Ponsse News 1/2021, EN

ENGLISH

PONSSE CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER MAGAZINE 1/2021

PONSSE NEWS PONSSE ACADEMY

A COMPETITIVE EDGE FROM TRAINING

PONSSE SCORPION

THE PERFECT CHOICE AS A USED MACHINE

FAMILY GUSTAFSSON FROM SWEDEN

A TRUE WINNING TEAM

PONSSE NEWS

GREETINGS FROM VIEREMÄ!

PONSSE CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER MAGAZINE PUBLISHER

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

Katja Paananen EDITING & CONTENT

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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 ILLUSTRATION (PONSSE KIDS)

Henna Ryynänen PRINT

Painotalo Seiska PAPER

Maxi Silk 150 g Highspeed Matt 100 g ADDRESS SOURCE

Mailing list of Ponsse News and Ponsse customer register

Ponsse Plc customer and stakeholder magazine Feedback, subscriptions and changes of address by email to ponssenews@ponsse.com.

The magazine is free of charge.

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4 A WINNING TEAM FROM SWEDEN

20 PONSSE MOMENT

29 PONSSE NORTH AMERICA 25 YEARS

8 PONSSE ACADEMY

22 PONSSE OPTI 8

30 LOGGING NEWS

A competitive edge from training 12 EXPERIENCES OF BISON 13 FROM SAVONIA TO SIBERIA 16 PRODUCT CHANGES 18 PONSSE IN URUGUAY

Certified operational quality

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The most modern forest machine computer in the markets 23 PONSSE EXPRESS

34 RETRO CORNER

Olavi Kauhanen – a pioneer of contracting abroad

24 ENTREPRENEUR KIMMO KULOJÄRVI

35 PONSSE SCORPION AS A USED MACHINE

27 HIGH-QUALITY RESULTS AS OBJECTIVE

37 PONSSE KIDS

28 PONSSE S.A.S. 25 YEARS

38 PONSSE COLLECTION

I wish a happy winter to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere and a warm summer to you in the Southern Hemisphere! Last year was very challenging everywhere due to coronavirus pandemic. In one way or another, we’ve been forced to adapt to this new situation in both our working and private lives.

New rules and recommendations have also affected Ponsse’s operations, but we have also learned new lessons and done our best to serve our customers – with safety coming first, of course.

These exceptional circumstances have forced us to provide new kinds of services for our customers, and we intend to keep these in our service range, also in the future. For example, we deliver spare parts directly to customers’ warehouse and we can go to fill the customer’s stock shelves. We can thus avoid any unnecessary contact and ensure that our customers, as well as ourselves, can continue to operate safely.

Disinfecting facilities and addressing every aspect of safety have become normal way of everyday doing.

When the shortage of components started to affect the operations of our Vieremä factory last spring we switched to a single shift from March to the end of June. This caused postponements in machine deliveries, for which we would like to apologise to our customers. After the summer holidays, our factory returned to two shifts. We have done everything we can to protect our production and service operations, and most of our employees have been working from home since the spring.

Our 50th anniversary was truly different from what we had planned.

“Together” was our leading theme for the anniversary, but we were not able to meet our customers as we would have liked.

In June, we also made changes in our organisation. I was appointed the Chairman of the Board, following my brother Juha, who showed a great example in the position for ten years. My previous position as sales and marketing director passed on to Marko Mattila, a longstanding member of the Ponsse family. It is good to make changes to the organisation every now and then to have fresh ideas and develop ourselves. What was also great about these changes was that we will all continue as members of the team – we’ve only changed positions. Juho Nummela, our excellent President and CEO, will continue to lead our operations.

The next few months will be challenging, but I’m certain that we can get through them together!

FOLLOW PONSSE:

Jarmo Vidgrén, Chairman of the Board

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REPORT / FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY FALLASKOG AB

ALWAYS STRIVING TO GET BETTER

A WINNING TEAM HARVESTS SUCCESS FROM FORESTS Karl-Gunnar Gustafsson bought his first forest machine more than 50 years ago.

Little did he know that he would later become an employer for so many people, including his whole family. Together, the family is a tight-knit group with a true will to maintain a high level of quality in everything they do.

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allaskog AB based in Finspång operates in the counties of Östergotland, Södermanland and Närkes. The company’s machine size reveals that it mainly operates at regeneration felling sites. In addition to the family ownership, the company employs 17 people.

“We have excellent workers, and we can do nearly everything on our own, from planning and initial clearing to harvesting, loading, repairs and administration. This is very significant considering both logistics and flexibility,” says Tobias Gustafsson, the company’s managing director and chair of the Board of Directors, and the second oldest of the siblings.

The company is owned with equal shareholdings by Karl-Gunnar, the company’s founder, and his wife Ulla Gustafsson, his daughter Liisa Eriksson and his sons Tobias and Joakim Gustafsson. Tobias was the first to join the company in 2005. All five are also members of the Board of Directors.

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FROM A BUSINESS NAME INTO A COMPANY

The company started operating under the business name of KG Gustafsson Skogsavverkning. Fallaskog AB was established in 2005. The transition took place gradually, and Fallaskog AB has taken care of all operations since 2013.

“Some of our customers require us to operate as a limited liability company.

This was also a natural choice considering that ownership is divided between several people,” Karl-Gunnar says.

WITHIN A HUNDRED-KILOMETRE RADIUS

Fallaskog AB operates within a radius of roughly 80 km from its home base. Its key customers include Holmen Region Syd, Brevens Bruk, Boo Egendom and Sontorps Bruk. The company’s annual timber production volume is approximately 300,000 m3 (excluding bark). In addition to regeneration felling, the company also operates occasionally at thinning and special sites.

GROWING INTEREST

The company acquired its first PONSSE Ergo in 1998. The next transaction with Ponsse took place as late as in 2016, but it was a major one.

“Our interest in Ponsse grew and when we went to a machine demonstration, we liked what we saw. We believed in the reliability of after sales services, as a repair shop we were using had years before become Ponsse’s contractual maintenance partner. The price was also a factor, and we decided to buy two Buffalo forwarders and one Elephant King forwarder.”

The forwarders have proven their excellent reliability, and they are especially appreciated for the stability of their cabin and the PONSSE Active Frame suspension system.

“All of our PONSSE machines are equipped with Active Frame. The technology plays a significant part in comfort and ergonomics, and there have been no problems with it. All our machines are also equipped with a balanced bogie. Hills are not very steep here, but if we ever have to work on one, our machines will be able to handle it.”

Fallaskog AB has selected the one-size bigger K100 crane in place of the K90 for all its forwarders.

“Machine operators like to work with a bigger crane, which also has an impact on productivity,” Tobias says.

WELL-EQUIPPED MACHINES

Currently, the company has four harvesters and six forwarders, most of which come in Ponsse’s colours. One Bison from 2019 and one Buffalo from 2018 are now teamed up with two Bisons and one Elephant King acquired this autumn. Two of the company’s harvesters are PONSSE Ergos, both equipped with the H8 harvester head.

“There are many reasons why we have decided to focus on mid-size forwarders.

Some landowners steer clear of the largest forwarders. Another reason is that the largest forwarders are at their best over longer distances. At smaller sites, midsize forwarders are equally productive, while they are easier to transport. Ergo harvesters can also be flexibly transported, because they and their tracks do not exceed the transport equipment’s size and weight limits,” Tobias says.

MECHANICS HELD IN HIGH REGARD

For Karl-Gunnar, it is a major advantage that Ponsse’s local maintenance services employ world-class service mechanics, such as Tommy Karlsson who won Ponsse’s competition for mechanics, first in Sweden and later at the international final event. Leif “Kuffa” Karlsson has also made a name for himself as a mechanic.

