Ponsse News 2/2017, EN

CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER MAGAZINE 2/2017

PONSSE NEWS

PONSSE’S FIRST 10 YEARS IN CHINA PARTS ONLINE 24/7:

PONSSE PARTS ONLINE

A SUPERSTRONG PAIR NIKLAS NANNESTAD AND PONSSE BEAR

PONSSE NEWS CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER MAGAZINE 2/2017 PUBLISHER

Ponsse Oyj Ponssentie 22, FI-74200 Vieremä, Finland EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Katja Paananen

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EDITORS & CONTENT

Ponsse Oyj EDITORIAL STAFF

Juho Nummela, Katja Paananen, Juha-Matti Raatikainen, Marika Ryytty, Jarmo Vidgrén, Juha Vidgrén LAYOUT

Mainonnan Työmaa ILLUSTRATIONS

Henna Ryynänen, Ponsse Kids p. 29 PRINT

GUANGXI

14 AWARDS FOR BEST BUSINESSES IN THE

PAPER

Mailing registration list of Ponsse News and Ponsse customer register

Ponsse PLC customer and stakeholder magazine. The next Ponsse News will be published in December 2017. From now on, Ponsse News will be issued three times a year.

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NIKLAS NANNESTAD AND PONSSE BEAR

Creating results through grit and long-term commitment.

9 A STORY OF GROWTH IN

ADDRESS SOURCE

11 A SUPER-STRONG PAIR:

7 IN COOPERATION WITH STORA ENSO

Painotalo Seiska GPrint

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4 PONSSE’S FIRST 10 YEARS IN CHINA

11 SERVICE NETWORK

The development of the Ponsse network is monitored by internal audits.

THE PONSSE FAMILY

16 PONSSE MOMENT

Huang Jia Fang is responsible for Ponsse’s spare parts services in China.

18 PONSSE TRACTION ASSISTANCE

A winch solution enables logging on the toughest slopes.

GREETINGS FROM PONSSE! Summer 2017 brought a wide variety of events, including Elmia Wood, the world’s largest forestry industry fair, held for the fourth year in Sweden. Despite the rainy weather, the fair exceeded our already-high expectations, and our guests made a great contribution to the positive atmosphere. The sense of solidarity among the group was strong as our customers got together in as many as 20 different market areas. A sincere thank-you to them all, and also to our staff for running a great fair stand and all the arrangements!

24 20 S PARE PARTS ONLINE 24/7: PONSSE PARTS ONLINE 22 FOREST MACHINE OPERATING IN FINLAND

Part 1. The stories in this series tell about the work of forest machine operators in different markets.

26 L OGGING NEWS 29 P ONSSE KIDS 30 P ONSSE COLLECTION

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Due to the good work situation for machine entrepreneurs, the autumn has gotten off to a busy start in most of our market areas. High demand for forest machines means a brisk pace of production at the factory. At the same time, the factory’s expansion work is proceeding as planned. This investment means more to us than just the ability to increase our capacity. Above all, it means we can further increase quality, flexibility and productivity. It also allows us to provide our employees with an even safer and more modern work environment, which is also important for recruitment and job satisfaction. By the time the new premises are ready, by the end of 2018, the 2.7-hectare (6.7 acres) plant will have grown to four hectares (9.9 acres).

This is the most momentous factory investment in the company’s history, and will ensure our continued strength competitiveness on the world forest machinery market. At the same time, our development of the maintenance network continues. Early in the year we opened new service centres in Uruguay and France. In Scotland, the opening celebrations for the new premises will be held in November.

On the product front, new features will come into operation in serial production at the turn of the year. These features will make PONSSE forest machines even more economical in terms of fuel consumption in several ways, such as through more efficient hydraulics. Digitalisation is on everyone’s lips these days, and is something we are heavily involved in. PONSSE Parts Online is a good example of a service that makes the day-to-day work of machine entrepreneurs easier. The app makes it possible to order spare parts online, and to see in real time the availability of parts and price information, for example.

Strong development in all of our operations is essential for maintaining and promoting customer confidence in the company. This is something we will always work hard at, every logging day of the year.

Jarmo Vidgrén Sales and Marketing Director, Ponsse Plc

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REPORT / PONSSE IN CHINA

庞赛

“PANG SAI” MEANS A BIG MACHINE – AND A STRONG COMPETITOR

In Chinese, every name has a meaning. Ponsse’s Chinese name, Pang Sai, describes Ponsse’s machinery and operations on the Chinese market. In other words, the “big machine” is a strong competitor.

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onsse’s story in China began when Stora Enso chose the company in 2007 as its partner for timber harvesting. In Guangxi Province in southern China, plans were made for a factory that needed raw material requirements for extensive eucalyptus plantations. “In committing to cooperation, Ponsse at the same time undertook to set up its own subsidiary in the area.

From the very start Ponsse was responsible for spare parts, training and deliveries. Ponsse China CEO Risto Kääriäinen

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describes the decision to set up a subsidiary, covering matters such as Ponsse’s customer-oriented operations. “Managing cooperation from Finland was out of the question.”

A PIONEERING SPIRIT

The company began all its activities from scratch, including the search for premises. The best channel for finding a job came by word of mouth and local recommendations.

The most important thing was to get driver training and

PONSSE CHINA • founded in 2007 in Guangxi province, with 27 employees • in China there are about 40 PONSSE Ergo and PONSSE Buffalo forestry machines, about 10 H6 and H7euca harvester heads, and two simulators – one for Ponsse’s use in its training and the other at Northeast Forestry University.

• the company has sold 50 forest machines to entrepreneurs outside of China • the local customers are mainly entrepreneurs supplying Stora Enso • the company has trained 183 forest machine drivers • member of the Guangxi Forestry Industry Association • member of China Forestry Machinery Association • university cooperation: Northeast Forestry University, Beijing Forestry University, Nanning Forestry University

“The importance of skilled personnel cannot be overemphasised,” says Risto Kääriäinen, CEO of Ponsse China.

maintenance underway quickly. Before the first machines had come from the port, the trainers used a simulator and a small agricultural tractor in teaching. Driver training started out entirely from scratch.

The students did not have experience in the forest area, and many didn’t even have a driving licences. Even terminology related to forest machines also had to be created from scratch, because no mechanical logging had even been done in the country.

The company’s activities were run by a small organization of ten. Everyone had to get involved in everything that came their way, and cultural differences were seen as just different ways of working.

“The days were long and tough, but enthusiasm ran high with everyone for being involved in creating something completely new,” remembers Risto Kääriäinen.

“The first three pioneers in China were Kalle Mäenpää, Janne Loponen and Lars Ahlberg. They were responsible for maintenance and training. The three arrived in the Beihai heat from the Finnish autumn in the middle of the night with only their backpacks. But each of them had long experience in Ponsse, and in maintenance and training throughout the world. The working days began with the division of labour, and ended in the evening at Tommy’s Bar, where the day’s achievements were assessed.

“Bureaucratic matters were handled by the Chinese-born lawyer Jihua Wang from the Vieremä factory. Risto Kääriäinen came to us a few months later; he had worked in China before.

The first local employees were Kiddo Jian and Vanilla Huang, maintenance engineer Du Shao Ming, and sales manager Samuel Shi. The company’s current accountant, Luo Ying, handled Ponsse matters at a local accounting office. “Everyone brought with them solid professionalism and the courage to rise to this new challenge. Most of the people from the early years are still employed by the company,” Kääriäinen says.

PATIENCE AND PROGRESS LEAD TO SUCCESS

Today, Guangxi Province in southern China has a thriving new culture of mechanical harvesting and growing expertise in it.

The Ponsse China organisation has grown to 28 employees, two of whom are Finns.

Responsibilities have been clarified over the years and been made more systematic. Also, the increased machine fleet has become operational. Timber harvesting has shifted mainly to steep slopes, which means that most of the new machine fleet are winch machines. In the subtropical climate, eucalyptus trees are ready for harvesting in about seven years.

