Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing wood chips as raw material in the production of mechanical pulp in order to reduce energy consumption. The process includes irreversibly deforming a plurality of fibers of at least one piece of wood in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fibers. The wood fibers include summerwood fibers. The irreversible deformation is accomplished through mechanical treatment. The apparatus used includes one or several tools arranged so that the forces created during the process act in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fibers so as to irreversibly deform the fibers across the grain.