“Forest machines also break at times, and when they do, high-quality help is valuable. When working with Ponsse’s mechanics, it feels like they are working for us. They are fast and skilled, and they have a large number of spare parts ready.”

WITH AN OPEN-MINDED ATTITUDE

Maintaining contact with Ponsse is easy in every way.

“The company makes us feel warmly welcome, both here in Sweden and in Finland,” Joakim says.

“It is very important that we are treated with an open-minded and honest attitude. If we have a problem, we are given an honest answer and no excuses, like none of this has ever happened before. This builds trust,” Liisa points out.

During his career as a forest machine contractor, Karl-Gunnar has also participated in research and development by testing new equipment and prototypes.

“It is always fun to cooperate, and it would be more than fine with us if Ponsse was even more interested in our thoughts and ideas,” Tobias says, sending a message to the R&D unit.

JUMPING ON THE DEVELOPMENT WAGON

By following Karl-Gunnar’s long career in the forest industry, it is easy to perceive how the industry has become so mechanised.

He describes himself as a nerd who is very much into forests and machines, making this a perfect job for him.

“I was about ten when the Bamse forest tractor came to the forest institute where my mother was working as a cook. This 3/4-track machine picked up trees using a wire crane. It was an amazing experience,” says Karl-Gunnar, who a few years later attended the Västerby forest institute.

Karl-Gunnar did not mind that it was a two-hour ride to Västerby on his moped.

The head teacher soon realised that this young man had interest and ambition to work in the forest industry. At the time, schools taught first thinning using a bow saw, and the development of clearing saws, chainsaws and forest machines had a lot to offer. The mechanically inclined teenager followed everything up close. When it was time to look for work in 1967, Karl-Gunnar started to work at logging sites with one of his friends who operated the TimmerKalle forwarder.

“A year later, the machine passed on to me, and I started to cut and transport trees under my own business name. I was not even 18, so my mother had to guarantee my business loan.”

Soon afterwards, Karl-Gunnar made a switch to a completely new forwarder,

The members of the family that owns Fallaskog AB complement one another. Karl-Gunnar is a full-time substitute for machine operators, Ulla sees to the company’s administration, Tobias harvests wood, Liisa takes care of the personnel, calls, repairs and the delivery of spare parts, and Joakim plans operations and cuts and harvests oversized trees.

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REPORT / FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY FALLASKOG AB

LillNalle, while also cutting trees using a chainsaw. Whenever there was less work, he dedicated himself to athletics and orienteering. In 1970, he was the Nordic orienteering champion in the individual category. Seven years later, he came, yet again, in the first place in orienteering, this time in a team event.

A REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE

In the late 1970s, it was becoming more common that processors manually delimbed and cut felled trees. Karl-Gunnar Gustafsson adopted this technology in 1981. When working for Fiskeby, he was the first to use this technology and became one of “scabs” who trade unions considered to take over jobs from lumberjacks.

“That was a difficult time for lumberjacks. Technical development significantly and very quickly reduced the amount of work available to them.”

In 1987, Karl-Gunnar Gustafsson invested in a two-grip harvester, the first of its kind in Holmen. Later, he purchased another harvester and hired his first employees. Contracts started to grow larger, also requiring forwarders. The company grew, and in 1994 it had three harvesters and one forwarder. The trend continues, albeit on a larger scale, and the company now controls all transport operations.

A FULL-TIME SUBSTITUTE

Karl-Gunnar Gustafsson still enjoys working in the machine cabin.

“I am there where I am needed. My work mainly involves transport operations, but I also spend a lot of time operating a harvester. I prefer to be actively involved in our company than do all the activities that pensioners normally do. Of course, going hunting with elk hounds is one of my biggest passions,” says Karl-Gunnar who is a rare sight in the machine cabin after the elk hunting season begins.

Tobias confirms that Karl-Gunnar’s competitive nature and experience are widely known factors.

“Although my father turned 70 this summer, he can still beat every other operator in our company. It certainly is not easy to defeat him.”

A HANDYMAN, MECHANIC AND REPAIRMAN

Tobias started to work in the familyowned company as a forwarder operator immediately after graduating from an upper secondary school specialised in the forest industry and natural resources.

Soon afterwards, he made a switch from a forwarder to a harvester and has continued on this path ever since. In addition to his position as the managing director, he is a technical director and in charge of repairs. At a younger age, he was an enthusiastic rally driver. During his time off, he enjoys making and building different things from wood.

EVERY PART COMPLEMENTS THE OTHER

While Karl-Gunnar enjoys hunting and machine operations, accounting and other administrative tasks are not among his favourites. These have been Ulla’s tasks for a long time, even though she graduated as an analyst in biomedicine. After the birth of their youngest child, she has divided her time between the family and the company.

She also enjoys working in her garden.

“Very soon, I realised that Karl-Gunnar is not very interested in invoicing, accounting, payroll, certification or any other administrative tasks,” says Ulla, smiling.

AN HR DIRECTOR AND MECHANIC

Karl-Gunnar and Ulla Gustafsson are considering to retire properly, while they still spend hours working in the family-owned company.

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worksites before he had his own licence.

During her time off, Liisa dedicates her time between her home, garden and dogs. She also likes to go hunting with her husband.

Liisa studied at an upper secondary school specialised in economics, after which she has also worked for other employers besides the family-owned company. For the past ten years, she has been working full-time at Fallaskog. While her job title is HR director, she goes where she is needed, like all the other family members. Throughout the years, her work has involved machine spare parts, work planning, clearing and much more. Being a big sister, she also used to drive Tobias to

A SPIDER IN A NET

Karl-Gunnar and Ulla suggested that Joakim should study something else than forestry.

He attended an upper secondary school specialised in technology where he wanted to focus on road and water engineering. At the same time, his interest toward forests and the family-owned company grew, and he is now working as the company’s logistics director. He visits logging sites, decides what machines are the best choices for each site and ensures that machine transport and other logistics operations flow smoothly.

Normally, Joakim takes care of initial clearing and cuts oversized trees manually.

Joakim also likes to spend time outdoors during his time off, as he inherited the passion for orienteering.

PROBLEM-SOLVERS

The will to solve problems seems to run in the family, and it is a trait all the family members share.

“Making everything work – employees, customers, machines, logistics and finances – is part of what makes a company like this so fascinating,” Joakim says.

DIFFERENT ROLES

How easy is it to work with people who are so close, like spouses, parents, children and siblings?

“A good day at work just seems to fly by, and there is always a solution for possible problems,” Liisa Eriksson says.

“Us knowing each other and having close ties with one another gives us strength and security. Of course, we do not always see eye-to-eye, and that is how it should be. We face stressful and difficult situations every now and then, but that is unavoidable. Then, it is extremely important to keep business life and private life separate,” Karl-Gunnar says.

One way to avoid misunderstandings is to talk to each other, instead of sending text messages or emails.

“Text messages are so easy to misunderstand, especially if you are stressed out.”

KEEPING THE COMPANY IN BALANCE

Although the company could be a little larger than what it is today, growth is no explicit goal.

“Of course, we could have one or two machine chains more, but it is also about the ability to complete all sites, and it seems that we are where we should be. The market situation is another crucial factor, while growth is mostly about finding the right operators. There must a harmony where we can get the most out of resources, both individually and together. We want to be a tightly-knit family-owned company, and

Machine operators Per Karlsson and Tobias Gustafsson checking a planned worksite. During autumn, he made a switch from Buffalo to Bison.

expanding might make our employees less committed and loyal,” Tobias emphasises.

Machine operators appreciate that the company has new and fresh machines.

“Every employee must have the opportunity to enjoy their work, fell well and do an excellent job. This is why it is important that they feel at home in their working environment and have access to the support they need. This is what operations are all about.”

MAINLY IN ONE SHIFT

Only two of the company’s ten machines are operated in two shifts.