According to Risto Kääriäinen, it was well known that the road to mechanised harvesting in China would be long. “However, change and market growth have been surprisingly slow.

We are still strongly involved and committed to our cooperation with Stora Enso.

Our operations have in many ways been pioneering. It can be said that when talking about Chinese timber harvesting, one is talking about PONSSE forestry machines.

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REPORT / PONSSE IN CHINA

No other company makes machines like these.” As a business environment, China is completely different from Western countries, particularly when it comes to cooperation with the authorities.

The local presence and commitment, however, have been Ponsse’s strengths in China. “The importance of skilled personnel cannot be overestimated. We started out from nothing with a small group, and now we offer technology and services that are ideally suited to local conditions.”

“We have succeeded in bringing the Ponsse spirit to China, and the company’s everyday operations are guided by the same values as the company’s birthplace in Vieremä. Communication is important. Juha and Jarmo Vidgrén visit Beihai regularly, and half of the local staff have visited the Vieremä factory.” “In my opinion, one of our biggest achievements is the

THE PROSPECTS

Ponsse China sales manager Samuel Shi says that China already has a large amount of planted forests, and the harvesting targets are high.

“The mechanization of Ponsse has trained 183 forestry harvesting is necessary to machine drivers in China. meet the goals, since the cost of manual harvesting increases and labour supply has driver training concept. become more difficult. Safety factors We have trained and certified 183 also spur mechanisation. drivers in this enormous and culturalIn general, Chinese logging is ly conservative,” Kääriäinen says. undeveloped and the degree of mechPonsse China has been operating anisation is small compared to what from the very beginning in the same is the case in Chinese agriculture, premises in the Hepu industrial area, for instance. Stora Enso Guangxi together with the Stora Enso machine is an exception, and a forerunner in team. The facilities have been renovattimber harvesting in China. Ponsse is ed several times, and the spare parts committed to the Chinese market and warehouse has had to be expanded. to our customers. The Chinese timber Ponsse’s internal quality and safety harvesting market is undoubtedly leadaudits have proven to be a very useful ing the way.” tool for developing our activities.

CHINA’S FORESTRY INDUSTRY IN BRIEF • 21.6% of the country’s area is forested • the total volume of tree stands is 15.1 billion m3, which is the world’s sixth-largest amount • 122 million hectares of natural forest, with a combined tree stand volume of 12.3 billion m3 • 69 million hectares of planted forest, with a combined tree stand volume of 2.5 billion m3 • annual industrial timber harvesting volume is 80 million m³, and total annual felling volume is 334 million m3 • half of the wood used in China is imported • annual growth in volume of tree stands of 300 million m³ • industrial companies rent the lands they use from the Chinese state, which owns all the land • North China forests are mainly coniferous mixed forests in the middle of the country. In the southern and western parts of the country, the forests are mainly poplar and eucalyptus • forest companies have a total of about 1.5 million employees Driver training started from nothing in 2007.

Although many of those who began the training had no experience in engineering, they had a great deal of motivation to succeed.

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• 2016 The value of exports and imports of Chinese forestry products was about USD 140 billion • the most important export products are furniture, paper, panels and main products, logs, sawn timber, paper and pulp

“What we value most in Ponsse is the company’s commitment to customers, after-sales service, and continuous development.”

PARTNERS

STORA ENSO GUANGXI Stora Enso’s cooperation with Ponsse goes back to 2007, when the country’s first cut-to-length harvesters and forwarders were delivered to Guangxi.

Harvesting on a larger scale began only in 2013, and since then the operations have developed at a rapid pace.

“The dream of an industrial wood supply chain that produces certified and sustainable wood for the needs of the South China Consumer Packaging Board Mill has come true,”, says Stora Enso Guangxi CEO Ian Blande.

Australian-born Ian Blanden, 51, knows what he’s talking about. He has spent his entire career working with eucalyptus plantations. Blanden has been living with his wife Gianella in

Beihai ever since the launch of largerscale commercial timber harvesting in China in 2013.

Stora Enso started forest operations in Guangxi, in the south of mainland China, in 2002. The province is mainly rural, and the company manages 83,560 hectares there. About 70,000 hectares of that land are planted with eucalyptus.

“When I heard what the Finnish word sisu means, I began to under-

stand what Ponsse’s long-term commitment to Stora Enso is about.

Sisu is a peculiarly Finnish characteristic. It is about endurance, resilience, perseverance and determination. Sisu means that whatever you start, you finish. There is no giving up in the middle of things – everything is seen through to the end without making a fuss,” Blanden says.

“Despite the delays in the project

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REPORT / PONSSE IN CHINA

and the many challenges, Ponsse has remained committed to cooperating with us. Ponsse’s persistence and determination are a fine example of Finnish sisu. I think this characteristic is precisely what is needed to succeed in forestry in a place like Guangxi.”

“What we value most in Ponsse is the company’s commitment to customers, after-sales service, and continuous development.”

Ponsse’s services are not limited to machine deliveries; they also cover driver training, secondary marketing and spare parts deliveries.

In total, Ponsse has trained 176 drivers for Stora Enso since 2007.

THE MISSION: SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

Stora Enso’s operations in Guangxi are guided by security and sustainable forestry. The mission is to ensure the continuous availability of high-quality, certified and mechanically harvested timber from its own sustainable forests planted in Beihai.

“We also see it as our responsibility to support the modernisation of Chinese forestry by introducing the latest technology and safe working practices in our logging operations. We directly employ more than 650 people in forestry.”

Stora Enso Guangxi spent years on the acquisition of land and forestry and building the organisation.

The first industrial fellings were done manually, and were based on old methods of timber harvesting after fires and storms. In 2015 forest operations were intensified through the introduction of winch-assisted PONSSE forest machines and centralised resource management.

The change from manual harvesting to fully mechanised harvesting got underway.

Currently, Stora Enso Guangxi employs 105 forest machine drivers and owns 34 PONSSE forest machines, of which 16 are harvesters and 18 are forwarders. More than half of the machines are winch machines, for timber harvesting on the toughest slopes of Guangxi in a safe and environmen-

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STORA ENSO IN GUANGXI 2002 Stora Enso begins forest operations in Guangxi 2007 Stora Enso Guangxi acquires its first PONSSE harvester and forwarder

Ponsse begins operations in Guangxi

2012 Stora Enso Guangxi receives CFCC and FSC ® certification for its operations 2013 Beginning of large-scale and continuous harvesting 2015 Stora Enso Guangxi acquires the first winch-assisted machines for steep slopes logging 2016 Stora Enso Guangxi makes a large-scale switch from manual timber harvesting to fully mechanised harvesting

Stora Enso’s consumer board mill becomes operational

The first batch of de-barked eucalyptus logs delivered to the Beihai mill for testing on 18 October 2016

2017 Ponsse and Stora Enso celebrate their tenth anniversary of cooperation in Guangxi

tally sustainable way. The de-barked eucalyptus logs are delivered to Stora Enso’s Beihai bleached Chemi-thermomechanical pulp (BCTMP) mill.

Blanden is impressed with the efficiency of the supply chain. “All the wood we have supplied has been harvested and de-barked by Ponsse harvesters.

Colleagues of mine in industrial operations have set very high wood requirements, for example concerning the amount of bark. I am very pleased that we have been able to fully meet the

demands when the timber has been de-barked and in the harvesting phase.

Every year we sell over one million cubic metres of wood.”

“The Guangxi Forest Organization, including our staff and external partners, are fully committed to continuously developing a safer, more profitable and sustainable business.

Ponsse is naturally an essential part of this committed and dedicated team.

Together we are a winning combination.”

A STORY OF GROWTH IN THE PONSSE FAMILY

SPARE PARTS MANAGER HUANG JIA FANG Huang Jia Fang is one of the pioneers at Ponsse and indeed pioneers at cut-to-length method in China. In addition, she is the first woman to be employed by Ponsse at the managerial level of the service business network.

