BRITISH COLUMBIA - ATCO Wood Products, a British Columbia based softwood veneer producer and forest manager, will pilot a state-of-the-art, AI-enabled environmental sensor to improve safety and efficiency at its mill operations.

 

The AirSafe sensor, from Astra Smart Systems and Carl Data, is a light-weight device that measures temperature and humidity, while detecting dangerous substances, including methane, hydrogen, formaldehyde gas, and smoke. AirSafe learns from its environment through its AI - allowing it to give accurate future predictions.

 

"We're excited about the sensor technology we are piloting for Astra, as we see applications in our facility to improve the data we have on our manufacturing environment and in turn improve the safety, quality, and productivity of our operations," said Scott Weatherford, ATCO CEO. 

 

While ATCO says it is proud of their health and safety record, lung and bronchial disease account for 14 percent of reported injuries in the veneer manufacturing industry. The current pilot testing the AirSafe sensor is being used to detect methane, butane, LPG, and smoke, but can be easily adapted to test for benzene, toluene, alcohol, acetone, propane, formaldehyde gas and hydrogen.

 

ATCO Wood Products offers Douglas Fir, Larch, Spruce, Grand Fir and Hemlock veneer peeled in thicknesses ranging from 1/10" to 1/6".