“Operating in one shift has many advantages. It is easier for operators to work when it is best for them and their families.

As a result, it is also easier to catch up with any production lost due to stoppages. Our productivity and that of our employees increase and production becomes smoother,” Karl-Gunnar summarises.

Fallaskog AB has resources for all operations apart from machine transport.

“We have considered to acquire transport equipment, but we are working with excellent transport companies, and this is a more flexible option for us than taking care of transport operations on our

own. Good transport vehicle operators are more than valuable,” Joakim says.

AN ATTRACTIVE CHOICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION AS WELL

For Ulla and Karl-Gunnar, it has been important that our children were not forced to work in the forest industry. Liisa, Tobias and Joakim think the same, but this has not prevented the next generation from being attracted by forestry. Liisa’s son Olle is one of the company’s machine operators, and Tobias’ son Wilhelm has also shown interest towards the industry.

“We clearly have not been able to keep them away,” says Liisa, laughing.

Others have also received a positive image of the company. This is indicated by the recognition as the best regeneration felling company in the Holm region (2012 and 2019) and the award of the company of the year in the municipality of Finspång (2013).

“These recognitions are an indication that we, together with our employees, have built a well-run business and that we have good relationships both inside and outside our company. This encourages us to do our best, every day.”

“We want to maintain good relationships and a positive atmosphere both inside our company and with our stakeholders. In this way, we can develop ourselves,” says Joakim Gustafsson.

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FACT / TRAINING

PONSSE ACADEMY –

A COMPETITIVE EDGE FROM TRAINING

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Ponsse values competence and its continuous development. As a pioneer in training, Ponsse Academy has been developing the expertise of the Group and network to provide a significant competitive edge since 2005. We are now facing a new situation: exceptional circumstances and remote working have brought online and distance training to the fore.

When circumstances are exceptional, quick actions and streamlined operations are needed.

These can be found in the Ponsse Academy and its team, which has speedily developed digital training activities.

“If you want to find anything positive from these exceptional circumstances, you could say that we’ve been more innovative in finding new ways to teach Ponsse’s solutions. Our new methods make our training range even broader,” says Harri Savonen, Ponsse’s training manager.

While COVID-19 has forced us to work remotely, it has also been obvious that training must continue. The exceptional situation brought online learning and remote teaching to the fore. Ponsse Academy’s team tackled the situation and quickly started to provide extensive product training via Microsoft Teams, a digital meeting platform.

“After the summer holidays, we also started to provide machine delivery training remotely. We started to use Teams as our training tool, and the number of active users on Ponsse’s online training platform increased rapidly. Remote training reduces the need for travel and therefore supports our goals of eco-friendliness and carbon neutrality.”

However, Harri points out that it is important not to make training too theoretical in digital environments.

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FACT / TRAINING

“The next step is to increase VR training as our product training goes 3D. We aim to keep our digital remote training as down-to-earth as possible using the latest technologies – combinations of virtual environments and authentic products.”

THE BEST SERVICE FOR END CUSTOMERS

Harri Savonen started working as a training manager at Ponsse in 2018.

He says that he came to a company that had already long been a pioneer in training and that invested heavily in competence development. Ponsse Academy played a key role in this.

“Ponsse Academy is not a separate organisation, but an umbrella term, whether we are training our own professionals, our network’s retailers or subsidiaries, or our customers. Internal training is very important to ensure our end customers have access to first-rate products and services,” Harri summarises.

PONSSE ACADEMY’S TWO MAIN TASKS

When a new product is delivered from Vieremä, or a used PONSSE product passes on to a new customer, it is

“If you want to find anything positive from these exceptional circumstances, you could say that we’ve been more innovative in finding new ways to teach Ponsse’s solutions,” says Harri Savonen.

important and statutory that new machine users understand the basics of machine operations. One of the main tasks of Ponsse Academy is to spread expertise throughout the network.

The largest professional groups being trained consist of operators, mechanics and spare parts employees.

Ponsse Academy also provides larger training packages, covering the entire CTL harvesting chain with the customer if required.

Carrying out systematic training activities with subsidiaries and retailers is another central task of the Ponsse Academy. The importance of training is increasing globally. In Full Service agreements, the role of training is emphasised, requiring significant investment. In a global group, training is provided and developed by all Ponsse’s companies throughout Ponsse’s network.

COOPERATION WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Russia, an important export country for Ponsse, has grown into one of the largest CTL forest machine markets in the world.

This keeps the Ponsse Academy busy in Russia.

“Just a little more than ten years ago, the tree length method was mainstream in Russia. When the cut-to-length method was introduced, training was needed to cover the entire system.”

The Ponsse Academy Training Center, opened in St Petersburg in 2019, was a significant investment in training activities. Ponsse is also engaged in cooperation with 18 educational institutions in Russia. This figure is increasing steadily, and the most recent partnership started at the Petrozavodsk Institute of Forestry.

Driven by the scorpion simulators are an important part of the training provided for new operators.

FOR SEASONED HARVESTING VETERANS

Ponsse Academy also has a lot to offer to experienced operators, even though they are already skilled in what they do.

Here, Harri Savonen prefers to use the term “coaching” to present new perspectives to veterans in addition to all the expertise that already exists.

“For example, if a company switches

Training container for Stage V engines manufactured by Ponsse

to PONSSE Scorpion, which has a different machine structure from our other harvesters, we can help operators to improve machine efficiency,” Harri says in conclusion.

THE BIOGRAPHY OF EINARI VIDGREN, THE FOUNDER OF PONSSE PLC, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

The St Petersburg training centre is the flagship of OOO Ponsse’s training network

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The book tells the true story of a boy coming from a small Finnish village who made his way from the logging sites in rural Savonia to the top of the global forest machine industry and Finland’s business life. However, he did not succeed on his own, and that is why the story is so important: it highlights Einari’s legacy – the art of working together. Author Antti Heikkinen has managed to describe the genuine Einari, his own sense of humour and situational awareness, as well as the experiences of a man

living in the harsh countryside. The emphasis is on history, starting from Einari’s childhood, because it helps to get an idea of the background of Ponsse’s values that still continue to affect Ponsse’s modern operations. In addition, the book contains numerous insights and phrases which Einari used and which contribute to the strengths of Ponsse Plc, the company he established The book is published by WSOY and will be translated into English 2021.

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INNOVATION / EXPERIENCES OF BISON

PONSSE PEOPLE / TUOMAS PESONEN

EXPERIENCES OF BISON

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aron Lahti has been operating a PONSSE Bison since the beginning of September. His machine is the second Bison delivered to the United States.

Aaron Lahti praises the Bison cabin as the best office in the world: “This is the Cadillac of forwarders. Driving the Bison is equally fast both when empty and when carrying a full load, and the machine also remains comfortable at higher speeds.”

“Active Frame makes the Bison incredibly stable. Stability is maintained even if a tree sways back and forth in the grapple while driving. Stability makes working more efficient and produces true added value in the long term.”

“Active Crane is soft and accurate to handle. While the extension moves fast, the accuracy of the crane is the best part. I especially like the crane base tilt. The crane base can be stabilised, giving all the power out from the boom movement.

Stems can be grabbed in more demanding terrain as if you were on level ground, which makes loading faster. Active Crane is twice as fast as a regular crane, if not even faster. However, its use must be learned first. If you can’t use it properly, it may even slow you down. Luckily, learning how to use it is operatordriven, and the crane does many things for you. I’m still trying to learn all the crane properties, but learning has been easy so

Stefan Germeiers from Germany has been using Bison for four months now, and he is more than excited over the machine.

“I didn’t expect the change from previous machine models to be this big. Bison can save loads of time, especially over longer distances.

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far.” Talking about yet another strength of the machine puts a smile on Aaron’s face. He loves hunting and says that Bison is so efficient that he has more time for it.

