09-10-2025

With TRC Woodpatch technology, Pfeifer detects and repairs millions of defects every year fully automatically – quickly, precisely, and economically.

WINTERSTEIGER has developed and commissioned a fully automated patching system for the Pfeifer Group, a leading European wood processor, to treat raw panels for three-layer formwork panels. This new system enables more efficient and stable processing in an industrial setting.

The TRC Woodpatch system, consisting of four modules, is designed for high processing capacity and handles panels approximately 500 mm wide and between 1.5 to 3.0 meters long. Each year, millions of defects are automatically detected and precisely repaired.

The incoming raw panels are automatically separated, scanned, and distributed across two patching lines.

There, defects are accurately identified and repaired through an intelligent combination of drilling and patching technologies. After both sides of the panels are processed, the workpieces are sorted based on quality and prepared for further transport.

“The cycle time per patch, including positioning, is around 3.5 seconds – with the actual patching cycle taking only about 2.1 seconds,” says Franz Vöcklinger, WINTERSTEIGER Woodtech GmbH.

A key feature of the new system is its high level of automation: whereas previously several employees per shift were required at manual patching stations, now a single operator is sufficient to monitor the entire process. This not only significantly reduces personnel requirements but also ensures consistently high processing quality – regardless of time of day or staff availability.

“With this investment, we are sending a clear signal about the future viability of our production. The new patching system gives us a decisive advantage in an increasingly challenging labor market,” explains René Svatek, Head of Asset Management at Pfeifer Holding GmbH.

Headquartered in Imst, Tyrol, the Pfeifer Group is one of the leading companies in the European wood industry. With over 2,600 employees at eight locations in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, Pfeifer processes around 4.4 million cubic meters of wood annually. The company stands for sustainable value creation, top product quality, and innovation – values that are also reflected in its collaboration with WINTERSTEIGER.

With this forward-looking system, WINTERSTEIGER underscores its expertise in custom machine construction and its ability to deliver tailored solutions for the demands of the modern wood industry.