SPECIAL EDITION 1/2020
PONSSE NEWS
PONSSE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER
CELEBRATING TOGETHER SYNNE AND PEKKA
Professionals cut from the same cloth
RESPONSIBILITY
The operator’s professional skills are what matter, responsibility stands for better business
PONSSE’S HISTORY
Half a century in leading the way in mechanical harvesting
SPECIAL EDITION 1/2020
PONSSE NEWS PONSSE CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER MAGAZINE – SPECIAL EDITION Publisher Ponsse Plc Ponssentie 22, FI-74200 Vieremä, Finland Editor-in chief Katja Paananen
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Editing & content Ponsse Plc ISSN 2489-9488 (print) ISSN 2489-9496 (online publication) Editorial staff Juho Nummela, Katja Paananen, Juha-Matti Raatikainen, Marika Ryytty, Jarmo Vidgrén, Juha Vidgrén Layout Luova Työmaa Cover photo Ponsse Plc Print Painotalo Seiska Paper GPrint Address source Mailing list of Ponsse News and Ponsse customer register.
Ponsse News Special Edition is published to celebrate Ponsse’s 50th anniversary. Ponsse Plc’s customer and stakeholder magazine Ponsse News is published three times a year. Feedback, subscriptions and changes of address by email to ponssenews@ponsse.com. The magazine is free of charge. FOLLOW US:
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4 STORIES OF SYNNE AND PEKKA Seasoned veteran Pekka Hakkarainen and young professional Synne Henriksen are the faces in the 50th anniversary photo. 6 CTL The popularity of the effective CTL method, sustainable in terms of forest management, is growing rapidly around the world. 8 RESPONSIBILITY Seamless cooperation between Keitele Forest, Nilakka Forest and Ponsse is an excellent example of responsibility.
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24 12 LADIES The world’s best Ponsse Ladies 13 PONSSE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER 14 PONSSE FACTORY The best forest machines in the world are made in the new factory, systematically and following a thoroughly considered operating model. 18 PONSSE KIDS Play the fun Buffalo Bill dice game
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
Dear Ponsse employees and partners,
37 20 PONSSE PRODUCTS 24 Harvesters 28 Forwarders 30 Harvester heads 32 Boost/Save 33 Ponsse Manager 34 Ponsse Active Care 36 Trade-in machines 34 PONSSE’S HISTORY From a village workshop into the world’s market leader 38 PONSSE COLLECTION Presenting the anniversary year’s products
We would like to invite you to the 2020s and to celebrate Ponsse’s 50th anniversary with us! This year will be special for us. We will set our eyes to the future and also take a look back to the history of mechanical harvesting in Ponsse News and on our website. Photos and stories help us to relive the moments, both big and small, that have paved our way far into the future. On 14 April 1970, machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén walked into the Vieremä village hall to get help to build a new industrial facility. In his application presented to the municipal board, he wrote: ”One new machine has already been completed, and it has been working under Tehdaspuu’s supervision for more than three months. Tehdaspuu has also written a separate statement for the municipal manager. A second machine is currently under construction, and the aim is to continue to manufacture these machines and to develop their manufacturing process according to demand and marketing opportunities. Finally, I would like to state that I am currently employing 20 people, and this planned expansion would initially create five more jobs. The planned production of forest tractors would also employ subcontractors at repair shops already operating in our village, and cooperation with them would most likely provide other employment, as well.” And so, Einari’s prophecy came true. There has been demand for machines, and subcontractors have also been kept busy, employing nearly 300 people in Vieremä’s partnership village. In addition to these, our Vieremä factory already employs more than 650 people. This is an incredible story started by brothers Einari and Esa Vidgrén in the Vieremä village. Now, Einari’s story is being written into a book. Author Antti Heikkinen’s book about Einari is expected to be published in the autumn of 2020. I would like to specifically emphasise the Miehen työ (A man’s work) exhibition at Lusto, the Finnish Forest Museum, which illustrates the rough conditions to which forest workers were exposed before mechanical harvesting in Finland in the 1960s and 1970s. Ponsse’s origins also date back to those times. The opening words of Ponsse’s story were written when 14-year-old Einari tossed aside his school books and picked up a frame saw to join his father Jooseppi working at logging sites in 1957. With best regards from Vieremä, Juha Vidgrén Chairman of the Board
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
The faces in the anniversary photo – Pekka and Synne
PROFESSIONALS CUT F Ponsse’s 50th anniversary photo shows Pekka Hakkarainen and Synne Henriksen side by side – a seasoned logging veteran and a young professional representing a new generation. Whatever it is that you want to know about forestry work and mechanised harvesting, you can ask Pekka Hakkarainen, a fourth-generation machine entrepreneur from Nilsiä, Finland. His 54-year career is full of interesting stories. Pekka and his operators have seen the good years of the 1970s, the long summer shutdowns, the decades of forest machine development, the changes in forestry and the timber market as well as financially profitable storm damage work in France and Sweden and at Korvatunturi, a place known as the home of Santa Claus. Since 1978, Pekka Hakkarainen Oy has relied on Ponsse. At one point they had a total of 14 machines. Today the company, run by Pekka’s son, uses two excavators and does harvesting work with four harvesters and four forwarders. “In the early years we also used other forest machines, but with Ponsse we never had any warranty problems. Ponsse has always taken responsibility for its products and is probably the only manufacturer to repair its machines outside of the warranty period.” Synne Henriksen had a chance to try a Ponsse forest machine at the age of 14 and she was
immediately drawn to the forestry industry. Now Synne is a familiar sight at the challenging sites of Hallingby, located north of Oslo, operating both a PONSSE Scorpion King and a PONSSE Elephant King. “I want to feel that I’m doing a good job. I like challenges, and there are plenty of them in the forests. In the area where I work, the terrain is undulating, so you need to know the terrain, the machine and yourself well,” Synne says. IN COLLABORATION WITH ENTREPRENEURS
Pekka Hakkarainen and Einari Vidgrén, the founder of Ponsse, had met each other at the local logging sites before Ponsse machines even existed. Pekka actually gave Einari some ideas on how to build better machines than the ones that were available at the time. “Ponsse has always listened to us entrepreneurs through close collaboration. Bogies were a major step forward, as were the measuring devices in harvesting. In the 1980s, the S15 forwarder with a light aluminium frame was a great innovation. Ponsse has always actively worked on things that need improvement,” Pekka says.
The first Ponsse machine was built at a local village workshop in 1969. Ponsse continues to operate in Vieremä in Northern Savonia, where Einari Vidgrén, the company’s founder, first started working at logging sites at the age of 14.
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PEKKA HAKKARAINEN “Wood will also be needed in the future. I believe that there will be a new generation of great forestry workers.”
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
FROM THE SAME CLOTH Pekka has vivid memories of the past decades when the forestry industry was dominated by men. Times are changing, and Synne and other young professionals are a good example of this. Pekka Hakkarainen Oy also has a female operator. “The job of a forest machine operator is very suitable for us women. This is an amazing job in terms of both the working environment and the challenges it presents,” Synne says. FASCINATED BY FORESTS AND MACHINES
The early years as an entrepreneur were tough for Pekka, forcing him and the other operator to work in shifts. One worked in the forest for 12 hours and the other was at home. We truly worked in two shifts, six days a week. “People who enjoy being in the forest and really want to work hard and efficiently are a unique breed,” Pekka says. The symbiosis between human and machine is important to Synne. It is part of the whole needed to achieve good results. “When work is going smoothly, you get the feeling that this will be a very good day,” Synne says.