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REPORT / PONSSE IN CHINA

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he sympathetic Huang Jia Fang, who also goes by the Western name Vanilla, has been working for Ponsse’s Chinese subsidiary as a spare parts manager since the summer of 2016.

However, her career at Ponsse China began ten years earlier, when the company was just starting out in China.

“I started at Ponsse in January 2007 after my teacher tipped me off about a foreign company looking for an assistant with English skills. Before my interview at Ponsse, I knew nothing about the company.

The best part about this job is the I had no idea what a harvester was. But when team which is small but extremely they told me they wanted to hire me, I knew a completely new life was waiting for me in a strong. We get along quite well and new city,” she says. the team spirit is definitely there.

At first, Vanilla worked almost exclusively in the region’s forests. She assisted trainers who taught people how to operate forestry machines and how to service them. After the two-month probationary period, both parties were eager to continue the employment.

“When the new trainees passed the assessment and became operators capable of working independently, I was proud of each and every one of them,” Vanilla says.

She worked as an interpreter during training and helped trainees to complete the program. This gave her an opportunity to learn a lot about the technology, which proved to be helpful in her later responsibilities. In 2009, Vanilla transferred to the office to work as a machine servicing assistant and soon moved on to the position of an after-market sales assistant, helping operators obtain service for their machines.

”

Vanilla has worked in her most recent position as a spare parts manager for a little over a year. She thinks her job is challenging but also a great opportunity. “The work is quite demanding, and there’s a lot of pressure at times. However, it has truly been a privilege to have been involved in the work I’m doing.

I’ve learned so much during the past year,” she says.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? THE PONSSE FAMILY, APPARENTLY

Huang Jia Fang’s name turned out to be auspicious as far as her career is concerned. Her last name, Huang, means ‘yellow’ and Jia translates to ‘family’. “I have worked and grown together with Ponsse China for ten years,” says Vanilla, who recently turned 30.

“The best part about this job is the team which is small but extremely strong. We get along quite well and the team spirit is definitely there. I have learned a lot working together with these people. I’m grateful for the opportunity that has given me both space to develop myself and a lot of responsibility, and I have my superiors to thank for that,” says Vanilla.

Ponsse’s Chinese subsidiary is located in Beihai, a beautiful coastal city of about 1.6 million people in South China. Her commute to the Ponsse office takes 45 minutes each way.

“I’m relaxed and optimistic by nature. I enjoy my work very much, and I’m quite happy with my personal life too! I run or walk for an hour daily after work. This keeps me fit and also keeps my weight in check. However, exercise is just one of my hobbies. I love to read and watch movies, I travel frequently, and I love the outdoors.”

But there’s another reason for Vanilla’s seemingly infinite happiness: she got married in August.

A SHOW OF TRUE PONSSE SPIRIT In December 2007, Ponsse was looking for to hire a training assistant and interpreter with excellent English skills.

Twelve young people who were all English majors from a local university were interviewed for the position. Vanilla’s carefully polished CV stood out from the other candidates. She responded assuredly to all questions and also had questions of her own regarding the company and possible career options. The choice to hire her was made quickly.

On Christmas Eve of 2007, the first Ponsse machines in China were released by customs at the Beihai seaport. The work began in earnest at the beginning of the following year. On 12 January 2008, a Ponsse harvester cut the first Chinese trees. A training assistant’s job requires working in adverse conditions in the nature and throughout changing seasons. Working days can often be long. In addition, Vanilla’s interpreting job was made more difficult by the fact that

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she had to work with new terminology.

Neither she nor the Chinese students were familiar with the vocabulary that the training required them to understand. However, Vanilla did exceptionally well and even learned to drive both a harvester and a front loader during the scheduled training. This led to an interesting moment when a group of male students were horsing around instead of listening to the trainer’s instructions.

Vanilla became irritated at the group’s inattentiveness, and she asked for permission to show the young men how the machine was supposed to be driven. The male trainees’ expressions were priceless. After getting schooled on proper techniques by a girl, the group’s collective attitude changed. The young men finally started to pay attention and completed their training without further issues.

supporting the maintenance help desk.

Soon, she moved on to the position of an after-market sales assistant. During these years, she spent much of her free time studying various computer software used at Ponsse. Her dedication, development and ability to show initiative during a decade of employment at Ponsse has been exceptional.

In 2009, Vanilla started as a machine servicing assistant, a task which required

Kalle Mäenpää After Sales Manager, Ponsse China

Thanks to her hard work, Vanilla has truly earned her position as the spare parts manager of Ponsse China. From the start, she has worked with customers and as a result she is familiar with their needs.

She has a thorough understanding of the machines and their operating systems, and is utterly familiar with the Ponsse organisation and staff.

Vanilla has shown true Ponsse spirit, and everyone around her appreciates her positive outlook.

PROFILE / NIKLAS NANNESTAD

A SUPERSTRONG PAIR

NIKLAS NANNESTAD AND PONSSE BEAR Niklas Nannestad, a 28-year-old world champion arm wrestler, and his PONSSE Bear have truly found each other. It is no wonder, since this man and the machine have a lot in common. Both have impressive power, but also agility.

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he machine doesn’t set limits. You never have to wait for power. The hydraulics are precise and smooth. Its properties support my will to always become better,” says Niklas, a proud father of three, entrepreneur and athlete.

hensive school, but my father encouraged me to go through secondary school. That was good advice, of course, and now I’m thankful for it,” says Niklas. His parents, Christian and Yvonne, own several forest estates, and so Niklas has always had excellent opportunities to develop within this green line of industry.

IN THE CABIN FROM A YOUNG AGE

Niklas has been interested in driving machines since he was very young. As a boy he spent hours in the cabin of different kinds of forest machines with his father Christian. “I would have wanted to start driving machines straight after compre-

A PARTNER IN HIS FATHER’S COMPANY

Niklas’ father, Christian, established the forest contracting company WNK Skogsgallring AB with two partners in 1982.

In the 1990s, Christian acquired the whole company, and

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PROFILE / NIKLAS NANNESTAD

“The forest is a wonderful work place, and I like the fact that I’m far from the crowd.

And of course I enjoy driving machines.”

two years later Niklas became partner. “The partnership is fun and inspiring. I have never shunned away from responsibility, but the responsibility increases when you become a partner,” he says. He now manages much of the day-to-day business relating to planning, employees and forest machines.

PONSSE HAS A DOMINATING POSITION IN THE COMPANY’S MACHINERY

The very first Ponsse machine the company got was a forwarder, which was bought at the end of the 1990s. Since then, Ponsse has dominated the company’s machinery.

“Ponsse machines have worked extremely well for us. This applies to the technology, performance and productivity as well as the after-sales services. This autumn’s new Elephant is our ninth Ponsse machine. And it won’t be our last.”

SUCCESS IN ARM WRESTLING

“My interest in arm wrestling came about through my father. I started practicing with a friend in secondary school, and with our rapid development we felt strong. We entered our first competition in 2004, and we quickly brought down

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to earth. That was tough on the ego, but at the same time it drove us to really work at the sport.” Now Nannestad has won several championships and medals. Last summer Niklas won the world championships in Las Vegas, which is the biggest professional league in arm wrestling. Two days later, Niklas and Jessica, who had been together since 2006, took the opportunity to tie the knot. “Before the trip to Las Vegas, we were planning for both the championship and the wedding. We thought that it was a good combination,” says Niklas with a wide smile. That is why the transatlantic trip became unforgettable for two reasons. The world championship, held a few days before Niklas’s wedding, brought a welcome boost to both the travel and the wedding funds.

POWER WITH SPONSORING

In connection with this year’s Elmia Wood trade fair, it was announced that Niklas will sign a sponsorship contract with Ponsse.