It snows a lot in Upper Michigan, which is why working days usually end as late as at 1 or 2 am. Trees must be transported out of the woods to prevent them from being buried under snow overnight. Aaron believes that this will not be necessary next winter, and he can keep up with Scorpion King. On a scale from 1 to 10, Aaron would give Bison a 12.

“Every morning, I’m excited to be able to operate this machine! The Scorpion King and Bison make up a couple designed for productive and fast-paced work. The Scorpion King is so powerful that the forwarder to be teamed up with it must be selected with care. I believe the Bison is a perfect match for Scorpion.”

Steve McNeil, an operator trainer at Ponsse North America, taught Aaron how to operate the new machine.

“The difference from the previous machine is like night and day. Steve’s help was invaluable, and he gave me support no matter what the time of the day or the day of the week.”

“We believe that we have the best machines in the world! They make our work so much easier, and the whole Finntana team appreciates the combination of the Scorpion King and Bison.”

The machine’s fuel economy is also excellent. It’s very important to me that I’m comfortable when I’m working.

Active Frame is a major improvement and a great leap forward compared with previous models”, Germeiers says.

FROM SAVONIA TO SIBERIA

Tuomas Pesonen is only 26 years old, but he has extensive experience in harvesting. His journey to Siberia has been long, but nowadays, he works there taking care of technical support in the Irkutsk region. Things he has learned from Finnish harvesting is coming in handy now.

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he boarder of 1,300 kilometres between Finland and Russia is longer than that of the rest of Europe, but even Finns are not familiar with Siberia. Tuomas Pesonen has been working for Ponsse’s subsidiary in Russia since 2015. For nearly two years, he has worked in the Irkutsk region. It is more than 6,000 kilometres and six time zones to his home in Varpaisjärvi.

Tuomas Pesonen says that the change in culture was huge, because he did not speak Russian.

“I had previous work experience in Russia, but I was surprised when I realised that nobody talks English in Siberia.

Customer support without a common language is difficult, and I wouldn’t have managed without an Estonian operator Toomaas Kuusmaa helping me. I learned to speak Russian at logging sites when I listened to others talk. The ultimate

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PONSSE PEOPLE / TUOMAS PESONEN

to purchase a PONSSE HS15 harvester. During the visit, Einari Vidgren, the founder of Ponsse, and salesman Erkki Karppinen said that the small boy would turn into a real Ponsse man. And they were right!”

“At home, when we sit at the coffee table, we’re not allowed to talk about machines. When three generations talk about technology each from their own perspective – grandad about the PAZ, father about the HS15 and I about modern technology – we easily disagree on things”, Tuomas says and laughs.

“My grandfather has been an important role model. He gives me advice that I still follow. He was also very much involved in raising me when I was a child. He was the one to give me my first axe when I was four years old and my first chainsaw at the age of 15. At the moment, harvesting is a hobby for me. In Finland, I have a Ponsse Ergo from 2007.

I always use it when I’m at home.”

“Nowadays, I’m living in Bratsk, in the Irkutsk region, with my wife Anna. We have two daughters and two sons. The three youngest children, Anastasia, Einari and Veikko, have both Russian and Finnish citizenships. If my children want to continue in the forest sector one day, I won’t be against it.

Our whole family has gotten so much from forestry.”

”

THE PONSSE TRAINING PATH GAVE ME A DIRECTION

RAISED IN A MACHINE CABIN

“The first time I worked for Ponsse was in 2009 when I did a practical training period of one week at the Iisalmi maintenance service. The experience really motivated me to work for Ponsse, and I was eager to start studying mechanics at the Iisalmi Vocational College. I was accepted to the first group taking part in the Ponsse training path. Its members studying mechanics did all their trainings at Ponsse. Through the programme, we were able to have training periods in France, Russian, Uruguay and Argentina”, says Tuomas.

“After my studies, I spent a summer working for the Pitkäranta service centre in Russia. When I did my military service in 2014, I received a phone call from OOO Ponsse.

They asked me whether I was interested in working in Russia.

So here I am, for the sixth year.”

According to Tuomas, he inherited the Ponsse spirit: “I was born in a family of Ponsse customers, and I think that there is no blood running in my veins, but hydraulic oil. I’m the third generation in my family who works with PONSSE forest machines. My father has been operating a harvester for nearly 30 years, and my grandfather has been Ponsse’s customer since the 1970s. He bought his first Paz in 1977 and sold his last machine last year when he turned 70.

Before retirement, he had been involved in the harvesting business for more than 60 years.”

Tuomas Pesonen says that he was three weeks old, when his father had taken him to a harvester cabin.

“I grew up surrounded by Ponsse machines, and I spent thousands of hours at logging sites with my father and grandfather. When I was four months old, my father and grandfather took me to a Ponsse factory for the first time

The Irkutsk region is 2.3 times larger than Finland. In the northern parts of the region, trees are quite tall and the average stem size is 0.4–0.6 m3. Mostly pines and larches grow there. That is why machines need to be massive too, and they mainly use PONSSE Bear harvesters and Elephant forwarders, but also six Scorpions. The region has developed strongly, and for example lIim Group, which operates in international pulp and paper markets, has invested billions of dollars in modern pulp mills in Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk. The region suffers from forest fires, which damaged the region badly last year.

One harvester harvests approximately 120,000 m3 of wood per year in Irkutsk. Large harvesting volumes, the size of trees and long distances make working very challenging.

PONSSE Ergo rises onto a barge on the Lena river in the town of Ust-Kut in Irkutsk. The Ergo has already travelled more than 6,300 km across Russia and is approaching its destination. Sakha in the permafrost region in Siberia is only 740 km away.

motivation to learn the language was meeting Anna, who was born in Siberia and is now my wife.”

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IRKUTSK’S MASSIVE FORESTS

“My grandfather has been an important role model. He gives me advice that I still follow.

He was also very much involved in raising me when I was a child. He was the one to give me my first axe when I was four years old and my first chainsaw at the age of 15.”

“In my home region, you can harvest the same amount in approximately 2.5 years”, Tuomas says.

However, annual harvesting volumes are bigger in Finland than in the Irkutsk region. In 2019, 71.8 million m3 of wood was harvested for the forest industry in Finland, compared with approximately 35 million m3 in Irkutsk.

Tuomas compares the conditions in Irkutsk to those in his home region: “In my father’s stands, the average size of trees is two or three times smaller than in the Irkutsk region. Forest management has long traditions in Finland, which shows in effective operations. There are two times more forests in Finland now than 50 years ago, when my grandfather was starting his career.”

DMI SERVICE

In Siberia and Far East, the official PONSSE retailer is DMI Service with which Tuomas Pesonen cooperates closely. At the moment, the company is investing in building a new service centre in Bratsk, in the northern part of the Irkutsk region. The service centre will solve problems related to the availability of spare parts and accelerate service times. The new service centre will provide all PONSSE services in one place.

“It’s crucial for customers that they are listened to. My duties include gathering feedback from our customers. We need it to develop machines and services further and further.

I interact with customers every day, and most questions concern making the right adjustments to the machines and operators’ working methods. At work, the most important thing to me is to ensure that customers’ machines are productive and to minimise downtime and technical problems related to machines”, says Tuomas Pesonen.

“I’m also responsible for supporting DMI mainly in service-related issues. A local retailer plays a major role in developing the services offered in the region. Local players know the special characteristics of customers and the market, and they are able to start off quickly”, says Tuomas.

My grandfather and I purchasing a new machine. HS15 was the first machine purchase that Tuomas took part in.

EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tuomas, like so many others, had to work from home for several weeks in the spring.

“The majority of our customers continued working, and I couldn’t leave them without support. Luckily, I was able to get all the necessary permits to visit our customers and retailers. Ponsse has strict safety instructions, and our customers follow them too.”