SYNNE HENRIKSEN “The independence and responsible freedom suits me.”
Today, PONSSE forest machines are used at varying sites in about 40 countries from eucalyptus plantations to steep slopes and the cold Siberian temperatures.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
The future of forestry lies in the Cut-to-Length method
MANAGEMENT IMPROVES GROWTH The popularity of the effective and sustainable Cut-to-Length (CTL) method is quickly increasing around the world. At the heart of its success are the efficient forest machines that are adaptable to different harvesting conditions, environmentally friendly and superior in operator comfort.
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oday, two thirds of the mechanical harvesting of wood in the world is done by using forest machines based on the CTL method. In the EU, the CTL method already accounts for more than 70% of all harvesting, whether mechanical or manual. In other parts of the world, almost all new projects in the forest industry are based on CTL solutions, which optimise each trunk to the needs of the end user. In the CTL method, the wood is already cut in the forest into assortments according to purpose. This yields high value for the wood and enables an effective logistical chain. Assortment means the different logs that can be cut from a tree for different purposes, such as various sawn timber, plywood and small logs, pulpwood and wood for bioenergy use.
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Naturally, the growth rate and quality of the trees also affect the profitability of the forest management. Thinning carried out at the right time and in the correct way accelerates forest growth and improves the quality of the growing trees, preventing, among other things, the trees becoming too slender and keeping the crowns sufficiently large and robust. When the forest is robust, the risk of damages due to snow, storms, insects and fires is significantly lower. When thinning is done according to good forest management principles, it reduces root competition and enhances the availability of nutrients and water. The increased amount of light, in turn, strengthens the mass of needles and leaves. The green assets of a managed forest grow faster and with higher quality.
INCREASING THE VALUE OF THE FOREST
A WIDE RANGE OF HARVESTING OPTIONS
Unlike other mechanical harvesting methods, CTL enables responsible and high-quality forest management through selective thinning. A well-executed thinning keeps the forest healthy and increases the amount of carbon dioxide it can absorb.
In CTL harvesting, the individual processing of the trees allows for a flexible application of different thinning models. The crane of the nimble CTL harvester has a reach of up to 11 metres. Thanks to their long reach cranes and a compact
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
In the CTL method, the wood is already cut in the forest into assortments according to purpose. This yields high value for the wood and enables an effective logistical chain.
As it moves through the forest, the harvester spreads the delimbed branch and crown material onto its trails. Covering the trails decreases the machines’ load on the terrain and prevents terrain damage. In the CTL method, the branches and crowns are usually left in the forest to provide nutrients for the next tree generation.
harvester head, the machines can be used for selective thinning, in which stands that are too dense are thinned and the best trees are left to grow according to forest management recommendations. The flexible CTL method also enables continuous cover forestry (CCF). In CCF, the trees grow continuously, and the whole tree stand of an area is never fully felled in one go. In traditional forest management, a forest in the northern conditions is thinned twice during its 80 years of growth. At the time of the first thinning, the trees are about 30 to 40 years old and the end product is often only pulp or energy wood. In continuous cover forestry, wood is harvested more frequently, at intervals of 15 to 20 years, and the goal is to grow all trees to be harvested to a log size. COLLECTING VALUABLE RAW MATERIALS
In the cut-to-length method, the wood is harvested directly for the end customer’s use and the valuable raw material is effectively utilised. Harvester automation optimises the cutting of every trunk in a fraction of a second to maximise the tree’s
processed value. The harvester measures the base of the trunk and compares it with the recorded tree species data and the trunks previously felled in the forest. Using this comparison, the harvester’s measuring equipment provides an accurate prediction of the entire length and thickness of the trunk. The harvester performs a value calculation on a tree and tree species basis, estimating how many trunks are needed to fulfil the end-user order of the wood and the quality and dimensions of the trunks. Based on the requirement calculations and the trunk measurement, the harvester calculates the number and value of the assortment obtained from each trunk. At the same time, the harvester determines the best possible way to cut the trunk. Despite their modern features, the information systems of the CTL forest machines are very easy to use. The operator does not need any specific technical knowledge because the information systems of the machine operate in the background supporting the operator’s work. The operator can focus on relevant, productive harvesting while at the same time taking account of environmental aspects.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
It’s the operator’s talent that matters
RESPONSIBLI
"Of course, the operator must have the ability and will to work, but it’s the attitude that matters the most.” ENTREPRENEURS MARKO SAASTAMOINEN (ON THE LEFT), MARJA SAASTAMOINEN AND SAMI HYVÖNEN FROM NILAKKA FOREST
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ITY
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
MEANS BETTER BUSINESS A clean felling site and a wellmaintained environment are part of the professional skills of the operator and the subject of continuous improvement for the forest machine manufacturer. Seamless cooperation between Keitele Forest, Nilakka Forest and Ponsse is an excellent example of success.
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fficiency and high-quality results go hand in hand. The basis for success is a welltrained and skilful operator with the right attitude. A job well done brings more work, which leads to success,” says Marko Saastamoinen, CEO of Nilakka Forest. “The quality of the work done by a skilful harvester operator remains consistent day after day. The level of performance doesn’t fluctuate, and the operator has an eye for the state of the forest and high-quality results. With their insight, the operator ensures a good cutting result, consistent quality for the logs and also the best possible financial results for the forest owner,” says Matti Kylävainio, director of sawmill operations of Keitele Forest. Nilakka Forest, the result of a merger of two forest industry companies two years ago, employs more than 30 forestry professionals. The harvesting service company’s major cooperation partner is Keitele Forest with which it has engaged in a deep long-term development of operations since the early 1990s. Keitele Forest, a recipient of the Internationalisation Award of the President of the Republic of Finland, is a leading company in the field of mechanical wood processing, supplying timber and processed products to its customers in over 40 countries. The company has a production capacity of 1.1 million cubic meters of sawn timber per year. The company’s operational approach is based on responsibility and sustainable development – with sustainable forest management, responsible wood procurement and efficient environmentally 9
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
Nilakka Forest’s forest machine operator Topi Pulkkinen is one of the forestry professionals who, with his attitude, skills and Ponsse machines, fulfils the promise of responsibility every day, at every site.
