In the early 2000s, investment was made in SilviScan, a system capable of anatomical characterisation (Figure 1) and high resolution density and microfibril measurements from pith to bark on samples from pulleys and 10 mm diameter cores. This installation is one of only three such measurement systems in the world. Complementing the measurement system, there were also sample preparation tools that can prepare samples of appropriate size and surface quality with high precision. The system in Stockholm has since been an important tool in tree breeding and research projects investigating the effect of genetics and environment on wood properties.

Figure 1: SilviScan performs, among other things, anatomical
analyses. While research on forest resources has traditionally focused on wood properties important for pulp and timber products, in recent years there has been increased interest in other bioproducts where the chemical composition is more important than the physical.

Consequently, it also invested in a near-infrared (NIR) camera for chemical characterisation of both pulleys and drill cores. This particular combination of the NIR camera with SilviScan makes the laboratory unique in its ability to characterise wood samples in their chemical and physical properties.

At the same time, the number of greenhouse experiments on hybrid aspen, which is often used as a model tree in scientific studies, increased in order to quickly investigate genetic and environmental effects on wood and tree characteristics. In these greenhouse studies, new wood samples are generated in just three months, but the laboratory was more equipped for the analysis of pulleys and 10 mm drill cores from adult trees. Consequently, the development of a sample preparation routine for greenhouse samples was initiated that includes NIR scanning of trunk cross-sections followed by sawing and scanning with SilviScan. Thus, the laboratory is now able to generate high-resolution chemical and physical information on greenhouse samples that are also generated at a high rate.

In a further step towards wood characterisation of younger trees - this time ca. 8-12 year old spruce field trials - sample preparation and scanning procedures were recently developed for the analysis of 5 mm diameter cores taken just above the ground, instead of at breast height. In contrast to analyses on older trees, this means that only juvenile wood is analysed, which is often regarded as the very part of the tree where wood quality needs to be improved. Here too, the ability to characterise younger trees means that the rate of refinement can be increased.

But the laboratory is not only active in tree breeding. NIR technology is applicable in industrial processes, and the NIR camera can be used to create models for the prediction of physical and chemical properties. Examples of such properties include tree species, core/splinter, rot, moisture, lignin, cellulose, resin, minerals, etc. Examples of ongoing projects include the characterisation of wood chips for pulp production, timber in consideration measurement and identification of undesirable properties in furniture components.

In addition, the laboratory is also involved in product and process development projects, such as the evaluation of the results of impregnating wood with the NIR camera. Clearly, there are opportunities for the laboratory to contribute in more areas. It is the imagination that sets the limits for the laboratory's use. The challenge, however, is that potential customers are aware of their problems and how the laboratory's offer can contribute.

Further reading
High-resolution wood characterisation in laboratory environment

This is an article from our magazine Trävärden, view it here! (Link)

Roofing with rafters provides a stable base for roofing with roofing felt, tiles and sheet metal. The use of prefabricated underlayment shutters allows for faster roofing. The unprotected roof surface and building are exposed to climate and external influences for a shorter time, reducing the risk of future problems in the finished building. Prefabricated underlay shutters produced in a controlled production environment provide the conditions for consistently high quality.

A type approval for the manufacture of underlayment shutters allows you to demonstrate that the product has been manufactured under controlled conditions and fulfils the requirements for its intended use, giving you a competitive advantage. The certification rule for a product describes the certification process when applying for a type approval, the requirements, checks and labelling to be done for the product. To minimise the risk of different interpretations, the certification rule for the type approval of underlay shutters was updated in September 2023.

Type approval of manufactured products is done by an authorised independent party. Boverket has appointed RISE as a competent organisation to issue type approval for construction products and accredited by Swedac for it. Type approval of underlay shutters is unique in the market and RISE is the only organisation that can issue type approval, perform accredited inspection and offer accredited testing of all the properties included in the certification rule for underlay shutters. 

RISE develops certification rules for type approvals and certifies product type approvals.

When RISE develops new rules for type approval, we start from the rules and regulations developed by authorities, in this case the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, and RISE's long experience of testing and type approval of products in the field. When you then hire RISE to issue a type approval for your product, you can be sure that an issued type approval maintains a high level and that the type-approved products meet the requirements of the building regulations. Type approval is carried out according to the certification rule through testing and review that ensures that materials, function and documentation have the conditions to fulfil, such as for underlayment shutters, applicable requirements for durability, moisture and roof safety.

