Before being converted into chips, the logs are stripped of their bark by being tumbled against each other in enormous revolving drums.

The bark is recovered and used as fuel to produce steam and electricity, while the debarked logs are cut into wood chips.

The chips are screened to ensure uniform size and to remove any dirt or other contaminants. This stage is essential for the production of high quality pulp. Afterwards the chips travel on a belt conveyor to be stored in one of the chip piles on a first-in/first-out basis to avoid mixing of fresh chips by old chips.