friendly production as its leading themes. PROMISES ARE FULFILLED IN DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES
When it comes to fulfilling promises, the focus shifts to the forest and the worksite, the contractor and the operator–forest machine team. In many markets globally, forest companies have their own machine chains. However, all wood is harvested for Keitele Forest by competent contractors, whose operators’ professional skills are a prerequisite for clean harvesting, taking natural sites into consideration and fulfilling responsibility and quality requirements. It is a distinctive feature of Finland that there are more than 500,000 forest owners. This means that more than 10% of Finns own forest land. Private forestry is the basis of the forest economy. “The contractor acts as our business card towards forest owners. If the contractor and the operator fail, we are responsible for it as a company and we are exposed to the negative publicity it creates. This is why we train and instruct our contractors to work towards our mutual goals,” Kylävainio says. The operator is in a key role when combining productivity and efficiency, good quality of work and environmental aspects. Training and especially the right attitude of the operator are what Marko Saastamoinen emphasises. When the operator faces
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expectations and demands from many directions, customer service skills and the ability to communicate are also important factors for success in this hectic work. “Of course, machines have to work well, and the supervision of work, as well as the contact with the customer’s harvesting supervisor, must be in order. That is when everything works smoothly, and we can deliver the right amount of timber exactly as agreed, for example, to Keitele Forest,” Saastamoinen says. WINNERS CHANGE ALONG WITH GLOBAL TRENDS
According to Matti Kylävainio, the world around us is changing at an ever-increasing pace. This is why companies must also be able to change. Winners will be companies that are able to meet the needs for change and also properly communicate their achievements to their customers and their customers’ customers. Keitele Forest has done that. It has taken an active role in communicating its responsibility, or as Matti puts it, it “has climbed into the cabin.” Managing and regenerating Finnish forests, taking environmental aspects and occupational safety into account – everything is top notch. “This is something that we want to bring up more clearly. We are not the problem but the solution to what the world around us
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
"We save the world one cubic metre at a time. Our products absorb a million tons of carbon dioxide every year." MATTI KYLÄVAINIO, KEITELE FOREST
wants. Sawmills and the wood product industry are making wooden apartment buildings, CLT houses, furniture – things that work as long-term carbon stocks for dozens or hundreds of years.” “With our business, we help to save the world one cubic metre at a time. Our products absorb a million tons of carbon dioxide every year. The new wave of wood is a reality: the whole forest cluster and its associated activities withstand critical scrutiny on an international level. The sawmill industry and forest companies can truly become figureheads of responsibility,” Kylävainio says. For Keitele Forest, responsibility is a broad and complex matter, which centres around social responsibility and family entrepreneurship with a human face, in addition to environmental responsibility. “We don’t live in the quarterly economy of multinational corporations. Our quarter is 25 years. We have never laid off or given notice to any of our staff. We bear the responsibility in a broader sense: when we have food on our tables, so do our employees and contractors.” OPERATOR EXPERTISE AND NEW PONSSE TECHNOLOGY
Responsibility also extends to the operator’s coping and wellbeing at work. This is where Ponsse and its research and development
steps in with the goal of designing what is the best possible CTL forest machine for its operator. “Over the last ten years, operators’ working conditions have improved significantly, starting with the development of seats. Less vibration and better ergonomics. Visibility and lighting have improved, and automation makes working easier,” says Marko Saastamoinen from the contractor’s point of view. The close cooperation between Keitele Forest and Ponsse goes back all the way to the 1980s. Now, all contractors cutting wood for Keitele use Ponsse machines almost exclusively, and all machines used in clear cutting are Ponsse machines. “Keitele Forest is a customer-driven company that is fully controlled on the basis of orders. CTL is the only harvesting method we can use to ensure that our customer promises are fulfilled. We have developed wood harvesting in cooperation with Ponsse, and we believe that this is the right way to go. We work ecologically and manufacture products that make the world a better place to live,” says Matti Kylävainio. “Ponsse’s way of working is a good match with our principles. Some of our suggestions have made their way to production, which means that they really listen to their customers. Customerorientation, powerful machines and top-notch maintenance – that’s it,” says Marko Saastamoinen, summing it up.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
The world’s best Ponsse Ladies Established in 2004, Ponsse Ladies offers its members shared activities and training. The club has activities in five countries with over 600 women participating. The hostess of the Ladies, Tiina Nissinen, who has participated in the Finnish Ladies club activities since the beginning, underlines the communality of the activities. “Communality is important for our members. Even if the women themselves don’t directly work at the family companies, many of them work in the background. It’s also important to take them into account.” Training has become more important in the Ladies’ activities throughout the years. Already two groups of Ladies in Finland have completed specialised vocational training in business management. In Germany, the Ladies activities of the local Ponsse retailer Wahlers Forsttechnik have included several software and simulator training programmes, and, recently, also operator training. Through its training activities, the club also wants to develop
Tiina Nissinen, Pia Kainulainen and Piia Vidgrén are positive and energetic Ponsse Ladies.
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The core activity of the Ponsse Ladies club is networking with other women that are part of the forest machine industry, either themselves or through their families. It’s easy to join a group of likeminded people.
Ponsse’s client companies. “We have really active members who have been looking for additional knowledge on, for example, Ponsse’s information systems. We answered this request by organising a software training programme with our training partner,” Nissinen says. LEARNING AND GOOD COMPANY
The Ladies members include entrepreneurs, forest machine operators and women working in company management, either full time or alongside their day jobs. This industry is often regarded as being masculine, but women fit in it excellently. “Through its positive and open minded attitude, Ponsse Ladies wants to show that women can hold their own in the forest industry. Every one of us knows that you don’t go to a felling site in high heels,” says Tiina Nissinen with a twinkle in her eye.
Regular activities of the Ladies include travelling together- domestically and abroad. There’s always something new to learn about the forest industry on the travels, but they are also long-awaited chances to relax and enjoy good company. “It’s very easy to become a new member of the Ladies: everyone has the same background, and you don’t have to explain your own everyday life to other members as you would with people outside the industry,” Nissinen says. In addition to training and travels, many members have gained life-long friendships. The brave women have a good sense of solidarity, and their Ponsse spirit is also visible from the outside. For Tiina Nissinen, leading the Ladies alongside her job as a financial specialist is a kind of lifeline. “I feel privileged in this company. It is an honour to be the hostess of Ponsse Ladies, and to be able to communicate the Ponsse spirit and values of our company.”
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOGETHER
SHARE YOUR STORY
READ AND FOLLOW PONSSE Dive in to forest memories. You can search for stories per year or on a map. We collect all kinds of stories from all five decades! Read stories at stories.ponsse.com and in Ponsse’s social media channels! The stories site is open to all, and you can easily share your story.
To celebrate our anniversary, we are collecting stories from men and women working in forests at stories.ponsse.com. Do you have photos in your archive, or do you remember stories you would like to share? Share your story with others!
STORIES.PONSSE.COM Facebook
YouTube
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
Quality through systematic work
IN THE NEW FACTORY
The best forest machines in the world are made in Vieremä’s forest machine factory in a safe and bright work environment.
