Investment: Autoeye Truss System including 13 metre pucktable, nailingbridge, LAP laser system, digital vision system, 27 metric ton press, rollerpress, nail plate aligner mechanism and stacker.

 Start of business: 1970

Time for investment: 2008

Country: Norway

Reference: Lars Erik Wetterwald, Production and Development Manager

WHAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE INVESTMENT?
The idea of automated truss production originated from Pretre’s founder, Gunnar Svarstad. He had produced roof trusses manually since the mid‑1970s, without any significant innovations. The first ideas were explored in the mid‑1990s, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that the concept gained momentum when Pretre entered into a collaboration with the R&D company SINTEF Manufacturing. Through a technology study together with several potential suppliers, Randek quickly stood out as an innovative partner with the right industry experience.
In 2008, Pretre and Randek signed the contract that would lead to the world’s first AutoEye. The agreement was signed in the middle of the global financial crisis, with the ambition to be ready when the crisis ended and the market for roof trusses would take off again.
Simultaneously with the contract signing, Pretre began building its new factory, which opened in the autumn of 2010.

HOW DID THE SALES PROCESS GO ABOUT?
This was clearly not a traditional sales process. It was a joint development project in which both Pretre and Randek invested significant time and resources to develop the concept together. Randek was a unique partner, willing to invest in innovation and development in close cooperation with its customers.
The result has become a product that has been sold in dozens of units all over the world — a well‑deserved success for Randek.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM?
The most important benefits of the system are productivity, capacity, and quality. The system provides very high production capacity with only three operators. This is partly due to the rapid changeover between trusses, and partly because all tasks except for placing timber and replenishing nail plates are automated.
The key lies in the digitalization that enables automatic changeover and execution of production. This is automated single‑piece flow production.

HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THIS SYSTEM WITH TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS?
Traditionally, roof truss production is a fully manual process, and the majority of today’s manufacturers still use this method — mainly because it requires no investment. With rising labor costs and increasing challenges recruiting industrial workers, automated truss production is becoming necessary.
If you want to make money in truss production, you need an AutoEye.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SOFTWARE AND SERVICE LEVEL FROM RANDEK?
Randek is far ahead in both software and service levels. They already were in the early 2000s, and through a strategic focus on automation, we see that they are even stronger in these areas today.

ANYTHING MORE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
Working with Randek has been a journey where I believe both companies have increased their competence and greatly benefited from the collaboration. We have worked closely together since the early 2000s, and we look forward to the next innovation we can develop together.