What makes this especially great is, of course, that Niklas himself drives one of Ponsse’s machines. And what could be more appropriate than it being the most powerful harvester. “It is really important for me that Ponsse wants

WNK SKOGSGALLRING AB Owners: Christian and Niklas Nannestad.

Operation: Thinning and final felling, contracts mainly for Sveaskog, Sydved, including its subsidiary SUSAB (Skogsutveckling Syd AB). Also own sites and timber brokerage.

NIKLAS NANNESTAD Place of residence: Bassholma, Munka-Ljungby, near Ängelholm in Skåne.

Geographical area of operations: Mainly the northwestern parts of Skåne, as well as occasional contracts elsewhere in Skåne as well as in Småland and Halland.

Family: Wife Jessica and three children.

Personnel: 15 employees.

Occupation: Forest machine entrepreneur who runs WNK Skogsgallring AB together with his father Christian. Arm wrestling professional.

Machinery: The company’s growing Ponsse family includes a Bear harvester and one forwarder each of the models Elephant, Buffalo and Wisent. Eight harvesters, six to seven of which are used daily, and ten forwarders, eight of which are used daily. Also two excavators, a wheel loader and a pallet. The company takes care of all the machine transfers with its own pallet.

Age: 28 years.

Priorities: Family, work, arm wrestling and hunting.

Current: Several times Swedish Champion in arm wrestling. Has participated in several professional competitions and won the biggest professional league, the World Armwrestling League (WAL), last year. Currently preparing for the World Championship in Budapest. Has began cooperation with Ponsse.

to take part and help me with my sport. Undoubtedly, there are a lot of similarities in arm wrestling and forest machines. That is why I’m very much looking forward to meeting both current and future members of the Ponsse family. I wouldn’t mind doing some arm wrestling with them too.”

ONE BIG FAMILY

Niklas appreciates the fact that arm wrestling has given him a lot of friends all over the world.

“During competitions we’re rivals, but before the competition and after it we’re friends. In a way it’s like an extended family, with all the members sharing a common interest in arm wrestling.”

Niklas thinks that even Ponsse feels like a kind of family. During these visits and in other communications with the company, he has noticed how committed the company is to its customers, and how the company genuinely wants to get to know its customers. “Everyone has been really welcoming and friendly, regardless of their position. Despite the company’s size and success, it still feels like a family business. It can be clearly seen in the updat-

Other: Own repair shop with two full-time mechanics.

ed and new models that the ideas and proposals for improvements have really hit home.”

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

Ergonomics, productivity, reliability and after sales services are important for Niklas when choosing a machine. The load-bearing capacity, stability and accessibility are also important. “Whether in a forest or a championship competition, I want to perform excellently. It requires cooperation. In the case of a machine, it means that the different components work well together, that the control of the machines functions is smart and convenient, and that the working environment makes it possible for me to perform well for the whole day. “For a harvester it’s important that the measurements are accurate, even when working fast. That way I can achieve a good yield, and can be pleased and proud of the work I’ve done. Niklas also appreciates the fact that the software of the computers is easy to understand and that support is readily available. “I see in Ponsse the same enthusiasm, goal-driven nature and desire to develop that I recognise in myself. “

”

Everyone has been really welcoming and friendly, regardless of their position. In spite of the company’s size and success, it still feels like a family business.

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NETWORK / THE BEST OF THE YEAR

BEST PARTNERS IN THE NETWORK REWARDED Ponsse’s international service business network is assessed and rewarded annually based on the results of the company’s service business development and audit system ESW (Effective and Safe Workshop). ESW aims to improve customer service, conditions in the working environment, as well as environmental qualities of operations.

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The rule that I live by is that I serve my customers in the same manner as I would like to be served if I was on the other side of the counter - Ville Kautonen

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he dealer of the year award for 2016 went to Wahlers Forsttechnik GmbH.Chosen for the award for the fourth time, the family-owned company, established in 1935, has acted as a Ponsse dealer in Germany since 1993. The Dealer of the Year award is chosen based on sales data and excellent service results.

OOO Ponsse wins the Subsidiary of the Year 2016 award. The winner was chosen based on good sales and service business performance and overall positive development of operations.

The Russian Ponsse subsidiary was founded in 2005, but the first PONSSE forest machines were exported to the country in the 1980s.

Currently, approximately 1,500 PONSSE forest machines operate in Russia.

Ponsse’s international service business network is assessed and rewarded annually based on the results of the company’s service business development and audit system ESW

(Effective and Safe Workshop). ESW aims to improve customer service, conditions in the working environment, as well as environmental qualities of operations.

The Service Centre of the Year for 2016 is A.L.P.A. Equipment Ltd’s Balmoral service centre in Canada. A.L.P.A. Equipment Ltd. has been a Ponsse dealer in eastern Canada since 2000, serving New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, as well as the coastal region near Gaspé, Quebec.

This year’s Full Service Project award went to Mobilnyi Service for their co-operation with Mondi Syktyvkar in the Komi Republic of Russia. The award was granted based on top results achieved for the Full Service audits in 2016.

The award for best developer of operations was given to the Belarusian company ODO Udarnik. The award is granted to the service centre that has most improved its ESW audit result compared to the previous year. ODO

Ville Kautonen was the best Finnish customer service agent already for the second time.

OOO Ponsse has had strong growth in Russia.

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Wahlers Forsttechnik GmbH was chosen as the dealer of the year.

Udarnik was founded in 1988 and it has been an authorised Ponsse dealer since 2013. There are currently about 50 PONSSE forest machines in operation across Belarus.

DOMESTIC PROFESSIONALS REWARDED SINCE 2004

In its home country, Ponsse recognises the customer service employee of the year as well as the PONSSE service centre of the year with awards.

The customers have chosen Ville Kautonen from Mikkeli as the 2016 customer service employee of the year. This is the second time Mr. Kautonen has won the award. Mr. Kautonen has been employed at the Mikkeli service centre for 13 years.

“Customers should feel secure. We want them to know that their problems are being taken seriously and that we are working to resolve them as soon as we can.

The rule that I live by is that I serve my customers in the same manner as I would like to be served if I was on the other side of the counter,” says Mr. Kautonen. “But the support of the team and availability of spare parts are essential to the customer experience,” he adds.

The 2016 domestic service centre of the year award went to Tampere, where Ponsse has sales, machine servicing and spare parts operations, as well as user training and information systems servicing. The Tampere location is one of fourteen Ponsse-owned service centres in Finland. In addition to the company’s service centres, there are ten contractual service partners in Finland. Together, the twenty-four locations are responsible for servicing a fleet of more than 2,300 PONSSE forest machines. The centre’s service supervisor, Mr. Tuomas Kirjavainen, says customers in his region can expect to continue to receive the best possible care in the future.

“We are well-equipped to grow our business,” says Mr. Kirjavainen.

GREAT SERVICE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION The service centre of the year 2016 award went to A.L.P.A. Equipment Ltd, Balmoral service centre, which employs 45 people. The company has a total 125 employees at four different locations.

Ponsse’s co-operation with A.L.P.A Equipment began in 2000, when the company entered into a dealership agreement with the company founded by Armand Landry in 1976. After the leadership of the company was transferred to the next generation, Armand’s son Serge Landry and daughter Linda Landry-Firth now serve as executives.

Serge’s son Francis Landry has also started working there, and the business now employs people from three generations of the same family.

“Our aim to get every machine back in operation as quickly as possible,” says Mr. Landry. “Every moment that a machine is standing idle because of a fault is costly for the customer. That is why we offer 24/7 availability for our customers. We also keep a large stock of spare parts at all times,” says Mr. Landry, now in charge of the Balmoral service centre. “We have also made significant investments in training our staff. The professionalism of our employees always determines the quality of service, and we are fortunate to have committed employees.

Technical expertise alone is not enough. There has to be a desire to serve customers to the best of one’s ability.