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he Ponsse Production System forms a solid foundation for high-quality and tested factory operations. “Investments can always be made and facilities expanded, but high-quality forest machines can only be made through systematic work, day in and day out, and following a thoroughly considered operating model,” says production manager Esa Penttinen. MORE TESTING AND QUALITY
Before the 15th factory expansion was completed in August 2018, the assembly line and internal logistics underwent major changes. The factory expansion presented new operating models to quality operations, such as automated quality control for parts manufacturing using 3D scanning – as the first factory in the Nordic countries. Camera scanning is not any new feature at Ponsse, as it has already been carried out since 2013. However, systems, robots and
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products are all completely new. “By measuring random samples, we measure different frames and compare their statistics with CAD images. We measure the performance of parts manufacturing and, at the same time, are able to detect and systematically investigate and correct any non-conformities,” says Esa Penttinen. “Every measurement provides statistics of our ability to produce quality. A significant increase in this ability repays investments rapidly,” Penttinen says. In just under ten minutes, the entire frame structure has entered the scanner and moved forward to the assembly line. New operating methods have also improved cleanliness and safety. The senior shift worker checks every work station before the start of the shift. When the senior shift worker turns the label with the green side pointing upwards, work can be started safely. “If anything needs to be fixed, the senior shift worker will make a note directly in
our systems. Cleanliness and safety, as well as related reporting, are integral parts of our normal operations,” Esa says. TAKT TIME IS THE HEART OF OPERATIONS
The production takt time has been defined so that an agreed number of products pass through the line and machines can be delivered to customers on schedule. When the defined takt time can be followed, there are no bottlenecks. “Takt time is the heart of our operations. We measure it constantly so that we can allocate the right number of people to the right location. When the heart beats at the correct rate, all operations flow smoothly,” Esa says. HARVESTER HEADS READY FOR WORK
As a result of the factory expansion, work flows more smoothly in the completely new and more ergonomic harvester head line. Now that lighting and the storage of tools have improved, everything needed is within easy reach. All harvester heads
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
"Takt time is the heart of our operations. When the heart beats at the correct rate, all operations flow smoothly.” ESA PENTTINEN, PRODUCTION MANAGER
are tested in a new safe and modern testing room before they move on in the factory process or are delivered to customers. In practice, harvester heads that exit the factory are ready for work. “We also deliver harvester heads for machines of other manufacturers. All our products delivered to customers must be tested and ready,” says Esa Penttinen. QUALITY STRAIGHT FROM THE LINE
When Ponsse’s new assembly line was completed, the amount of testing and quality control during production increased considerably, also on the main assembly line. All other lines that feed the main line end in testing. Frame structures, cabins and cranes are forwarded to the main line, while harvester heads are completed on a separate line alongside the main line. For example, every cabin manufactured on the cabin line is tested by connecting it to testing equipment, matching the connections of an actual machine. Control handles are tested
in wire harness production, already before they enter the cabin line. The main line also ends in extensive testing. For example, engines and hydraulics are operated and tested in a sealed soundproof testing chamber. Hydraulics are tested using an automated testing program, in which the testing system goes through dozens of different machine functions. Machine movements are tested to make sure that everything works as it should. Finally, the surfaces of recently completed forest machines are inspected. Final painting is carried out under proper lighting and in ergonomic conditions, using appropriate tools, giving the finishing touch to the impressive appearance of a completed machine. FINALLY A TEST DRIVE
When a machine leaves the assembly line, it is not yet ready to be delivered. Ponsse’s lowbeds carry machines to a test logging site where they undergo final testing in a real forest environment. Tractive forces
are measured in a new test facility, and a tractive force certificate is prepared. “During a test drive, harvesters are put to the test for eight to ten hours. The goal is not to cut trees as quickly as possible but to test that all adjustments are as they should be and each machine meets the customer’s requests,” Esa Penttinen says. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Continuous improvement belongs to all Ponsse employees and is the company’s spearhead in terms of development. If anything needs to be fixed or modified, proposals are entered directly in the system, so that improvements can be started at once. As a result, operations develop systematically in a more effective and flawless direction. “People are our most important asset. The 450 professionals in our production, and their competence, are what make our operations and development what they are,” Penttinen says.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE ANNIVERS D uring the anniversary year, we want to meet as many harvesting professionals as possible. Our market area and customer base have grown remarkably over the past decades. For us at Ponsse, it has always been our priority to listen to our customers and to respond rapidly to their needs. We would not have been able to achieve this growth and development alone. The best support comes from our customers, and we have had the opportunity to work with numerous stakeholders. In 2019, we achieved a record at our factory and celebrated “round thousands” twice within a year. The 15,000th PONSSE forest machine at the end of the year was an excellent way to kick off the anniversary year. The new factory operates efficiently, and investments in our ability to produce high quality now show in our products. We increased the amount of testing and quality control considerably at our new factory. For example, we are able to inspect our structures using 3D scanning to ensure that they are flawless. The journey from a village workshop to the world’s most modern forest machine
factory has been long, and we have faced some tough times along the way. The best reward is to see that our customers and employees benefit from our investments. NEW PRODUCTS ARE THE STARS OF THE ANNIVERSARY YEAR
During the anniversary year we want to highlight some of our successful products like PONSSE Cobra, the PONSSE Bison and the Active Crane loader control, which are all in serial production. PONSSE Scorpion also deserves to be mentioned because it has been the flagship of the PONSSE product range since its launch in 2013. The fact that we have manufactured over 1,000 Scorpions says a lot about the machine. We will launch a new training simulator as part of the anniversary year and of course, introduce our extensive service offering. Launched as the flagship of the forwarder range, the PONSSE Bison Active Frame has turned out to be a revolutionary new product. The Bison is an unbeatable forwarder and definitely worth checking out at the roadshow demonstrations. Thanks to its continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Active Frame cabin suspension, the machine has surprised many operators with its power and comfort. The popular PONSSE Cobra is an adaptable all-round harvester and suitable for various logging and working methods. The Cobra’s strengths include its six-cylinder engine and hydraulics, powered by the 210 cm3 work pump, as well as its strong and tested structure. Thanks to their high-quality basic solutions, both of these new products are reliable and fuel-efficient machines for varying conditions. This is what our collaboration with our customers produces: solutions that entrepreneurs and operators really need to do their work. During half a century of forest machine manufacturing, we have faced varying market situations and technical challenges. However, what the entire industry has in common is a strong sense of community and faith in the future. The renewable raw material will continue to be harvested using constantly improving forest machines and the environmentally friendly cutto-length method. Jarmo Vidgrén Sales and Marketing Director TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY, WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE WORK DONE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. If you wish to support this cause, you can make a donation into the following bank account: Säästöpankki Optia, Vieremä; FI72 4600 1520 0002 86 (BIC: HELSFIHH) (message: “anniversary donation”)
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
SARY ROADSHOW Snap a photo and share your memorable moment with Ponsse
#ponsse50 PHOTO COMPETITION
on your Instagram page with hashtag #ponsse50! Remember to tag @ponsse_plc. We’ll feature the best photos on our Instagram page and on our website. Prizes for lucky winners!
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
DICE GAME
Lucky day! GO FORWARD 3 STEPS.
Start
Stop to refuel, WAIT 1 TURN.
You selected the correct forest machine, MOVE FORWARD 3 STEPS
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
You selected the correct forest machine, MOVE FORWARD 3 STEPS
If you threw 2, 4 or 6, MOVE FORWARD 3 STEPS. If you threw 1, 3 or 5, GO BACK 3 STEPS
Congratulations! You made it to the finish.
You forgot to maintain the machine, GO BACK 5 STEPS
You have a flat tyre, WAIT 1 TURN
You left logs in the woods, GO BACK 2 STEPS
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE HARVES PONSSE BEAVER
PONSSE FOX
PONSSE COBRA
THE NEW PONSSE COBRA harvester is a versatile and efficient tool for varying conditions. Thanks to its adaptability, it is right at home for both thinning and clear-cutting. An eight-wheel all-round machine, PONSSE Cobra is a good addition to a group of several machines thanks to its versatility and functional properties, but it is also an excellent choice for an entrepreneur who needs one machine for all logging sites.
