Edinburgh Napier University

  The principal aim of the COST Action E53 was to improve methods of quality control in
processing round wood and timber to ensure that timber products and components meet
the requirements of the users. The Action also promoted the improvement of specifications
for timber products and contributed toward the economic optimisation of production so that
the full environmental and sustainability benefits of the forestry wood chain might be
realised in future. Improved quality control systems will help to increase the
competitiveness of the wood sector, as well as ensuring that round wood is optimally
processed, and that the European wood industry provides wood products which are well
suited to end user requirements.
Within the Action, special attention was paid to the following:
• Scanning of stems, logs and boards for characterisation of geometrical and quality
properties.
• Wood drying, distortion and determination of moisture content.
• Assessment of strength, stiffness and visual appearance of timber and wood products.
• Understanding end user requirements for wood and wood products.
The first three of these areas were addressed by separate Working Groups (WG1 –
Scanning for wood properties; WG2 – Moisture content and distortion; WG3 – Strength,
stiffness and appearance grading), while a Task Group focussed on better understanding
end user requirements.