A.L.P.A. has grown together with its customers – as have I, personally. Often, I feel that we are one big family with our customers,” says Mr. Landry.

The best Ponsse Service Centre in Finland was Tampere.

In addition to PONSSE forest machines, A.L.P.A. sells, installs and maintains PONSSE harvester heads for track-based harvesting solutions, and acts as a retailer of earth-moving machines. The company serves Eastern Canada; Lower-Saint-Laurent and the region near Gaspé, Quebec.

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PONSSE MOMENT PONSSE MOMENTS

CHINA CONTAINS 208 MILLION HECTARES OF FOREST

making it the world’s fifth most heavily-forested country. The country’s planted forests are often on steep slopes where farming is impossible. These eucalyptus plantations stand in front of South China’s famous sugarloaf mountains.

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INNOVATION / PONSSE TRACTION ASSISTANCE WINCH

TRACTION ASSISTANCE

I

PONSSE’S INNOVATIVE WINCH

n recent years, rubber-wheeled cut-tolength (CTL) machines have proven an excellent solution for harvesting even on steep slopes. Traditionally, expensive special machines or dangerous manual procedures have been used in harvesting on slopes. Today, the key work is traction assistance winch that is fast becoming more and more common all over the world.

The change has been driven especially by cutting costs together with need related to corporate and environmental responsibility.

Harvesting on steep slopes has increased, especially due to planted forests. Winch solutions are needed the most in Central Europe, Latin America and on the west coast of North America. The most recent market is Russian Far East.

SIMPLE AND RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY

Traction assistance winch does not mean that the machines is dangling on the slope on a cable. In stead, it remains in place with the help of its own brakes and friction. In accordance with its name, the solution helps the machine to move in steep places. However, the winch on its own is not enough to turn the machine into a full-blooded slope

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tool. On top of it, a suitable track equipment, a tilting crane stand, a tilting seat with a 4-point seat belt as well as a reversing camera, are needed. All of these together improve the machine’s performance in difficult conditions and make the machine a safe and comfortable work environment for the operator.

With winch-assisted harvesting, the operator attaches the winch to either a tree, a stump or another heavy machine using the remote control of the winch. After pretensioning the cable, the operator will step into the cabin, set the tractive force needed and switch the winch in automatic drive. After this, the automation will manage the tightness of the cable. The winch will either reel the cable in or out in accordance with the machine’s movements, and all the operator needs to do, is to monitor the functioning of the winch. If needed due to changing conditions, the operator can increase or decrease tractive force.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTIVITY

When correctly adjusted, the tractive force of the winch will help the machine to move smoothly and without any ”slippage” on slopes. The list of gained advantages is long. The risk of soil damage and with it the risk of erosion diminishes, strain on the transmission components will decrease and fuel consumption will be reduced. Not to mentions time-savings and increased safety for the operator.

The significance of the traction assistance winch becomes particularly evident in working with a forwarder when the timber has to be moved to the roadside safely and efficiently. The solution will eliminate incomplete loads and makes it possible to drive the machine both ways up and down slopes without having to take a detour back up the hill. What’s more, productivity of harvesting

on a slope does not fall behind harvesting on level ground. For a winch-assisted machine, there are no limitations to the direction of transportation, and piles can be placed optimally for long-distance haulage either on top or at the foot of the hill.

In easy terrains, the winch machine can be used normally. This is a major advantage in areas where the terrain and the steepness of the slope are varying. The steepest areas of the stand to be harvested can be harvested with the same machine simultaneously without having to bring separate slope systems to the site.

The winch has been a factory-fitted optional equipment for PONSSE forest machines since 2013. The winch can be installed on PONSSE Bear and Ergo harvesters as well as PONSSE ElephantKing, Elephant and Buffalo forwarders.

PONSSE TRACTION ASSISTANCE WINCH Technical specifications:

Harvester winch

Forwarder winch

Weight: 1,950kg

1,900kg

Cable length:

350m (ø14.5mm)

350m (ø14.5mm)

Cable tensile strength:

min. 20 tons

min. 20 tons

Tractive force:

max 7 to 7.5 tons

max 10 tons

”

CTL forest machines are clearly more safe, ergonomic, productive and cost efficient machines for slopes.

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SERVICE / PONSSE PARTS ONLINE

PONSSE PARTS ONLINE Spare parts online 24/7 Ponsse is expanding its digital services.

P

onsse’s customers now have the option of ordering spare parts through the PONSSE Parts Online service. Currently the free service is available in Finland and Sweden, and will next be introduced in the United States and the United Kingdom. The system will later be expanded to other market areas as well.

The PONSSE Parts Online service allows you to make a spare parts order at any time, and to choose the Ponsse service center or contractual provider to order from. In addition to online spare parts orders, the system provides real-time prices and availability for components, spare parts, and operating and maintenance manuals for your machine.

Machine-specific notes can also be recorded in the system.

The web browser-based PONSSE Parts Online service covers Ponsse forest machines from 2005 onwards. The service allows the customer to see all their machines on a home computer, laptop or other mobile device.

You can register with the PONSSE Parts Online service through Ponsse’s website or from the nearest Ponsse service center or dealer. Spare part sales will be happy to show customers how the system works.

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”

The right part is easy to find on the system without having to try to explain on the phone what’s needed.

- Jude Brolly, Colin Brolly Forestry Ltd

JUDE BROLLY, COLIN BROLLY FORESTRY LTD, CAIRNBAAN, ARGYLL, SCOTLAND

Colin Brolly Forestry Ltd uses PONSSE Ergo harvesters and PONSSE Buffalo and Elephant forwarders. The PONSSE Parts Online service opened last February.

Jude Brolly, the director of Colin Brolly Ltd, says that the best part of the service is that it makes it possible to check the availability of spare parts at any time.

“This makes everyday life easier. No longer do we have to wait until the next day to get in touch with the spare parts sales office at Ponsse in Lockerbie, Scotland. The right part is easy to find on the system without having to try to explain on the phone what’s needed. The system has all the information related to our machines, and automatically delivers an updated part number even if the part has changed over time. The price information for parts is always available, and parts can be ordered at any time of day. This will speed up the ordering process if there’s no time to do the order during office hours.”

JUSSI PUOSKARI, MOTOAJO OY, NURMES, FINLAND

Motoajo Oy was one of the first companies to test the PONSSE Parts Online service, and was involved in system development by providing user feedback. The company has been testing the service since April 2012.

According to Motoajo managing director Jussi Puoskari, they use the service every day.

“PONSSE Parts Online has definitely made our day-to-day work easier, and has significantly the amount of phone calls we have to make. We make spare parts orders through our system, and make use of spare parts images and structural diagrams. By monitoring prices we can also predict future costs more accurately. Overall the service has worked very well, and seems to be continually improving.

SPARE PARTS

ONLINE

24/7 PONSSE PARTS ONLINE

MANUALS, PARTS, PRICES AND ORDERING Ponsse spare parts and manuals can now be accessed conveniently and free of charge online, so help is at hand 24 hours a day. In the service, you get real-time information on prices and availability for parts. Through PONSSE Parts Online you can order the parts you need from the service center of your choice. In addition, you will find useful information, such as machine-specific notes on your own machines, spare parts and user manuals.

HOW TO START USING THE SERVICE

1

2

3

Ordering your user ID from your local PONSSE Service Center or web

Introduction to the system

Activating your user ID

FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.PONSSE.COM

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OPERATORS/ FINLAND

PART 1: FINLAND

OPERATING FOREST MACHINES IN FINLAND –

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

O

perating a forest machine is a respectable professional job with a considerable degree of independence. Operators need to make decisions on their own and many consider this profession their calling in life. Being able to take pride in the final result and working in nature are cited as reasons for working in the business. Fast-evolving technology has helped make operators’ jobs easier, but despite automation, the job still requires the ability to make quick observations and coordinate hand and foot movements accordingly.