“At the moment, it looks like the wood trade in the Irkutsk region is finally recovering. The Chinese and European markets are almost at a normal level, and pulp mills are operating. The future looks good for the Irkutsk region!”

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INNOVATION / PRODUCT CHANGES

PRODUCT CHANGES Ponsse’s research and development activities are always based on customer needs. Therefore, they are not limited to the design of new technologies. Our existing range of machines is continuously being developed and improved.

Each year about a thousand continuous improvement changes are made in the PONSSE product family, based on the development wishes of customers, maintenance and production. For example, the following changes have made their way into production.

NEW ENGINES FOR FOREST MACHINES IN NORTH AMERICA

NEW COOLANT EXPANSION TANKS FOR ALL MACHINE MODELS

From the beginning of 2021, machines delivered in North America will be equipped with new engine models. The next-generation engines come from the same product family as the reliable and economical engines that have been used in Europe since the beginning of 2019. The next-generation engines are now available at the Tier 4F emission level of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To fulfil the EPA classification, the engines now include the DEF quality sensor and new software as new features. The next-generation engines present the latest model series of the Mercedes-Benz engine range and generate even lower emissions than before.

Following Ponsse’s continuous improvement model, the operability and quality of machines are improved consistently based on feedback received. We have introduced new coolant expansion tanks in our production with the following improvements: - Improved mechanical durability - Better separation of air bubbles inside the tank - Prevention of coolant foaming - Minimum/maximum markings on the tank - Entered in production from the beginning of October 2020

POWERFUL H8HD EUCA HARVESTER HEAD FOR PROCESSING EUCALYPTUS TREES The completely new debarking PONSSE H8HD Euca harvester head for processing eucalyptus trees has been designed in response to our customers’ needs.

Its feed rollers and debarking knives guarantee firstrate debarking results from start to finish. The solid frame and robust tilt frame give the harvester head the durability needed when debarking. Automated functions control saw movements according to the tree diameter and saw bar position, and allow trees to be cut quickly.

“The new harvester head has been especially designed for the PONSSE Bear harvester, and it is an ideal solution for track-based machines. PONSSE H8HD Euca is an effective tool in forests where the diameter of eucalyptus stems can be up to 50 cm.

The geometry of the new harvester head’s debarking knives and feed rollers improves the efficiency of H8HD Euca in debarking and processing both smaller and larger stems. Ponsse’s heavy-duty frame structure means that the new harvester head can withstand the extreme loads of track-based machines,” says Janne Loponen, Ponsse’s product manager of harvester heads.

PRODUCTIVITY REPORTING

PONSSE Manager 1.7 presents forwarder production reporting, a function highly requested by customers, alongside the system’s other top features.

The PONSSE Manager load certificate displays work area identification data and local transportation per storage location, both as sum totals and operatorspecific values. The printable load certificate also includes the volume of each load, the assortments delivered and the distance travelled.

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PONSSE Parts Online, a system for ordering spare parts, can now be accessed directly from the PONSSE Manager main menu.

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PONSSE NETWORK / URUGUAY

PONSSE URUGUAY

Ponsse Group’s strategic goals and values also guide the operations of Ponsse’s international network. A shared set of goals steers operations in a straightforward direction. “The enthusiasm and responsibility of our employees, every day, is the driver that gets us moving and produces results. It also forms the basis of long-term operational development”, says Martin Toledo, managing director of Ponsse Uruguay.

P

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CERTIFIED OPERATIONAL QUALITY

throughout the organisation. A change in attitudes is onsse Uruguay started operating in 2007. not only a major challenge, but also the most significant During the following year, the number of opportunity in changing our operating culture. employees increased to more than 60 people.

Development requires the output of everyone, and However, the global economic crisis drove nothing gets done overnight. However, it is important Uruguay’s economy to a slump. It affected all that we know where we want to go”, Toledo says. operations of Ponsse Uruguay: the company was forced After a long process, succeeding together was the to make staff cuts and reconsider its whole operational greatest reward, and development became an established structure. This challenging situation marked the way of working in the company. In 2015, Ponsse beginning of changes at Ponsse Uruguay, and the goal Uruguay updated its certificate to ISO 9001:2015 and, was to re-define the company’s operations in compliance in 2018, the company acquired the OHSAS 18000 with the ISO 9001:2008 standard. occupational safety and health standard.

When striving for certified operations, it was necessary to re-think not only operations, but also process management.

ONE PONSSE STEERS DAILY ACTIVITIES Established only a little over In 2017, Ponsse Group started a year before, the company to develop One Ponsse, a system launched a development project intended to help supervisory work, to overhaul the organisational which, a year later, expanded structure, while changing the to cover all employees and all roles and responsibilities of operations. In Uruguay, One every employee, as well as the Ponsse has especially supported company’s customer service and the development of operations. management processes.

“One Ponsse materialises “In practice, we re-defined in clear goals that help us to all parts of our daily activities. remember what is important We described our processes, amidst all this growth and rush: identified any risks and engagement in cooperation opportunities, studied laws across organisational boundaries, and regulations, assessed our agile decision-making and open resources and the capabilities communication, while respecting of our partners and considered our shared practices. Above all, how we could monitor all of it steers our focus towards the Martin Toledo, these systematically.” needs of our customers, in every Managing Director of Ponsse Uruguay As a result of several years of situation.” development, Ponsse Uruguay “Development is the only was the first subsidiary in Ponsse’s network to receive way for us to ensure the satisfaction of our customers the ISO 9001:2008 certificate. and employees. Close cooperation with customers and “One of the biggest challenges was, and still is, development based on their feedback give Ponsse a process management, which calls for engagement competitive edge, also in Uruguay.”

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PONSSE MOMENT / PHOTO COMPETITION

THE PONSSE MOMENT The Ponsse Moment picture is from Allgäu, which is a region in Swabia in southern Germany. The picture was taken by Gordian Hipp.

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MAINTENANCE SERVICES / PONSSE EXPRESS

INNOVATION / PONSSE OPTI 8

PONSSE OPTI 8

THE MOST MODERN FOREST MACHINE COMPUTER ON THE MARKET The Opti 8 computer has been developed for more than two years with the help of all the expertise gathered from Ponsse’s information system products. It has been constructed with pride, using the best components available.

Designed with user-friendliness in mind, the touchscreen PONSSE OPTI 8 computer will come as a standard feature in PONSSE harvesters from the beginning of 2021. Its large highresolution display, good ergonomics in the cabin and responsiveness will improve the working conditions of forest machine operators.

Thanks to the increased performance and memory of the Opti 8 computer, users can benefit from faster and smoother operations. The storage capacity of the hard disk has been doubled to ensure the operation of future applications.

The design of PONSSE Opti 8 focused on its usability in demanding harvesting environments. The computer was developed by Ponsse’s research and development of information systems. The Group’s technology company Epec also participated

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in the project, and the company manufactures the computers in Seinäjoki. “The new PONSSE OPTI 8 computer allows us to make the control systems of PONSSE forest machines even more user-friendly than before”, says Markku Savolainen, Ponsse’s product manager for equipment automation.

TESTED QUALITY

In Ponsse’s R&D unit in Kajaani, new information system hardware is designed and tested to ensure it functions in extreme conditions.

The tested products are exposed to vibrations and changes in temperature and humidity in an accelerated cycle. This type of testing ensures the correct performance, high quality and long life cycle of the products. In the laboratory, it is possible to create conditions that PONSSE OPTI 8 correspond to the freezing cold of Siberia, the heat and humidity of Brazil or the scorching heat • Enables the research and development of Australia. It is also possible to of machine information systems far into expose products to the types of the future. shock and vibration they must • Designed to meet the high-quality endure during their working requirements of PONSSE forest life in the most demanding machines and forest companies. harvesting conditions. Naturally, • Large 15.6” display with first-rate the products also meet all the brightness, resolution and viewing angle. existing regulatory requirements • Capacitive touchscreen, used as in for electronic equipment. mobile devices.