This is an article from our magazine Trävärden, view it here! (Link)

By 2030, almost all new cars on the road could be electric. This is according to scenarios developed by advocacy organisation Power Circle as part of the energy research project 'An Electricity System for Electric Vehicles'. But for a fully electrified vehicle fleet to be feasible, the infrastructure - the network of charging stations from north to south - is of course crucial. At the end of 2023, there will be about 34,400 public charging points in Sweden, spread over about 4,700 charging stations.  

"I think most consumers take it for granted that these charging points are controlled in a similar way to petrol and diesel stations, that they are safe and that you get what you pay for. But charging stations are not yet regulated in detail," says Anders Nilsson, Senior Business Developer in Electrification and Reliability at RISE.  

"Ensuring reliable infrastructure" 

Deployment has been slow, and the regulatory framework has not kept pace. It takes time to revise international guidelines. While waiting for comprehensive EU requirements on how charging stations should be regulated, some countries have opted to develop national guidelines. In practice, this can create technical barriers to trade as regulations differ in different markets and create a complex situation for industry players, says Anders Nilsson.

Manufacturers have also recognised the need to have the electricity meter module in the charging station tested by an independent certification body. "There is a clear regulatory framework for electricity meters, the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), but it does not yet specifically cover charging stations.

However, despite the lack of regulation, it is already possible to test entire charging stations. This is what RISE engineers do when they go out to existing charging stations and carry out checks. Using calibrated measuring equipment, they can see whether the charging station is delivering the energy for which the customer is being charged.  

"Checking the stations ensures a reliable infrastructure. Of course, operators are also interested in ensuring that everything is in order. "This can be a selling point to the market: when you charge with us, you get what you pay for because RISE has checked it," says Anders Nilsson. 

Can have a negative impact on trust

During the inspection, engineers also check that cables and plugs are in good condition and meet electrical safety requirements.  

"There have not yet been any incidents related to charging stations in Sweden, but it only takes one injury to make headlines. Once an accident happens, it could affect confidence in the charging infrastructure, which in turn could slow down electrification," says Anders Nilsson and continues:  

"The stations are relatively new now, but over time the cables will wear out. Someone will forget to unplug and drive away, as has happened with petrol stations. So when we go out to measure, we also want to see how the equipment looks. The inspection is as much about consumer protection as it is about safety."

RISE maintains a close dialogue with Swedac, the Swedish regulatory authority for regulated measurement technology, to follow developments in the implementation of charging stations in the EU's Measuring Instruments Directive (MID). As RISE is already testing new products under development and existing products in the field, Anders Nilsson can announce that the team will be ready when new comprehensive regulations are introduced.  

The manufacturing and process industry is moving towards production processes where smart sensors and equipment collect and analyse data while controlling the processes automatically based on the measurements. But what if the measurements are not accurate? If more and more decisions are automated and made based on measurements that may not be reliable? And what should be done to avoid human error creeping into the processes?

“Calibration of measuring instruments is a prerequisite for quality-assured production, and this also applies to the automatic production processes of the future. It is important to be sure that you can trust the measurements, measurement errors can have major financial consequences”, says Ove Gunnarsson, TIC engineer who drives the development of digital calibration certificates at RISE.

Manual adjustments

RISE and other calibration laboratories perform a large number of calibrations for industry and business every year. The output from a calibration is a calibration certificate, which shows how the measuring instrument should be handled and adjusted to account for measurement uncertainties. The calibration certificate is often delivered as a digitally signed PDF. The document is indeed digital, but still difficult for machines to read.

“This means that the person who ordered the calibration needs to manually do the adjustments and corrections needed for the instrument, which is often time-consuming. There is also a risk of errors when hundreds or thousands of measurement values are handled manually”, says Ove Gunnarsson.

Machine-readable calibration certificates

To deal with this, the digital – and machine-readable – calibration certificates of the future is now being developed. With machines being able to read and interpret them, new possibilities are created for automated production, with higher efficiency and fewer mistakes when the human factor is rationalized away.

“In the future, the instruments may also be automatically adjusted and updated based on the digital calibration certificate, then we have removed the human completely. At the same time, it is important that the customer also receives a human-readable document so that you can follow-up that the adjustments have been done correctly”, says Ove Gunnarsson.

Common format

Several European and international institutes, accreditation bodies, universities and manufacturers of measuring instruments and organizations are driving the issue. A major challenge is to develop a common format that can be used and accepted by users worldwide.