ERGONOMICS Ergonomics and ease of operation have a massive impact on work productivity. The cabin provides the most ergonomic controls on the market as well as the excellent visibility which PONSSE forest machines are known for. Not to be forgotten are the ample, welldesigned storage spaces which are not only part of operating comfort but also a safety feature.
ENGINE PONSSE Cobra is always equipped with a strong six-cylinder engine that will not run out of power. In the European area, the machines come with a next generation Mercedes-Benz with more power and torque (up to 210 kW/1,200 Nm). The low-emission Stage V engine reduces the environmental load but provides better performance!
FRAMES Simple and strong frame structure. Alongside reliability, the structures account for the functional positioning and serviceability of components.
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SERVICEABILITY Effortless service is achieved with better positioning of service points, service lighting and safe service platforms. In addition to this, the high-quality components enable an exceptionally long maintenance interval.
PONSSE
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
STERS SCORPION
PONSSE SCORPION KING
PONSSE ERGO
PONSSE BEAR
CRANES The PONSSE Cobra harvester is available with a C5 sliding boom or C44+ parallel crane.
JAN KAUHANEN Product Manager, harvesters
HARVESTER HEADS The Cobra’s frame structure and crane enable a reach of up to 11 meters.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE HARVES PONSSE BEAVER
PONSSE FOX
PONSSE COBRA
PONSSE SCORPION is a living legend in harvesting. It is the very image of a modern harvester, awarded for its design and technological innovation. The Scorpion is the most popular machine. It is the bestselling PONSSE harvester in many market areas. Unlike fully conventional harvesters, Scorpion is a three-frame harvester equipped with a fork boom. Its balancing keeps the cabin horizontal in all conditions. In addition, visibility from the cabin is perfect thanks to large glass surfaces and the crane does not block the view in any direction. With the Scorpion, you are the priority, especially in demanding conditions and uneven terrain.
ENGINE AND HYDRAULICS The engine and strong hydraulics produce more than enough power, both in harvesting and transmission. Scorpion is equipped with singlecircuit hydraulics, well-suited for varying harvesting conditions. Scorpion King has a powerful two-circuit hydraulic system, particularly good in regeneration felling. The power, torque and fuel economy of the Mercedes-Benz / MTU engine are better than ever. The advanced transmission offers excellent handling and machine control – especially in demanding conditions and uneven terrain. LEVELLING The Cabin leveling balances the cabin in difficult terrain. The frame of the machine consists of three parts linked by rotating joints. The cabin and crane are located in the middle frame, which is kept hydraulically balanced, while the front and rear frames tilt according to the terrain. The pivot point of lateral leveling is very low, which not only keeps the cabin straight, but also minimizes any lateral swaying and keeps the centre of mass at the machine’s centre line.
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CABIN AND CONTROL SYSTEM The most spacious and comfortable cabin and the most ergonomic controls in the market guarantee the best working comfort. The PONSSE Opti information system is an advanced and easy-to-use interface for machine and work management.
EIGHT WHEELS The incredible stability of PONSSE Scorpion comes from its eight wheels and active stabilization system. This patented system is based on detecting the crane direction and position on the basis of which the rear frame is pressed in the working direction. Pressing the rear wheels against the ground and the weight of the rear frame improve the machine’s stability significantly when working on the side of the machine – also when the machine is moving.
PONSSE
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
STERS SCORPION
PONSSE SCORPION KING
PONSSE ERGO
PONSSE BEAR
CRANE The PONSSE C50 crane has unique geometry and a two arm lift boom that moves over the cabin offering excellent visibility and balance. The C50 crane also offers unbeatable movement geometry that can maneuver up to 11 m.
HARVESTER HEADS PONSSE harvester heads are known for their high efficiency/weight ratios and durable structure, which are second to none. A broad harvester head range is available for Scorpion: choose H5 or H6 for thinning-based harvesting, or the sturdy H7 regeneration felling. H7 Euca and H77 Euca are efficient when harvesting eucalyptus.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE FORWAR PONSSE WISENT
PONSSE ELK
PONSSE BUFFALO / BUFFALO ACTIVE FRAME
THE NEW PONSSE BISON ACTIVE FRAME demonstrates its superiority especially over long transport distances. With the new CVT power transmission matching the driving speed and engine load to the situation, high productivity can be achieved at low fuel consumption. The load bearing capacity of the Bison Active Frame is 16 tonnes. The large load space combined with the powerful and easy-to-use loader ensure efficient load handling at all work sites. ERGONOMICS Ergonomics and ease of operation have a massive impact on work productivity. The cabin provides plenty of storage space, the most ergonomic controls on the market and the excellent visibility PONSSE forest machines are known for. ENGINE In European Union and North America, the machines come with a next generation Mercedes-Benz engine with more power and torque (210 kW /1,200 Nm). The European low-emission Stage V engine reduces the environmental load and provides more performance. Outside Europe a Tier 4F or Stage III level Mercedes-Benz engines are used depending on market specific emission requirements.. BULLDOZER BLADE PONSSE Bison frame is designed to withstand high stress in various operating conditions which enables it to be equipped with a front mounted bulldozer blade. The blade is an optional feature. SERVICEABILITY Effortless serviceability is achieved with better positioning of service points, service lighting and safe service platforms. In addition to this, the high-quality components enable an exceptionally long maintenance interval.
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PONSSE BUFFALO KING
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
RDERS PONSSE BISON ACTIVE FRAME
PONSSE ELEPHANT / ELEPHANT ACTIVE FRAME
PONSSE ELEPHANT KING / ELEPHANT KING ACTIVE FRAME
PONSSE BUFFALO DUAL
POWER TRANSMISSION Unprecedented in the field, the CVT drive ensures that the Bison Active Frame boasts more practical tractive force than ever before, enabling faster forest haulage. This improves the machine’s productivity, especially when driving long distances.
LOADERS Options PONSSE K90+ (7.8/10 m) or K100+ (7.8/9.5 m).
JUHA HAVERINEN Product Manager, forwarders
FRAMES Simple and robust frame structure. Alongside reliability, the structures account for the functional positioning and serviceability of components.
ACTIVE FRAME PONSSE Bison Active Frame boasts the PONSSE Active Frame cabin suspension system. Thanks to the dual frame structure, the swinging and swaying motions are eliminated very effectively.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
Designed
FOR DEMANDING CO Ponsse has a long history of manufacturing harvester heads. The first PONSSE harvester head was made in Vieremä in 1986. PONSSE harvester heads have been designed to withstand even the toughest conditions. They are characterised by a simple and solid structure which enables them to be used in various harvesting applications from harvesters to track-based solutions. Each harvester head model is designed on the basis of efficiency, durability and ease of use. Harvester heads must withstand extreme conditions while operating accurately and as gently as possible without damaging the trunk surface unnecessarily. All PONSSE harvester heads are manufactured and designed at the Ponsse factory in Vieremä. The design process is comprehensive and covers, in addition to mechanical parts, operating controls and software. The manufacturing process is highly automated to ensure high quality and measuring accuracy. The frames of harvester heads are machined from a single piece after the welding assembly. This guarantees the highest quality with excellent precision. Durable hoses and delimbing knives form an important part of reliability. Ponsse’s selection includes 12 different harvester heads for different conditions from thinning to regeneration felling and processing. The basic product features in all models include powerful feeding as well as quick and efficient sawing. The harvester heads can be adjusted according to the trees harvested and the base machine used, ensuring smooth operations and a long service life. Their strong grip and accurate measuring system ensure excellent measuring accuracy.
