collaboration between logistics, purchasing, the lumber yard, and IT was crucial to successfully integrating the solution into our ongoing operations.”

Further Potential of Digital Measurement

The tScale system uses 3D camera technology and artificial intelligence for automated material recognition. “We’re pleased that, together with Mercer, we were able to demonstrate that the system performs reliably even under the conditions of ongoing lumber yard operations. The calibration certification of the rail portal demonstrates the capabilities of our tScale technology in industrial applications,” says Anders Buch, CEO of Dralle A/S.

Mercer and Dralle plan to further optimize the system based on their experience to date in live operations. Looking ahead, the technology offers potential for additional measurement and logistics processes, as well as for applications in other industries.

Dralle will be exhibiting at INTERFORST in Munich from October 15 to 18, 2026. Visitors can find the company in Hall B6 at Booth 207.

You can also visit Mercer Holz at INTERFORST, Messe München, Hall B6, special exhibition area.