• Starts immediately, also in extreme cold.

• Windows 10 operating system.

PONSSE DELIVERY SERVICE

SAVES TIME, MONEY AND THE ENVIRONMENT PONSSE Delivery is an environmentally friendly new service for spare parts deliveries, saw bar maintenance, saw chain services and the recycling of plastic canisters. Ponsse’s delivery vehicle completes a specific route at regular intervals, keeping the spare parts warehouses of customers full and delivering ordered products directly to the front door.

T

he delivery service has become highly popular in in Finland where it has been running for a year now. A Finnish customer from Viitasaari-based Keski-Suomen Metsäkymppi Oy is satisfied with the service.

“The delivery service saves money, as stock balances are always up to date, and spare parts are available when they are needed. For us, this service also saves time, because we do not need to pick up any spare parts and try to remember what we need in our stocks.”

“As a result of the high demand for the delivery service, we will introduce a new route in Rovaniemi at the beginning of 2021, alongside

with the current routes in Tampere, Seinäjoki, Kouvola, Mikkeli and Jyväskylä”, says Olli Koljonen, spare parts manager at Ponsse.

MORE THAN SPARE PARTS DELIVERIES

In addition to spare parts deliveries, the delivery service also includes saw chain sharpening services, saw bar maintenance and the recycling of plastic canisters. Blunt saw chains are picked up from the agreed location, and they are returned sharpened during the next delivery. While Ponsse’s delivery vehicle delivers ordered products to customers, it also picks up any empty lubricant and colour marking canisters for recycling. This saves both time and the environment.

“We have provided customers with our route schedules. As a result, they can also order products from outside their agreement for door-to-door delivery. Invoicing is always based on realised quantities. This is a major advantage, as no capital is tied up in stocks”, Koljonen says.

In addition to the delivery service, Ponsse Express includes freight services, in which Ponsse’s delivery vehicle drives a fixed route to deliver spare parts to pick-up locations along the route or to the front doors of customers.

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PONSSE / THE EINARI VIDGRÉN FOUNDATION

“THINGS HAVE WORKED OUT AS EXPECTED”.

Kimmo Kulojärvi from Kemijärvi laughs and says that things have worked out as expected: there have been plenty of real emotions and aha moments since he began his career as a machine entrepreneur.

K

immo Kulojärvi started to work as a harvesting entrepreneur in February 2008. Before that, he had worked as a machine operator for 13 years.

“I’m probably a bit restless, because working as an operator started to feel a bit too boring. I felt like I wasn’t getting enough challenges and aha moments as an operator”, says Kimmo.

At the time, Eero Mursu from Posio was Kimmo’s employer at Metsä-Mursu Oy, and he encouraged Kimmo to establish his own company.

“I had to think about the idea for quite some time. Every other day it felt like an extremely good idea, and other times the thought of having my own company terrified me. Eero said that think about it only on the good days”, Kimmo reminisces.

Finally, Kimmo Kulojärvi decided to buy a machine chain from his employer. In addition, he got a part of the employer’s contracts with Stora Enso.

“After the beginning, things have progressed just as expected. There have been no grey and dull days since. As an entrepreneur, I get to experience real emotions all the time”, Kimmo jokes.

An emotional rollercoaster was likely considering the time Kimmo Kulojärvi Oy was established. At the beginning

of 2008, the boom had continued for a long time. Kulojärvi’s company started off impressively.

“After the small setbacks during the first month, the first year went financially better for the company that I could even imagine.”

However, the good start was necessary, because the following year, there was a decline in harvesting volumes.

“Our machines also stood in the yard for about four months. It was a difficult period. But since the first year had been so good, we got through it”, says Kimmo.

Kimmo Kulojärvi Oy is still contracting for Stora Enso, now as a contract entrepreneur in Eastern Lapland. They own two machine chains, but if the chains of subcontractors are taken into account, there are seven chains harvesting wood for Stora Enso in Eastern Lapland.

“If you start from the southern part of Kuusamo, you can drive 100 kilometres to Savukoski and you are still in the same operating area.”

Nowadays, the company pays a monthly salary to 12 people. In addition to Kimmo, his wife Mia Kulojärvi takes part in the company’s daily operations.

“Mia takes care of paper work and invoicing and she can even drive a lowbed, if necessary.”

Tillage is also one of the services that the company provides. This year, Kimmo has also taken care of tillage with an excavator since the summer.

“It’s been my secondary job. My primary duty is to manage the company. Sometimes I also operate a forest machine.”

“Running a company includes all kinds of tasks from washing machines to acting as the CEO.” After working as an entrepreneur for more than ten years – and after all the genuine emotions and changing situations – operating a forest machine gives variety to Kimmo: “Particularly evening shifts are relaxing, because you can concentrate on one thing at a time, and the phone is not ringing all the time.”

In addition to all other duties, the positions of trust in Koneyrittäjät, an association of machine entrepreneurs, keep Kimmo busy.

Kimmo Kulojärvi is the chair of the Lapin Koneyrittäjät association, as well as a member of the forest committee of Koneyrittäjät.

“There are surprisingly many days in a year when I’m invited to different events to represent machine entrepreneurs. Even if the event itself didn’t take so many hours, there is no time to do anything else.”

The trips can take a day or several days, but Kimmo thinks that it is worth it.

“It’s a positive thing. In my opinion, the forest committee, in particular, does good and important work. There you can influence on matters that affect the whole nation. At the same time, you learn new things that benefit your own business when people exchange experiences and ideas. I have also gotten to know many machine entrepreneurs everywhere in Finland thanks to the positions of trust.”

Kulojärvi sees that the biggest challenge is getting forest owners to sell wood.

According to Kimmo, the biggest challenge for the harvesting sector will be availability of operators in future.

Even though he himself as a restless man changed from being an operator to working as an entrepreneur to get more challenges in his life, Kimmo knows how challenging it can be to work as an operator. The high demands and value of the job should be made more visible.

“Machine operators should be appreciated more. Working as an operator is challenging, and top professionals are required to do the job. If young people saw it, it would certainly increase interest in the field.”

The start of Kimmo Kulojärvi’s own career as an operator was quite funny and rapid. In October 1995, he convinced Eero Mursu to offer him a practical training period of three weeks as a machine operator.

Kimmo had completed two years of studies in mechanics related to forestry in Posio, and in August, he had just started his third year of study to become a machine operator in the Hirvaa forest school. When the training period began, Kimmo dropped out of school and never returned.

“The only thing that I regret about not finishing my studies is that I missed a welding course. Welding would have been a useful skill.

I know how to weld, but only through trial and error”, Kimmo says and laughs.

“

After the beginning, things have progressed just as expected. There have been no grey and dull days since. As an entrepreneur, I get to experience real emotions all the time”, Kimmo jokes.

GROWTH POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITIES

Kimmo Kulojärvi wants to develop and expand his company. In Lapland, there are two major investment projects pending, which will affect the way wood is used.

“There is potential in them. There’s the Metsä Group’s project in Kemi and Kemijärvi’s own biorefinery Boreal Bioref. Bioref is about three kilometres from here. If the projects are implemented, the use of wood will increase significantly in the region.”

There have been questions whether there is enough wood for both projects. Kimmo

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25

PONSSE / THE EINARI VIDGRÉN FOUNDATION

“It’s always wonderful when the forest owner is happy with the results and gives positive feedback”, says Jukka Pirinen, CEO of Metsäkone Pirinen Oy.