JANNE LOPONEN Product Manager, Harvester Heads
NEW H9
Ponsse’s first H520 harvester head was completed in 1986. Pictured is Ponsse’s founder Einari Vidgrén with his new H600 harvester head.
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BIG HEAD - HARD WORK Strong power, reliable structure and accurate control in the same package. PONSSE H9 is excellent in processing but suits felling and multi-stemming processing very well. PONSSE H9 head is a real multifunction head. Fast, effective, rational and most important productivity. A harvester head of this size class has never been this versatile.
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
ONDITIONS 1) The PONSSE H5 is a multipurpose harvester head especially suited for efficient thinning. 2) The PONSSE H6 is praised as the best multipurpose harvester head on the market. It's suited to a variety of uses, ranging from thinning sites with small trees to regeneration felling. 3) The PONSSE H7 is a compact, robust and powerful harvester head for demanding regeneration felling and later thinning work. 4) The PONSSE H8 is a robust and powerful harvester head for demanding work with large trees. Powerful feed and excellent geometry together with efficient sawing enables high productivity. Also available with a top saw.
5) The PONSSE H10 is the largest harvester head in the selection, suitable for processing large diameter trees. With a very robust structure, the H10 is designed for track-based machines weighing over 25 tonnes. In spite of its size, the H10 is not only suitable for processing but also felling. 6) PONSSE H7euca is designed for processing and debarking eucalyptus trees. Thanks to its excellent geometry, the H7euca works well with big trees. Suitable for both wheeled and trackbased machines. 7) The PONSSE H77euca is an efficient and durable debarking harvester head for processing smaller eucalyptus trees. The H77euca is characterised by the feed rollers on the sides, enabling very efficient debarking. If necessary,
the H77euca can be equipped for conventional harvesting. Suitable for both wheeled and trackbased machines. 8) The PONSSE H7HD is a very robust and strong harvester head primarily for large wheeled harvesters and tracked based machines. The structure is based on the popular H7 model, but it has been reinforced for the special operating conditions of track-based machines. 9) The PONSSE H8HD is a robust harvester head with high power and excellent geometry for demanding conditions. The H8HD is designed for demanding use on large trackbased machines with a powerful hydraulic system. Also available with a top saw.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE Boost/Save
POWER AND SAVINGS SPARE PARTS
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SERVICE
MACHINE MANUFACTURING
TRAINING
R&D
Our principle is to manufacture the most productive and economical forest machines in the market. We call this the PONSSE Boost/Save philosophy.
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or us, the customer always comes first. For decades, we have been developing the world’s best cut-to-length forest machines, related services and information systems. Machine users are the best experts in their field, and we listen to their feedback attentively. Together, we have
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succeeded in increasing the productivity and effectiveness of harvesting and in reducing costs. This is the result of longterm cooperation. However, we want to serve our customers even better. Boost/Save means even more effective products and better services for our customers. It means powerful and
productive machines, agile research and development, full-range training, comprehensive maintenance, original spare parts and the most modern information systems in the industry. Boost/Save stands for effective and productive harvesting!
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE Manager
FOREST MACHINE DIGITALISATION RAISED TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL PONSSE Manager is a modern forest machine monitoring and data transfer system that forest machine entrepreneurs can use to see their machines’ location, productivity figures and fuel consumption, among others.
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ith PONSSE Manager, entrepreneurs can improve the efficiency of their business and enhance productivity, thanks to real-time monitoring of field operations. Manager is an easy-touse and informative operation management system with clear graphics. When it comes to PONSSE Manager, we are no longer talking about telecommunications solutions alone, but about a comprehensive data-based solution which enables the development of new solutions that produce added value for customers. With Manager, entrepreneurs can monitor the progress of stands, plan and manage machine transportation, keep track of machine outputs according to assortment and print out measuring certificates. In addition, Manager informs the entrepreneur of machine maintenance needs and displays fuel consumption
data and any maintenance-related notes made by the operator. The system also includes a real-time view of the harvester’s Ecodrive function, by means of which the productivity and work phases of the machine can be monitored in detail. Manager is available on smartphones, tablets and computers, independent of the place. Data is transferred automatically from machines via the mobile network, allowing the operator to focus on productive harvesting without any interruptions. Ponsse has been a forerunner in forest machines and their telecommunications solutions for decades. Ponsse brought the first computers to forest machines in 1992. Already back then, it was possible to transfer data between machines and offices across the NMT network. In 1997, machines were for the first time connected to the Internet, which was a revolutionary innovation in the field. Telecommunications solutions have
developed significantly since then, and Ponsse has introduced solutions, such as PONSSE Fleet Management (currently part of PONSSE Manager) and several other wireless applications.
JUHO LESKINEN Product group manager, digitalisation and information.
"With PONSSE Manager, forest machine entrepreneurs can use the data collected in planning their company’s operations." JUHO LESKINEN, PRODUCT GROUP MANAGER
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE ACTIVE CARE
PONSSE Active Care service agreements ensure the maximum productivity for your machines
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ven the best forest machine in the world needs maintenance to operate productively and reliably from one logging site to the next. A customised PONSSE Active Care service agreement that suits the entrepreneur’s business environment and business will outsource forest machine service to professionals, allowing the entrepreneur to focus on their core business, efficient and productive harvesting. The PONSSE Active Care service program consists of machine-specific Basic and Complete service which can be complemented with a variety of preventive
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maintenance and additional services, such as battery and hose replacement, as well as internal and external washing. The new forestry machine service agreement can be accompanied by a very extensive PONSSE Active Care+ additional security service that extends the security of all major components of the machine to 6,000 hours / 3 years. This covers, for example, the machine control system, engine, transfer box, chassis, middle pivot, crane, hydraulics, hydraulics cooling system, hydrostatic transmission, bogies and axles, harvester head and cabin slewing, pump gear box, stabilisation system, depending on the machine model, excluding normal wear parts such as hoses, gaskets and cables. “When a customer brings their forest machine to an authorized PONSSE service centre, they can be confident that the machine will always be serviced by Ponsse’s
trained mechanics by using only high quality original parts, lubricants and filters. In addition, all maintenance procedures are documented in the machine’s service history, which increases its resale value,” says Eveliina Pölkki, Ponsse’s product group responsible, service agreements. The additional Active Care+ security service for a new machine brings peace of mind, as all the major components are protected for up to 6,000 hours of machine operation and related costs are well known. Ponsse’s global service network includes 200 maintenance service centres and almost 500 service vehicles. The extensive service network aims to bring the service as close to the customer as possible. When you let Ponsse take care of all service, you can avoid many additional costs, for example, from facilities and special tools.
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE ACCESSORIES
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USABILITY Regular maintenance and original parts keep your machine reliable and give your machine the highest possible usability. CUSTOMISATION A service agreement for your specific needs, with customised hours and content.
MACHINE VALUE The resale value of your machine remains high.
FIXED COSTS No unexpected maintenance costs during the agreement period. PRODUCTIVITY Keep your machine’s productivity and fuel economy high.
FOCUS ON YOUR CORE BUSINESS Let Ponsse take care of all maintenance services, so you can remain focused on harvesting.
