Mercer International and Dralle: AI-powered tScale measurement portal receives legal-for-trade approval

Arneburg, 8 January 2025 – Global forests products company Mercer International Inc. and Danish tech company Dralle announced the successful certification of their joint project tScale. The innovative AI-based measurement portal has received the renowned seal of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Germany’s national quality mark for precision measurements.

This officially recognizes tScale as a new, reliable volume measurement tool for the wood industry. It is the first system of its kind in Europe to use photo-optical means to measure the volume of bulk materials such as wood chips. The certification marks an important milestone in the collaboration between the two companies, which began in 2018.

From forest measurement to industrial scale

Dralle had already developed the mobile, photo-optical measurement method sScale for measuring the front surface of wood piles in the forest, which was already certified by the PTB in Braunschweig. However, there was still no solution for stationary, industrial-scale systems that also met the high requirements of the German metrology and calibration system. To close this gap, the innovative tScale measurement portal was developed in cooperation with Mercer and under the supervision of the PTB.

3D technology and AI for efficient volume measurement

tScale uses 3D stereo camera technology and artificial intelligence to directly measure the volume of bulk materials such as wood chips on the truck. The system integrates seamlessly into existing logistics systems and enables automatic, calibrated measurements as the trucks pass through the measuring portal. The precise measurement data ensures optimized transparency and greater efficiency in billing with suppliers and carriers.

tScale: Automation and digitalization in the raw material delivery process

At Mercer’s Rosenthal facility in Germany, tScale plays a central role in the automation and digitization of the raw material delivery process. By reducing manual processes and ensuring complete traceability of measurements, tScale optimizes the efficiency and reliability of volume determination and increases occupational safety.

Benefits for suppliers, freight forwarders and the entire timber industry

“With tScale, we are automating and accelerating processes in the timber industry,” explains Anders Buch, CEO of Dralle. ”However, the technology is not limited to the timber industry. Thanks to integrated AI technology, tScale can in principle also be used in many other areas where precise volume measurements of bulk materials are useful. The certification by the PTB underlines the quality and reliability of tScale, and we are proud to have reached this milestone together with Mercer.”

For Mercer, the implementation and certification of tScale also represents a strategic win that strengthens the company’s processes and relationships with suppliers and haulers. “With tScale, we are digitizing our logistics processes and optimizing efficiency in the raw material delivery process,” said Adolf Koppensteiner, COO of Mercer. ”The automated measurement enables faster truck handling while increasing occupational safety for our employees. Working with Dralle has been invaluable, and we look forward to expanding the use of this technology to other forms of transport and materials.”