“The content of the certificate is one important part. There should be no confusion about which measurement units are used for the same type of measurement between different countries. Another important thing is integrations, you should be able to use and share the calibration certificate between different users, systems and measuring instruments, all over the world”, says Ove Gunnarsson.

RISE follows the work of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Germany. Among other things, they have done much of the basic work around a standardized format, based on XML, which is machine-readable and can be shared between different systems and actors all over the world. XML is also easy to convert to other formats, such as JSON.

“Deciding on a format is one important step, so that there are not several different competing formats that make it more difficult for the users. Another important issue that PTB has worked on is safety, you need to be able to trust the digital calibration certificate”, says Ove Gunnarsson.

From above and from below

Many customers request digital and machine-readable calibration certificates. At the same time, it is important not to proceed too quickly.

“You can both increase quality and save money through this. To go all the way, work is required both from above, with common guidelines and formats, and from below, so that the solutions meet the actual needs of the users”, says Ove Gunnarsson.

He attended the first conference on digital calibration certificates in 2020, so development is still in its infancy.

“But things are moving forward quickly. I envision this to be in place and up and running within a five-year period. It is not an optional development; it will happen, and we need to be involved. We know there is a need; for example in medical technology, drug development, and the automotive industry, but we need to have a deeper dialogue about what the needs look like”, says Ove Gunnarsson.

An aerosol is a mixture of small particles or liquid droplets suspended in a gas, such as air. They affect our health and can be linked to allergies, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Aerosol particles occur naturally, such as pollen or droplets formed when we sneeze, but are also a result of emissions, wear and tear on roads or tires, combustion, and industrial processes.

“Certain metals have been specifically linked to negative health effects. There are methods to measure the concentration of aerosol particles in the air, and the metal content in them, but to better understand the actual causes of the negative health effects, or determine where the particles come from, we need to continue to develop measurement methods”, says Jenny Rissler, senior researcher in aerosol physics and expert in X-ray spectroscopy methods.

Calibrated Measuring Instruments Require References

For reliable measurements, calibrated measuring instruments are needed, and to calibrate measuring instruments, something to compare with, a reference, is needed. By developing better references, in this case for aerosols with very well-known properties, one can evaluate and develop measuring instruments and methods. This is, among other things, what the European research project AEROMETII has worked on.

“At RISE, for example, we evaluated how different low-cost instruments for aerosol measurements perform in different environments, at different places, in different temperatures, and so on. Advanced instruments are often more precise, but it's also important with cheaper instruments since this enables more measurements and in more places. At the same time, these instruments are often limited in their performance, and it's important to have knowledge about what the limitations are and when they work as well as the advanced instruments. In another work package, we looked at what chemical form metals in aerosol particles from different European cities have”, says Jenny Rissler.
 

Chemical Form Affects Health Effects

The chemical form of a substance, i.e., what chemical compound the atoms form, can vary depending on how and where the particles were formed.

“For example, zinc in particles generated from tires probably forms other chemical compounds than zinc in particles from brakes, and lead from a battery factory forms different compounds than those from traffic related emissions. With better knowledge, we could trace the origin of different particles based on their chemical form and use this information to improve air quality.”

For some elements, it has been seen that the chemical form also affects health effects. Through developed methods to characterize chemical form, we can contribute to continued research on these health effects.

The Beamline Balder

In the AEROMETII project, Jenny Rissler and her colleagues used advanced spectroscopy techniques at the beamline Balder at the synchrotron laboratory MAX IV in Lund.

“We used x-ray absorption spectroscopy to compare samples from different parts of Europe, and could see that the chemical form of, for example, zinc actually differed depending on where the sample came from. But more research is needed, this was one of the first European studies. Most previous studies have been conducted in China.”

Pollen Measurement with AI

In the coming years, the plan is for aerosol research to continue along with European colleagues.

“Emissions from traffic and roads would be interesting to investigate. If we assume that exhaust gases decrease because of electric car development, aerosols still remain as an effect of wear and tear on roads and vehicles, for example, from brakes or tires.”

This summer, the project BIOAIRMET, which deals with measuring and quantifying pollen, will also start.

“When measuring pollen today a lot is done manually, but in this project, we want to develop new AI methods. To do this, reference pollen, i.e., pollen with very well-known properties, is needed, which we can use to teach the AI system to measure correctly. These references will be developed in Switzerland, and then we at RISE will characterize them so that we know what chemical and physical properties they have”, says Jenny Rissler.