"All maintenance procedures are documented in the machine’s service history.”
The PONSSE forest machine accessories product group consists of high quality products that are designed for the forestry professional. The selection includes accessories, optional equipment and tools. The PONSSE forest machine accessories are carefully selected products which fill Ponsse’s quality requirements and are designed to be used in the service of PONSSE forest machines. In addition to its own products, Ponsse also offers a selection of products from wellknown suppliers.
PONSSE SERVICE APPLICATION With the mobile application, you can browse through PONSSE service products, such as forest machine accessories. The application includes saw bars, chains, filter sets, oils and greases, grapples, feed rollers, tracks, working lights and PONSSE forest machine accessories. The application’s selectors let you quickly find the right product. The PONSSE Service Application can be downloaded for Android from Google Play, for iOS from the App Store and it also works offline.
EVELIINA PÖLKKI, PRODUCT GROUP RESPONSIBLE, SERVICE AGREEMENTS 31
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
THE WORLD’S BEST
USED MACHINES "We export many machines without the customers even seeing them first. They trust us in terms of the condition of our machines and whatever else we promise during a deal.” JUSSI HENTUNEN, USED MACHINES
P
onsse has manufactured the world’s best forest machines for 50 years and has also sold used machines almost from the very beginning. Buying a used machine is a quick way to increase capacity. That’s why our clients include professional entrepreneurs, as well as new entrepreneurs and customers who run their entire business with used machines. ”When a customer buys a used PONSSE forest machine, they also receive a wide range of services and the support of a global network. We never leave our customers on their own. We offer maintenance, spare parts, training, instruction manuals and other documents, as well as logistics services, to our used machine customers. We always make the purchase as easy and high-quality as possible for the customer,” says Jussi Hentunen, area director responsible for Ponsse’s used machine business. Success in the very competitive
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international market is based on trust. The promise of high-quality machines and expert support is fulfilled with each transaction, in all markets. “We export many machines without the customers even seeing them first. They trust us in terms of the condition of our machines and whatever else we promise during a deal.” We receive a wide range of used machines from different manufacturers. The warranty depends on the machine and the deal. A satisfied buyer of a used machine is a potential buyer of a new machine in the future,” Jussi Hentunen explains.
and we want to offer them the best possible service,” Jussi Hentunen promises. Used machines are in a big role on the anniversary year tour around the world – come to hear more in person, follow our used machine discounts at ponsse.com or contact our local vendor.
DEALS DIRECTLY WITH PONSSE
What separates Ponsse from its competitors is its desire to sell machines directly to the end customers – through its own sales network. When a customer deals directly with Ponsse, they know what they are buying. “The end customer is important to us
JUSSI HENTUNEN Director, Used Machines Global Business
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
Ponsse history
"This is a Ponsse that will get logs from the bogs and deep snow. Just like its namesake catches hares in the same places.” EINARI VIDGRÉN (1943–2010), FOUNDER OF PONSSE
The Ponsse Story
The mixed breed dog running around the Vieremä village would not have guessed that its name would be remembered for decades. The first forwarder developed by forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén was named Ponsse after that dog. There was a stray mixed breed dog in the village at that time. It had a long body and it was grey and quite ugly It was called Ponsse. But it was a good harrier and never gave up when hunting. No matter the weather, no matter the place – heaths, swamps, clumps of spruce or thick coppices – it would hunt. When hunters went out with Ponsse, they never came back empty-handed. Kauko Väisänen, the husband of Einari’s sister, and a skilled local blacksmith, lent his forge. It was there, in the ordinary village forge, that the first “forest machine factory” was established. The sounds of banging and clanging iron and welding noises could be heard from morning to night from the village
forge. Absolute expertise in welding was represented by Lauri Uuksunen. The days were filled with planning and building different alternatives. The axles were taken from an old wheel loader. A powerful engine was attached to the frame. A wärtsilä loader was installed on top. The villagers were eager to see how the work was going, and when seeing the machine they wondered, “What kind of a ‘Ponsse’ is that going to be?” “Now it even has a name. It’s going to be a Ponsse”, laughed Einari. After months of hard work, in the late winter of 1969, a grey – and many thought ugly – load-bearing forest tractor was driven out of the village forge. It was the first Ponsse. It was put into use at Tehdaspuu’s logging site. After a year of operation, the people from Tehdaspuu called and said: “Why don’t you make more of these forest tractors? It has hauled twenty-five thousand five hundred cubic meters of piled wood, and it has needed the least servicing.” Hearing that request, Einari jumped up and said to his wife, “I’m going to start a factory!” “A factory!” said his wife surprised. “That’s right, a factory,” said Einari and left. He set off in his car towards the village.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
Test driving in Nissilä GOOD EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE FOREST TRACTOR PROTOTYPE FROM VIEREMÄ
The manufacturing of forest tractors has kicked off in Vieremä. The first Ponsse forest tractor that Einari Vidgrén has had built has been tested for some time already at a Metsäliitto site in the forest of Viljo and Martti Sahlström forest in Nissilä. The test drives in difficult terrain have been successful, even beyond expectations. ”We will start building two similar machines immediately, and a larger production series will be started when the industrial building of the town is completed,” says forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén. “Through the years, I have come to the conclusion that forest tractors built using farm factor parts and models are not durable enough for difficult conditions.” “This is a natural fact, because the parts used in farm tractors are not designed to withstand driving in the forest. Therefore, we have designed a machine which is so robust that it can be used in the forest without any worries. A forest tractor really has to be a forest tractor,” Vidgrén says. In district foreman Sauli Piispanen’s opinion, the test drive was a success. In difficult marshy terrain, 50 stacked cubic metres of wood per hour has been moved from 0 to 200 metres, which is an impressive amount. There have been no days off, the machine has endured well. Farmer Viljo Sahlström told us how surprised he had been to see how cleanly the forest tractor can move in the forest. “This test has been done in a stand marked for cutting, and when the felling is organised well and suitable trails of around three metres wide and 40 to 50 metres apart are opened up for the machine in the forest, it won’t trample the forest floor much. Forest owners still have inaccurate presumptions against this.” Newspaper article, 1970 / Iisalmen Sanomat • The Ponsse’s engine is a six-cylinder Perkins producing 130 hp. • The transmission is a hydraulic ZF transmission. • The machine has a transmission and torque converter. • The axles are also the same ZF products from Germany, and their carrying capacity is 20 tons. • The total length of the forest tractor is 7.20 m, of which the load space is 4 m. • The width is 2.5 m and ground clearance is 60 cm. • The tyres are four 18.4 x 34 14-ply steel belted tyres made by Nokia. • The machine has four gears forward and four backward. • There is no clutch, the machine moves according to the throttle. Total weight is 9,000 kg. • The load space can accommodate 14 stacked cubic metres of wood, and the balance point is low even though the machine has a generous ground clearance. • The operator’s seat can be turned around, so it’s possible to handle both the driving and crane control from the same position. • The crane is a 4-ton Wärtsilä loader.