In Finland, one of the biggest challenge is balancing between seasonal changes in demand for services. Operators mostly harvest between August and April, whereas between May and July only half as much work is available. Many operators are hoping that recent forest industry investments will help reduce the gap in seasonal changes of available work.

Most of the operators are employed by large forest machine enterprises. In total, about 6,000 people are employed in the

industry, harvesting the forests and transporting wood energy from forests. There are about 1,400 harvesting companies in the country, and the total annual felling volume is about 60 million cubic metres. If planned investments are realised in full, use of domestic wood by the industry is expected to rise to about 65 million cubic metres annually.

As a result of an improved employment outlook, more people have become interested in working in the forest machine sector in recent years. If the current trend proves to be sustainable, the industry will need to hire about 330 operators each year for the next ten years. In Finland, there are different ways to become a certified forest machine operator. Students often go to secondary school for three years, but it’s also possible to become an operator by way of apprenticeship and completing a test to prove qualification.

This article is part of a series where we interview forest machine operators around the world.

ENJOYING INDEPENDENCE IN THE NATURE Johan Forsman, who lives in Forsby, Pedersöre in Western Finland, loves a challenging job. It’s the independence, he says, the ability to make his own decisions and then carrying the responsibility for those decisions, that he finds appealing.

For this reason, he has been driving a harvester for more than 15 years.

M

r. Forsman came to work for a company called Granvikin Metsätyö Oy three years ago as a result of a business acquisition. In the spring of 2012, he took a break from his job and tried a different line of work, only to return to the forests soon after.

“Working in the nature is so pleasant compared to a factory or office job. Every day is different due to the changing scenery and seasons,” Mr. Forsman says.

He hesitates when asked about the negative aspects in his line of work. Finally, he admits the irregular hours can be awkward for a family man. The length of his commute

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varies, and various difficulties can come up while working in the stands. He can never be quite certain when he will finally be heading home in the evening. He also knows that sitting down for hours at a time is unhealthy, but he has managed to avoid work-related injuries by exercising regularly.

“No matter the job, you can always find something negative to say about it. For the most part, I consider my work to be successful. I’ve had many good days that didn’t present any problems. If this wasn’t the case, I doubt you could find me in the cabin,” Mr. Forsman says.

Recently, Mr. Forsman’s work has consisted exclusively of

”Every day is differ ent due to the changing scenery and seasons.”

clear cutting. A local sawmill in Junnikkala buys both large, thick logs as well as small logs. The best tree would be the one where a small pine log would grow in the top of sturdy spruce. The average size of the logs is only 300 liters. On the coast the trees are smaller than inland forests. Mr. Forsman laments the challenges of coordinating loggings and wood transport in May. This is due to government regulations that are aimed at keeping harmful bugs from spreading. During the spring thaw, work can often come to a halt, but Mr. Forsman is pleased that frequent delays in the autumn that used to last for weeks are a thing of the past. For the most part, his employer keeps the harvesters operating throughout the year at full capacity.

WORKING WITH THE ROYALTY REQUIRES SPECIAL SKILLS

Operating harvester is sufficiently challenging, says Mr. Forsman, and adds that the difficulty is what keeps him interested. He says that in the realm of machines, he considers the harvester ‘royalty’ which requires knowledge of protocol and a special set of skills. He says he would not consider trying to obtain employment in the industry without proper training. Since he grew up on a farm, it seemed natural to enroll in an agricultural school’s two-year program, where Mr. Forsman also learned to work with a chainsaw. He later enrolled in a forest machine program in Mustasaari.

“I had known since I was a little boy that I wanted to drive a harvester. But it made more sense to enroll in forest machine school after I had my driver’s license. I figured that I would have a long career ahead of me, sitting in the cabin – even if it took until my early twenties to graduate,” Mr. Forsman says.

Granvik’s forest machines are currently driven in two shifts. Johan Forsman prefers the morning shift as this leaves him more time to be with his family. However, he is willing to be flexible and often trades shifts with his co-workers based on the size and location of the stand they are harvesting.

“I like working the morning shift especially in the winter,” he says. “When the days start getting longer, the

amount of daylight in the snowy landscape is magnificent.” At summer, he says, working the evening shift can be quite pleasant. On the other hand, Mr. Forsman thinks the long dark winters and cold temperatures present difficulties to a harvester’s operator, and says the job is not suitable for everybody.

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

As a hobby, Johan likes to help his neighbour, a pig farmer, when agricultural machine drivers are needed. The arrangement is reciprocal as the neighbour takes care of cultivating the fields on Mr. Forsman’s farm. According to Mr. Forsman, cultivating a small area on his own would not make financial sense.

“Driving an ordinary tractor and working in the fields can be quite relaxing compared to the work that I do,” Mr. Forsman says with a laugh.

For several years, he has been the chairman of his village association and been involved in creating social events.

Operating a dance hall during the summer takes a fair amount of work, and he’s also responsible for putting together an annual tractor pull event. It is the crown achievement of his association, a result of hard work that draws about 1,500 visitors to the event. To Mr. Forsman, a motorsports enthusiast, it is relaxing to sit in the stands and root for his favourite team when it’s time to crown the Finnish championship of tractor pulling.

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OPERATORS/ FINLAND

PART 1: FINLAND

OPERATING FOREST MACHINES IN FINLAND

A SHOW OF STRONG DETERMINATION Oskari Huttunen grew up in a rural area, surrounded by agricultural machines. As a little boy, Mr. Huttunen was already showing an interest in operating forest machines, and he has never doubted his decision to turn his interest into an occupation.

A

fter finishing comprehensive school, Mr. Huttunen knew he would be heading to forest machine operator training, and went to school in Toivala to learn just that. During school, he found an opportunity to train at work at a company called Koneteko Pitkänen, his current employer.

“I knew agricultural machines because I grew up on a farm, but I had zero experience in driving forest machines. Yet I was able to learn a lot during my time in Toivala, and then a training-while-working opportunity presented itself. I was determined to learn the trade, and I’m sure this helped me immensely,” says Mr. Huttunen.

After finishing his education, he worked at Koneteko Pitkänen until his enlistment to serve in the military. Upon discharge he found work at another harvesting company and spent a couple of years working there. However, Mr. Pitkanen’s business was closer to his home, and ultimately he returned to work at his first employer.

Mr. Huttunen says he knew from the start that operating a harvester was his dream job. An operator will quickly learn whether the final result is desirable, and can keep honing the skills required for the job. The independent nature of the work and good skills are a combination that is celebrated by both the operator and the customers – the forest owners.

“It’s quite satisfying to clear the brush and watch a proper forest emerge. This enables it to grow much faster than before,” says Mr. Huttunen.

Many forest owners show an interest in managing the stands and visit the properties to watch him work. Mr. Huttunen says he welcomes this as effective management of forests requires co-operation between their owners and the people contracted to work in them.

When customers see him work and are hapn ne ttu Hu ri Oska py with the final result, he says, he often gets offers to work on other properties in the area.

LOOKING AFTER FORESTS IS CARING FOR VALUABLE ASSETS

The young man is not entirely happy with the state of affairs in Northern Savonia as far as forestry practices are concerned. Most forest owners look after their properties, and think of forests as

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assets that need to be professionally managed in a timely manner.

To others, he says, owning forestland seems to be a big burden.

As a result, forests are left to grow on their own.

“If owners were paid just a bit better per cubic metre than they are today, taking proper care of forests by way of frequent thinning and clearing the brush would be a more compelling proposition,” says Mr. Huttunen.

Thinning a forest that has not been cleared of the brush is difficult, he says. The final result is often not the best possible since the operator’s view is blocked by brush and young trees.

Increased visibility in a pre-cleared forest helps keep tree damage to a minimum. Trees that are left to grow after thinning will be healthier and stronger.

He has worked at logging sites involving both clearing and thinning. He says he doesn’t have a favorite type of stand because he likes variety in his work.

