Hard worker
in harsh conditions
Rapidly growing e-commerce increases demand for packaging board in Russia. Timber is moving and the pulp mills are spinning. In order to get the timber moving, the country needs Kesla’s legendary timber handling cranes. ‘Legendary’ is exactly the right word to describe
the engines are not switched off even during an
Each year 150 to 200 timber handling cranes are
the KESLA 2009S product family. This is a 9
hour’s break. Experience has shown that this is
exported to the country. Customers range from
tonne-metre class timber handling crane, which
the best way to keep the machines operational.
small private logging companies to giants like
is descended from a timber handling crane that
Ihno also explains the importance of the du-
the Ilim Group. The largest wood processing
impressed the market under the Forester brand.
rability and reliability requirement in terms of
company in Russia, Ilim Group, produces about
The first Foresters entered the market in the
distance.
3.2 million tonnes of paper and pulp per year.
1980s. Built for expediency, these beasts of bur-
“The logging sites are located a considerable
Half-owned by Russian Ilim Holding and Ameri-
den proved superior to their competitors. In the
distance from the cities, far away from services.
can International Paper, Ilim is planning to make
brand reform of 2005, the Forester brand was
It’s normal to have a distance of 500 km from
significant factory investments in Russia in the
discontinued. The change of name did not un-
any kind of service shop or spare parts. In other
coming years.
dermine customers’ confidence, as the timber
words, when we talk about the reliability and
“Ilim has several large plants, where about 50
handling crane had already demonstrated its
durability of KESLA timber handling cranes, we
Kesla timber handling cranes are continuously
excellent functionality and reliability at Russia’s
are talking about something that is absolutely
at work throughout the harvesting season.
extremely challenging logging sites.
crucial for the customer.”
The winter season 2019–2020 was mild and
Kesla has its own importer in St Petersburg,
challenging in regard to stands marked for cut-
In the arms of Siberia
which organises servicing and spare parts ser-
ting. However, the short harvesting season was
The most demanding of harvesting locations are
vice. According to Ihno, practically every major
preceded by a few good winters.”
in Siberia. Timber is harvested in winter, when the
customer has a spare parts and service point
“The previous winter was short for harvesting,
temperature may well be under -40°C.
next door. Kesla also has close cooperation with
but the price of timber was good. Last winter,
“Special liquids and oils, special hoses and, of
the car brands that manufacture base machines.
on the other hand, was more problematic, as the
course, the way of using the machines,” says Ar-
Partners include Volvo, Mercedes, MAN, Scania,
price of timber was falling. However, people in
tur Ihno, who was Kesla’s regional manager until
KAMAZ and MAZ.
Russia don’t seem to be concerned about weath-
2020, listing the special requirements related to
40
er fluctuations, let alone climate change. They
the use of the crane. In practice, the machines run
Growth on the horizon
say that the fluctuations are normal and that we’ll
around the clock – in harsh freezing conditions,
Russia is an important export country for Kesla.
soon have a decent cold winter again.”