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HIGH-QUALITY RESULTS AS GOAL 26

he company goal is to achieve high-quality results, and they consider harvesting as taking care of forest owners’ assets. Therefore, it is highly significant how happy forest owners are.

“It’s also great to hear when operators say that it’s good to work for us”, says Pirinen.

These things are also linked together, because machine operators are responsible for achieving good results. The CEO can set high-quality results as an objective, but the actual work is done in the forest. Everybody has to commit to the objective, and it has to be kept in mind in the cabins of the machines every day.

Metsäkone Pirinen Oy is Metsä Group’s regional contractor in Northern Ostrobothnia.

The company has four machine teams and 14 employees. The company has a shop in Paavola in Siikajoki, and it operates within approximately 100 kilometres reaching Liminka, Raahe, Pyhäjoki and Vihanti.

“There are plenty of pulp logs in these regions. I’m sure that demand will increase if they build the bioproduct factory in Kemi as planned. In that respect, the outlook is good, and the company is expected to slightly grow”, says Jukka Pirinen.

The company employs four brothers from the Pirinen family. Jukka is the CEO, and Kari, Jarmo and Pekka Pirinen are partners.

The foundations of the company were laid by their father in the 1980s when he started harvesting as a side business in addition to farming. In 1998, the father and the three eldest brothers – Jukka, Kari and Jarmo – established Metsäkone Pirinen Ky. It became a limited company in 2003, and Jukka Pirinen started as the CEO in 2007. The change of generation was finalised in 2015, when their father gave up his last shares.

“Our father has retired now, but he still lends a hand when necessary.”

Jukka and Kari Pirinen also have another company called Konehuolto Pirinen Oy, which focuses on the maintenance and repair of machines.

“I’m a qualified mechanic specialised in heavy machinery. First, I planned to work in a repair shop, but when our father started to expand the harvesting business, I began to work as a forest machine operator”, Jukka describes his work history.

Mechanical skills are an advantage in the current job, too. The repair shop has also helped provide work for employees when there has been less harvesting due to unfavourable business conditions.

“The repair shop has kept a couple of operators busy during quieter periods.”

Fluctuations in demand for harvesting are one of the major challenges in the field particularly from the perspective of providing work for employees. During the peak in 2018, we were really busy, but year 2019 and the current year have been more volatile.

“During quieter periods, like this summer, the harvesting of energy wood has saved the situation.”

There is one good thing about quieter periods: you can take trainees to work for your company then. It ensures that there will be workers available in the future. At the moment, there are two trainees working for Pirinen.

“During peak periods, like in 2018, there is no time to instruct trainees.”

According to Jukka, employees have had long careers in the company, but Metsäkone Pirinen has also trained many operators for other businesses.

“In the course of 20 years, we have had many trainees working here”, says Jukka.

Even if the trainees had not stayed in the company, they have learned at least one important thing.

“The objective to achieve high-quality results is always shared with new guys.”

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PONSSE NETWORK / 25 YEARS IN FRANCE AND THE USA

PONSSE S.A.S. – 25 YEARS OF THE BEST SERVICE CLOSE TO FRENCH CUSTOMERS In France, Ponsse started operating with a familiar objective in mind: the desire to offer the best possible service close to customers. Roger Lejeune from Belgium helped Ponsse at the beginning. Lejeune is an international entrepreneur, whose name has been mentioned in Ponsse News previously.

”R

oger is one of Ponsse’s first foreign customers.

He convinced Ponsse to establish a company in France in order to serve customers better,” says Patrick Siscard, salesman and service centre manager at the Labouheyre service centre.

“Our operations were launched in Gondreville with just 2–3 employees.

When we expanded, we established service centres in Peyrat and Sabres,” says Siscard, who has been selling Ponsse products and services for 22 years.

Today, Ponsse is a significant player in France and it employs a total of 39 people in three different locations.

Its head office is in Gondreville, in north-eastern France. The two other locations are Peyrat le Château, which is in the region of New Aquitaine, and Labouheyre in southern Bordeaux, where Ponsse opened a new and modern service centre in 2017. There are approximately 550 PONSSE forest machines in France THINGS HAVE DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANTLY IN

“In France, wood is exported to North Africa, where it is used in the paper and furniture industries as well as in energy production. France also imports wood from Northern Europe,” says Siscard.

Ponsse S.A.S. has grown and developed greatly in 25 years – together with Ponsse’s new machines and services. In addition to its own service centres, there are 11 contractual service providers serving customers across the country.

“This way we can achieve our objective to be close to our customers in France and Belgium.”

According to Patrick Siscard, customers are used to enhancing and updating their operations. As technology develops, customers have begun to talk about wireless data transfer and even about controlling their machines remotely.

“In France, we have seen sawmills expand and enhance their operation, for example,” says Siscard when asked to describe how timber companies have changed.

25 YEARS

When PONSSE S.A.S. started 25 years ago, wood was mainly used as firewood in France. Then they started to use wood in energy production.

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FRANCE IS ALSO A LAND OF FORESTS

France is known for its agricultural products, but it is also a land of forests – and a large one.

FRANCE

YEARS

France is the largest EU country, and approximately 30% of the land is covered by forests, which puts it in fourth place after Sweden, Finland and Spain.

In France, forests are mainly privately-owned. Only 25% of forests are owned by Office National des Forêts (ONF), which manages the forests owned by the state and other public forest owners.

“Forests cover approximately 15 million hectares in France, and the annual harvesting volume is on average 50 million m³,” says Patrick Siscard.

There are 136 tree species growing in France, and 72% of the total volume are deciduous trees and 28% are conifers. The most common deciduous species include common oak, sessile oak, beech, chestnut tree, ash, hornbeam and poplar. Coniferous species include maritime pine, pine, white fir, spruce and Douglas fir.

25 YEARS AND MORE THAN 1,500 MACHINES – PONSSE CELEBRATES IN NORTH AMERICA The best Cut-to-Length (CTL) forest machines in the world and the ability to carefully listen to customers’ needs have made Ponsse’s story a success in North America. Skilled employees and loyal customers have both contributed to Ponsse’s growth.

P

onsse arrived in North America in 1991 when the legendary forestry pioneer Earl St. John brought the first machines to Powers, Michigan.

“Thanks to the strong performance of the machines, the word spread quickly in the forest industry saying that Ponsse was here to stay,” says spare parts salesman Chris Norling, who has worked for Ponsse for more than two decades.

In 1995, Ponsse North America established a subsidiary in Atlanta, Georgia. Good opportunities for growth and the demand for CTL forest machines in the Great Lakes region attracted the company to expand to the north.

Ponsse moved its head office in North America to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in 1997.

Since establishing a service centre in North America, Ponsse has been very active. After Michigan, the company rapidly gained a strong foothold in Wisconsin and Minnesota, then in Canada, in the New England area in the north-east of the USA, as well as in Oregon, Washington and New York.

“Ponsse, which originally came from a small Finnish village, has now managed to change the North American forest industry with hard work and forest machines in approximately 35 states all over the USA. Dealers and service centres located in different parts of the continent have all contributed to its success,” says Chris.

THE BEST MACHINES AND PASSIONATE EXPERTS

Ponsse has always been a pioneer in innovation and improving the performance of forest machines. As an example, Chris mentions a period from the launch of PONSSE Scorpion in 2014 to the long-awaited launch of Bison in June 2020.

“The best machines are not enough without the passion and strength of skilled men and women. They continue to write the

success story of Ponsse North America for the next 25 years.

Over 25 years, more than 1,500 PONSSE machines have been delivered to the logging sites in North America. The company employs more than 80 employees, and together they have more than 620 years of experience in the field and customer service. Many loyal customers have relied on Ponsse for more than 20 years.

“The availability of parts and the best service have convinced professionals on the whole continent. During the last ten years, the company has employed 25 new employees.

