Wood chips are produced directly by grinding trunks and brushwood or as a by-product of sawmill processes.
They can be utilized either as a fuel in power plants and as a row material in MDF production plants and paper mills.
The main characteristics of fuel grade Wood chips are as follows:
| Net Calorific Value | GJ/mt | 12-13 |
| Ash | % | max 4 |
| Moisture | % | max 35 |
| Particle size: | ||
| > 100 mm | % max | max 1 |
| 3.15 mm < 63 mm | % minimum | max 80 |
| < 1 mm | % max | max 5 |
| > 45 mm | % max | max 5-10 |
| 16 mm < 45 mm | % minimum | max 60-65 |
| < 3.00 mm | % max | max 2 |
The main characteristics of Wood chips for MDF vary according to timber species (hard/soft wood); they concern particularly the content of bark, allowed generally up to 2-3%, and the particle size as per the following table:
| Typical Specifications as Received Basis | ||
| Particle size: | ||
| > 45 mm | % max | 5-10 |
| > 16 mm < 45 mm | % minimum | 60-65 |
| < 3.00 mm | % max | 2 |