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
GROWING DEMAND FOR FOREST MACHINES IN 1978 GROWING DEMAND FOR FOREST MACHINES
When Ponsse was established in the early 1970s, many experts brushed it off as just an interesting experiment. A small company building large forest tractors was impossible to fit into the pre-defined notion of viability. Luckily, not even experts know everything. Ponsse has been able to do well through all these years. Not even the depression made it difficult to sell machines, even though the company practically lacks any kind of a sales organisation. The big companies have now moved away from the assembly line system, where possible. Five or six workers build machines from start to finish, just like at the Ponsse workshop. “They’ve followed our example,” says Einari Vidgrén, managing director of Ponsse Oy. Forest machines are made by three workshops in Finland: Valmet, Lokomo and Ponsse. “We are in tough company,” Einari Vidgrén admits. “Our colleagues really are a bit bigger, but, of course, they don’t have us between
a rock and a hard place.” There’s a great deal of truth in what Einari is saying. One of his strengths is the unbroken connection to the rough work being done every day with forest machines in the wilds and thickets of this country. Back in the day, the man himself headed out to logging sites with his farm tractor, and operations also continue in that sector to this day. Separate from the Ponsse organisation, a fleet of harvesting machines, with a daily volume of about 500 cubic metres, works under Einari Vidgrén’s own name, even today. From there, new ideas flow to Ponsse and fresh experience is gained in the work for which these machines are made. It all started, because Einari thought that the machines available at the time were not durable enough for the work done in the forest. Using someone else’s workshop, he built his own model, tested it, made improvements and finally ended up with the prototype of the present Ponsse machine. He had faith in starting to build forest tractors in Vieremä, even though there were quite a few sceptics around. Operations have continued on
a similar scale all these years. There are fifteen employees now, net sales are around five to six million marks per year and eight machine units are built each year with a price of around 500,000 marks. Dealing in trade-in machines is an almost mandatory part of this kind of business. Ponsse has a separate building for repairing used forest tractors and multi-function machines. Einari Vidgrén has no intention to expand his company. He thinks that the current size is appropriate. The recession proved the power of the adaptability of a small business, but at Ponsse the same thing was realised already much earlier. And now, the increasing forest trade is already clearly boosting the trade of heavy forest machinery. “It’s certainly visible already,” says Einari Vidgrén. When the sale of timber picks up, more harvesting equipment is needed. Then the questions about suitable machines start to come in.
Newspaper article, 1978 / Iisalmen Sanomat
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
PONSSE THROUGH THE DECADES
1969 1969 The first PONSSE Dino is manufactured at Kake’s workshop in Vieremä for machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén.
1970
1970 Einari Vidgrén establishes Ponsse Oy and leases a 300 m2 facility from the municipality of Vieremä for the production of forest machines. In the 1970s, 50 PONSSE PAZ forwarders are completed in the facility.
1980
The 1980s The aluminium-frame S15 is a breakthrough in the forest machine market. The first harvester head, H520, is completed in 1986 and the first harvester in 1987. The factory is expanded
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PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
1990
The 1990s The light 8-wheeler machine chain HS10 and S10 wins the Pro Finnish Design award. Ponsse is the first forest machine manufacturer to receive the ISO 9001 quality certificate. The 500th PONSSE is completed in 1993.
2000
The 2000s The product family undergoes a complete modernisation. Machines feature a striking modern design, a Mercedes-Benz engine and the digital OptiControl system. The 3,000th PONSSE is completed in 2003.
2010
The 2010s PONSSE Scorpion, a completely new forest machine, is introduced in 2013. A new logistics centre is completed in Iisalmi in the same year. The 10,000th PONSSE is completed in 2014.
2020
The 2010s 2018 Ponsse’s factory in Vieremä is expanded to cover four hectares. The first Bison forwarders and Cobra harvesters are completed in the world’s most modern forest machine factory. The PONSSE forest machine number 15,000 is driven out of the factory in November 2019. 37
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
ANNIVERSARY
PONSSE C MEN’S POLO SHIRT, 1477, SIZES S–4XL WOMEN’S POLO SHIRT, 1478, SIZES 34–46 Grey polo shirt with bold vertical stripes and the anniversary mark on the front. Material: 95% cotton, 5% spandex ANNIVERSARY T SHIRT, 1487, SIZES SX–4XL Yellow T shirt with a 50th anniversary theme. Material: 100% organic Fairtrade cotton, 155 g/m2. Certifications: GOTS, EU Ecolabel, Fairtrade, SA8000, Oeko-Tex and Neutral Responsibility. MEN’S TRAINER JACKET, 1479, SIZES S–4XL WOMEN’S TRAINER JACKET, 1480, SIZES 34–46 Trainer jacket with a full zip. Articulated sleeves and side pockets with zips. Ponsse print on the back. Anniversary year mark on the left breast. Material: 100% polyester. UNISEX TRAINER PANTS, 1481, SIZES SX–4XL Stylish unisex trainer pants with side stripes. Comfortable pants for wearing at your home, but stylish at the same time for the city. Wide elastic waistband and adjustment string. Pockets at the sides and pockets with zips at the back. Anniversary year mark. Material: 100% polyester. MEN’S KNITTED PULLOVER, 1482, SIZES S–4XL WOMEN’S KNITTED PULLOVER, 1483, SIZES 34–46 Classic men’s knitted V-neck pullover made of warm wool. Stylish details: imitation suede patches on elbows, Ponsse embroidery on the chest and anniversary year mark on the sleeve. Knit cuffs and neck. Perfect for a chilly day. Material: 80% wool, 20% nylon. Anti-pilling treatment.
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Products are available in limited quantities.
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition ponsseshop.com
COLLECTION MEN’S REVERSIBLE JACKET, 1484, SIZES S–4XL WOMEN’S REVERSIBLE JACKET, 1485, SIZES 34–46 Stylish reversible quilted jacket. Can be used as a traditionally stylish black quilted jacket. The reverse side of the jacket is sportier, with a smooth surface and brownish green colour. The jacket has light wadding, and is usable in all seasons. Both sides have two side pockets with zips. The smooth side has a zipped inside pocket. Anniversary year marks on both sides on the chest and back of the neck. Material: 100% nylon, wadding 100% polyester. MEN’S FLANNEL SHIRT, 1486, SIZES S–4XL Men’s flannel shirt with black-yellow-white plaid pattern. Soft brushed inside. Two breast pockets with flaps. Normal cut. Anniversary year mark on the sleeve, Ponsse logo on the chest. Material: 100% cotton . ANNIVERSARY YEAR CAP, 1488 Black cap with anniversary year mark on the front centre. Printed design under the bill. Ponsse logo on the back. Adjustable with metal tightener. Material: recycled polyester. ANNIVERSARY YEAR BEANIE, 1490 Warm beanie with anniversary year mark in front. Material: wool/acrylic blend. Made in Finland. ANNIVERSARY YEAR SCOTCH CAP, 1489 Cap with low bill. Knitted wool blend material. Colour: brown/black Satin lining with anniversary year mark. Black leather strap on the side. Tightening with elastic band on the back. FUR HAT, 1491, SIZES M–XL Very warm fur hat with 50th anniversary logo on the back of the neck. 39
PONSSE NEWS Special Edition
The best colleagues in the world make the best forest machines in the world is the DNA of a family business where everyone is important and everyone is valued. We are also an international, publicly listed company – a pioneer and a success story where the customer is always number one. AT THE HEART OF PONSSE
of the unique Ponsse spirit and culture that make our global team pull together and succeed.
THESE ARE THE INGREDIENTS
career.ponsse.com
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