“My favorite logging site is the one I’m currently working on. Sometimes it means clearing out large swaths of forest and sometimes it means modest thinning. I would soon get bored if I had to work with one type of stand only,” Mr. Huttunen says.

THRIVING IN NATURE

Mr. Huttunen likes working the evening shift, because it’s easier to keep working a little longer at the end of the shift. “Sometimes you have to drive a hundred kilometres to get to the stand, and often it makes more sense to keep working a little longer than the standard eight hours,” he says. He hates machine breakdowns, but his employer keeps the fleet relatively new and well-serviced, and he hasn’t suffered from downtime due to technical problems for a while. Late spring thaw has also helped to reduce machine breakdowns. Since last autumn, his machine has regularly been driven for two shifts a day.

As soon as he finds some free time, Mr. Huttunen goes fishing. Trolling for pike perch at the Kallavesi lake is one of his favorite pastimes, and he recently spent an entire week of his summer holiday trolling for salmon at River Teno. Trips to autumn forests with his elk hunting dog give him energy and prepare him for logging for the winter. Mr. Huttunen says he prefers training his dog for hunting as opposed to actually shooting elk. He regularly takes salt blocks that elk can lick to forests in order to keep encounters with the animals predictable. In fact, it is Mr. Huttunen’s wife who is responsible for participating in the actual autumn hunt.

THE SPARK THAT IGNITES THE FOREST MACHINE OPERATOR Mr. Tomi Uimonen of Savonranta has operated a harvester for more than 20 years. He had trained to become a cook but in the mid-1990s found himself interested in forest machines.

"I

happened to see Mr. Reijo Leskinen, who owns a company called Motopuu, on a forest road. He was making repairs to his harvester and I decided to help him while we were having a conversation. Somehow an agreement was made that I would start working at his business on an apprenticeship,” says Mr. Uimonen.

Mr. Uimonen says he accepted a minuscule salary, and at the beginning of his apprenticeship was too shy to bill his employer for the kilometres he had driven based on his meagre daily output. However, Mr. Uimonen became convinced that he would become a skilled operator one day.

THE OPERATOR BEARS THE RESPONSIBILITY

“It took several months of training to teach me how to cut and stack wood, and I wasn’t doing it correctly at first. But my spirits were lifted when after a long shift I had managed to put together a pile of 500 cubic metres of wood.

Mr. Uimonen thinks Finnish authorities spend too much time watching over people. He thinks a person who shows initiative and is willing to work should be able to put in long hours without labour protection officials citing the employer for infractions.

For the past eight years, Mr. Uimonen has operated a harvester abroad. He has considerable experience working in stands in Germany, France, Ireland and Scotland, and on logging sites in Sweden after storm winds felled trees there. Working with local entrepreneurs has always been pleasant, he says, and the pay was excellent.

“In Scotland, the working day at the logging site started at 7 a.m. We took a proper lunch break, and another break in the afternoon. This helped to keep the rhythm of the work from getting too hectic,” he says. “In the afternoon, it felt like we began the second shift of the day. At 9 p.m., everyone was exhausted and ready for bed. We didn’t need officials to tell us when to take breaks and when to rest. I think people know best what’s good for them,” says Mr. Uimonen.

CO-OPERATION AT LOGGING SITES

According to Mr. Uimonen, working in the forestry sector abroad isn’t too different from working in Finland. Sometimes, mountainous terrain presented challenges, and the operator and logger had to work seamlessly as a team in order to earn a good living.

The stands were often larger than the domestic ones Mr. Uimonen had worked with. He remembers his largest stand in Ireland yielded more than 30,000 cubic metres of wood.

Mr. Uimonen is pleased with the advances in forest machine technology. The hydraulics are now more powerful, and it takes less time to perform the work. Improvements in cabin comfort and especially that of the driver’s seat are important. Working at logging sites with modern machines is much like other regular work, he says. Gone are the frequent strikes and stresses to the body.

The 50,000 cubic metres Mr. Uimonen fells annually is evenly split between thinning and clearing of forests. This means most of his time is spent thinning forests. Forest owners who contract him often join him. They like to watch him work in the stands, and sometimes they ask for permission to ride in the machine.

“They are welcome to join me in the cabin, but people in the back seat don’t get to tell me how to operate the machine,” he says with laugh.

Mr. Uimonen says clearing and Tomi Uimonen thinning forests in park-like settings near built-up areas require a high degree of precision and an eye for a presentable final result. A certain amount of boldness and determination is also required when removing trees next to buildings and near power lines.

ATTITUDE COUNTS

Mr. Uimonen thinks that in today’s environment a forest machine operator’s salary is not necessarily competitive considering the demands and responsibilities. Forest companies business practices are to blame, he says, and it would be difficult for machine entrepreneurs alone to answer the demand for higher wages. Business costs are high in the machine industry, and competition is tough. There are fewer opportunities for young people to become operators by way of apprenticeship. However, Mr. Uimonen says that anything is possible if a person has that spark. And a correct attitude is an absolute requirement, he says.

“Today, some trainees supplied by secondary schools don’t possess valid driver’s license. In such cases people will need to show initiative, and borrow a moped or make other arrangements,” says Mr. Uimonen. “An employer cannot afford to waste his working day by transporting trainees to and from the forests,” he says.

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LOGGING NEWS / 2017

LOGGING NEWS FOREST MACHINE OPERATOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOES TO GERMANY This year’s Forwarder World Cup gold medal goes to the German Daniel Bergman. The forwarder competition was held at the start of June as part of the Elmia Wood trade fair in Jönköping, Sweden.

Bergman has a wealth of experience with forest machines.

“I was seven when I started operating on a forest machine,” now 23-year-old Daniel says with a laugh.

“The first time I was operating more or less on my own was with a Ponsse Caribou 10.”

Bergman participated in Sweden at the Elmia Wood fair in an international forest machine operator contest, with 20 operators from 14 different countries. Those who came from the farthest distance were the competitors from the United States and Australia.

Bergman won the German championship last year, and on the strength of this he was invited to the 2017 World Cup. Daniel Bergman operates a PONSSE Buffalo forest machine for a living for the company Claus Rodenberg Waldkontor GmbH, near Hamburg. Bergman chose his forest machine by following in his the footsteps of his father, who has been a forest machine entrepreneur since 1992.

“I really like working with machines and being in the forest, and at the end of the day you can see what’s been done. In the future, I would like to gain experience in working with forest machines in other countries. There are big differences between countries in working methods.”

ANNEGRET WAHLERS-DREEKE WINS THE HANS-JÜRGEN-NARJES PRIZE At the Ligna Fair in Hanover this year, Annegret Wahlers-Dreeke was awarded the Hans-Jürgen-Narjes prize for her contribution to women’s networking in forestry.

The judges based their decision on WahlersDreeke’s unique contribution to the forestry sector and entrepreneurial talent.

Wahlers-Dreeke works in human resources management at the family business, Wahlers Forsttechnik. She has done so much to highlight and promote the contributions of women in the forestry sector.

Among her efforts are the organisation of excursions and training trips to Finland, a training program for women, the Forwarder Cup for female drivers, and the first theme days for female forest owners and other women in the forestry sector. She is also responsible for the Ponsse Ladies and Forwarders’ Ladies activities at her company.

The Hans-Jürgen-Narjes Prize of EUR 2,500 will be put to good use, since Wahlers-

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Annegret Wahlers-Dreeke and (from left) Dr. Stefan Birkner (chairman, FDP Lower Saxony), Michael Haarhaus (chairman, AfL Lower Saxony), Christian Meyer (Lower Saxony federal minister for food, agriculture and consumer protection) Dr. Andreas Gruchow

Dreeke will use it to support women’s forwarder training and the Forwarder Cup. In addition, an introductory training course for women will be held next year in conjunction with the biathlon world championships in Ruhpolding in Bavaria, Germany.

WAHLERS FORSSTECHNIK GMBH

Johann and Erna Wahlers founded their company in 1934 as a forge. Under the leadership of the next generation, Hans and Lola Wahlers, the company transferred to the agriculture and forestry sector. The partnership with Ponsse began in 1993. Wahlers Forsstechnik GmbH is now run by the third generation of Wahlers, Annegret Wahlers-Dreeke and Monika Rathjen, together with their respective spouses Ralf Dreeke and Michael Rathjen.

A NEW DEALER IN SLOVENIA A new dealer, Trisa d.o.o., represents Ponsse not only in Slovenia but also in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Founded in 2008, Trisa d.o.o. is located in Lesce and has eight employees. Slovenia currently has five PONSSE forest machines, but the market is constantly growing. Trisa’s goal is that PONSSE will become the leading brand in the area of both harvesters and forwarders.

FACTS ON SLOVENIAN FORESTRY

Over 60% of Slovenia is forested, making it the third-most forested European country after Finland and Sweden. This explains why the forestry industry has always been extremely important to the country.

Furniture, woodworking and wood processing are local traditions.

Slovenia’s mechanical woodworking industry employs a total of about 11,000 people in more than 1,000 companies. The most common trees in Slovenia are beech (44%), silver fir (15%) and oak (11%), and there is a relatively strong production capacity for all three.

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LOGGING NEWS / 2017

LOGGING NEWS FORESTRY EXPERTS WIN EUR 157,700 IN AWARDS Distinguished forestry experts were rewarded in Vieremä. Maintaining the life’s work of Einari Vidgrén, the Einari Vidgren Foundation gave out EUR 157,700 in recognitions. Einari Awards, the main recognitions given out from the Foundation, were granted to veteran harvesting professionals Ahti Annala of the company Kone Annala Ky, and Jan-Erik Oldenburg of the company Puistometsäpalvelu Oldenburg Oy. Industrial Counsellor Einari

Vidgrén, the founder of Ponsse Plc, established the Einari Vidgrén Foundation in 2005 with the aim of increasing appreciation for the work performed within the field of mechanised wood harvesting. The purpose of the Foundation is to heighten awareness of the entrepreneurship related to wood harvesting and to make the mechanised harvesting sector more interesting as a potential workplace, especially among young people.

PONSSE OPENS A NEW SUBSIDIARY IN PORTLAOISE, IRELAND

Ponsse Machines Ireland Ltd is Ponsse’s twelfth subsidiary. In the Portlaoise service centre, Jani Kärkkäinen is responsible for services and spare parts sales, and Eamonn Scanlan for sales and maintenance. The service centre, which opened in the spring, is equipped with complete workstations for repairs and maintenance work, and also has a comprehensive spare parts warehouse.

Previously forestry equipment was sold to Ireland through Ponsse UK, but now customers can be better served locally in terms of sales and service. The forest machinery of the country has about 250 forest machines, of which 45 are Ponsse machines.

The first Ponsse forest machine in Ireland, PONSSE S10, was delivered in 1994, and the latest PONSSE ScorpionKing was delivered this year. In other words, the country has a good range of forest machines. The most popular forest machines in Ireland are Wisent, Scorpion, Gazelle and Fox. Irish forests are boggy, making 8-wheeled forest machines the best choice.

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FACTS ON IRISH FORESTRY

More than 11% of the Republic of Ireland is covered by forest. The government’s goal is that by 2030, 17% of the country would be covered by forest. This is about one million hectares.

• The forestry sector employs 11,000 people • Almost three-quarters of the country’s forests are under 30 years old • The most common trees are oak, ash, walnut, birch, pine and willow • Forests in Ireland are usually on peaty soil • Demand for biomass will grow in Ireland in the coming years

Ponsse News 1/2017

COLOURING EXERCISE

COMPETITION WINNER The winner of the colouring competition was Patrik Malinen from the village of Viitaila in Asikkala, southern Finland, with his entry Ponsse Tiger. Patrik’s entry was full of wild and wonderful details. Well done, Patrik!

Ponsse’s top-class team is busy working in the forest. Colour in the picture in cheerful autumn colours! The picture makes a nice postcard if you glue it onto card.

C.

A.

The cut-down trees are taken to the sawmill.

KURRE’S

B.

The tree seedlings are planted in the ground.

The forests are looked after by cutting away some trees, giving the others more light and room to grow.

D.

Trees take many years to grow tall.

2.

1.

3.

COMPETITION TASK A tree’s life

Kurre has got his facts a bit mixed up.

See if you can connect the letter bubble with the right number to put the different stages of tree growth in the right order. We will put all the entries in a hat and draw out one winner, who will receive a model of a Ponsse Scorpion machine.

E. Wood can be used for lots of things –for building houses, making furniture, toys and paper, and a lot more.

5.

4.

Send right answers by the end of November 2017 either by post to Ponsse Plc/communications, Ponssentie 22, FI-74200 Vieremä, Finland, or by email to ponssenews@ponsse.com. Remember to include your contact information!

In our next issue we will publish the right answer to the task and the name of the lucky winner.

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PONSSE COLLECTION / AUTUMN 2017

SOFTSHELL TROUSERS € 50

Versatile softshell trousers for the outdoors and trekking. Made of light and durable stretch fabric, with waterproofing of 5,000 mm, and breathability of 5,000 g/m²/24h. Seams are sealed with taping to make sure you will stay dry inside. Quick-drying and moisture-wicking mesh lining inside. Zipper pockets on front. Elastic waistband with belt-loops. Adjustable leg ends.

Men’s sizes S–XXL (SKU 1218), women’s sizes 36–44 (1220).

NEW ARRIVALS IN THE PONSSE COLLECTION

ARE MEANT FOR THE AUTUM AND THE OUTDOORS Order now from

www.ponsses

hop.com

Ponsse Shop for U SA coming soon.

30

MN

FLEECE JACKET € 50

PADDED VEST € 60

Black, thin and comfortable fleece jacket. Made of Power Comfort material that can be used as a second layer. The garment effectively carries away moisture and keeps you warm and dry. Elastic bindings on the cuffs, hem adjustment.

Windproof and water repellent padded vest. Back and sides are made of stretchy Power Comfort material that effectively carries away moisture and keeps you warm and dry. Quilted vest with light padding in front. Zipper pockets on the sides, hem adjustments.

Material: 100% polyester, 180 g/m2.

Material: 100 % polyamide, 40 g/m2.

Men’s sizes S–XXXL (SKU 1236), women’s sizes 34–46 (1237).

Men’s sizes S–XXXL (SKU 1238), women’s sizes 34–46 (1239).

SOFTSHELL JACKET € 70

A versatile softshell jacket for the outdoors and trekking. Made of light and durable stretch fabric, with waterproofing of 5,000 mm, and breathability of 5,000 g/m²/24h. Seams are sealed with taping to make sure you will stay dry even in inclement weather. Quick-drying and moisture-wicking mesh lining inside.

Elastic bindings on the cuffs, hem and hood adjustment.

Men’s sizes S–XXL (SKU 1217), women’s sizes 36–44 (1219).

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#ponsse100 PHOTO COMPETITION

Share your Ponsse moment and win prizes from the Ponsse Collection SHARE YOUR PICTURE OF PONSSE WITH US from a logging site around the world and take part in a competition in honour of Finland’s centennial year.

PONSSE’S ROOTS are deep in the Finnish countryside and Finnish labour, but our heart lies in all the logging sites of the world.

SEND YOUR PICTURE TO ponssenews@ponsse.com or share on Instagram #ponsse100 and win prizes from the Ponsse Collection. The prize draw will be held on 30 November 2017.

OUR CUSTOMERS HARVEST TIMBER with Ponsse machines in 40 different countries, from the subzero temperatures of Siberia to the sweltering heat of Brazil.

PONSSE – MA DE I N V I E RE M Ä, F I NLA ND.