It means that the company is growing, and customers trust it,” says Chris.

MACHINES HAVE DEVELOPED, VALUES HAVE REMAINED THE SAME

Chris Norling was one of the first employees working in the head office in Rhinelander. He clearly remembers a Monday in May 1999.

I walked in the service center and started my first day of work at PONSSE USA”, as it was called then. Although I had eight years of experience in passenger car spare parts, I did not know much about heavy machinery and forest machines,” Chris says when he looks back at the start of his Ponsse career.

The customer base was limited then, and the machine selection was mainly restricted to PONSSE S15 and PONSSE HS15. Two decades later, Chris is known as a true spare part guru.

When you compare the HS15 to Scorpion King, you understand how far this company has come. However, it has managed to retain the same values it had when I first started to work for Ponsse.”

“The availability of parts and the best service have convinced professionals on the whole continent.” – Chris Norling

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LOGGING NEWS / 2020

LOGGING NEWS

THE 16,000TH PONSSE FOREST MACHINE COMPLETED

TIMBER FOREST – THE RETAILER OF THE YEAR

THE FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY FROM BRAZIL SHARES PONSSE’S VALUES

Timber Forest Equipamentos, part of Rodoparana Group, is a family-owned company, which currently employs 360 people. The company sells, maintains and installs harvesting technology and, since its establishment in 2001, has been a significant driver in the spread of mechanical harvesting in Southern Brazil.

Cooperation with Ponsse started in 2015 when Timber Forest was looking for a new partner as a supplier of CTL technology. Ponsse’s subsidiary Ponsse Latin America Ltda had operated in Brazil since 2005 and was aiming to increase its market share.

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“Ponsse gave us a warm welcome, and we immediately recognised ourselves in the company. Both companies were firmly customer-driven and had long-term partnerships. In just a month, we were already in Vieremä, Finland, signing a retail agreement with Ponsse,” says Jober Fonseca, general manager of Timber Forest.

Southern Brazil is home to large eucalyptus plantations, from which wood is harvested for pulp and paper production.

In addition to eucalyptus, pine trees are grown in the region to meet the needs of the sawmill industry. Customers range from corporations that own dozens of machines and harvest more than 400,000 tons per month to small forest owners with a single machine team. Both need services that support their operations, from machine selections to training and customised maintenance services.

Brazil’s forestry markets are among the most competitive in the world, while mechanisation is still in progress.

“Timber Forest specialises in improving the competitiveness of forest companies. We not only sell technology,

but, above all, provide our customers with strong support, so that they can have access to the best possible technology and so that the selected technology is as productive as possible.

Customer relationships are partnerships, success in which is the most important driver in our operations. None of this would be possible if it were not for the support we receive from Ponsse’s factory,” Jober Fonseca says.

The 16,000th PONSSE forest machine was completed at Ponsse’s factory in Vieremä. The PONSSE Ergo harvester, was delivered to Celulose NipoBrasileira S.A. (CENIBRA) in Brazil, where it will operate at plantations to meet the needs of local pulp production.

“Ponsse has worked in close cooperation with Cenibra since 2014 in extremely difficult slope conditions in the state of Minas Gerais. This cooperation has given us valuable information for the R&D of harvesting machines for slope conditions, and we have been able to develop our products to meet the needs of our customers even better. I would like to thank Cenibra for the trust they have shown in our cooperation so far. I would also like to thank our personnel that have made all this possible in Brazil,” says Marko Mattila, Ponsse’s sales, marketing and service director.

PONSSE ERGO HARVESTER FOR DEMANDING SLOPE CONDITIONS

PONSSE Ergo is the best-selling PONSSE forest machine globally.

The 8-wheeled Ergo to be delivered to

Cenibra in Brazil is equipped with the PONSSE C5 crane, the PONSSE H7 Euca harvester head and the PONSSE Synchrowinch solution. The machine is a reliable and powerful combination, enabling sustainable and effective harvesting in demanding slope environments.

PONSSE FULL SERVICE

“The PONSSE Full Service concept is very well linked to our view to be close to our customers and develop our products together with our customers.

We have developed a strong PONSSE Full Service concept for Brazil based on our customers’ feedback and internal benchmarking with Ponsse’s Uruguay, Russia and China operations,” says Fernando Campos, managing director of Ponsse Latin America.

“Ponsse Plc established a subsidiary in Mogi das Cruzes in Brazil in 2006.

Today, there are 248 employees in our team and they work in five different locations. I would like to thank our customers for their loyalty, and special thanks to our local committed team,” Campos continues.

Alexandre Schettino de Castilho, Cenibra Harvest, Logistics and Equipment Development Manager

Bruno Ricardo Fernandes, Cenibra, Forest Harvesting Coordinator.

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LOGGING NEWS / 2020

LOGGING NEWS Ponsse’s network is expanding M.T.S. PARTS CC. IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALE AND SERVICES OF FOREST MACHINES, AS WELL AS SPARE PARTS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

M.T.S. Parts CC. offers a broad service range to forestry, agricultural and mining companies. The company is based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, and it has operated as Ponsse’s contractual partner in the Mpumalanga Province since 2014.

“Our main goal has always been the prosperity of our customers, and we want to offer the best possible service for them. Together with Ponsse, we are determined to be the most reliable partner in the business and to live up to our promise to be “A Logger’s Best Friend”. Based on these principles, we have achieved a solid market position in our operating areas. M.T.S. was founded in 2005, and we have supported diverse brands, such as Dezzi Equipment, Matriarch Equipment and Bell Equipment,” says Chris Odendaal, director, M.T.S. Parts CC.

MAVIPROD SRL IRUM HAS STARTED AS PONSSE’S RETAILER IN ROMANIA

IRUM has a comprehensive service range and extensive experience in service provision for work machine customers. The new retailer offers training and technical support at its headquarters in Reghin, Transylvania. To ensure customer service, the company has 15 sales outlets and it offers technical support 24/7 for agricultural and forestry customers.

In addition to the Romanian locations, the company operates in Hungary and Moldova. IRUM was established in 1953. It specialises in mechanical engineering and employs 600 employees.

GUANGXI PANGSAI FORESTRY MACHINERY CO. LTD IS IN CHARGE OF MACHINE SALES AND AFTER SALES IN CHINA

Guangxi Pangsai Forestry Machinery Co. Ltd, headed by Ponsse’s longtime sales manager Mr. Shi Yu Chao, oversees machine sales and after sales to Chinese customers in close operation with Ponsse China.

Ponsse China has operated since 2007 and employs 29 forest machine professionals. One of Ponsse’s most significant partners in China is Stora Enso, with which Ponsse has cooperated in the field of mechanical harvesting for more than ten years.

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PONSSE ONCE AGAIN THE MOST REPUTABLE COMPANY IN FINLAND For the third year in succession, Ponsse has been selected as the most reputable company in Finland in the annual Reputation&Trust survey. In the top three, Ponsse was followed by game development company Supercell, while Fazer came in third. A total of 8,974 Finns took part in the survey published today.

“Ponsse has succeeded in maintaining its first place, and even in increasing its reputation during this challenging year. Ponsse received the highest individual score in the vital areas of leadership and modernisation. Especially during the coronavirus crisis, there is a demand for an ability to lead and modernise,” says Harri Leinikka, CEO of T-Media, which conducted the survey.

The Reputation&Trust survey identifies the reputation of companies by analysing the greater public’s impressions of them in different dimensions.

Jarmo Vidgrén, chairman of Ponsse’s Board of Directors, appreciates this year’s recognition more than ever.

“This year has been challenging for us as well, and we humbly accept this recognition. We have succeeded together, for which I would like to thank our customers, employees and their families, as well as our stakeholders. Ponsse’s 50th anniversary has not gone as planned, and it feels great that we can thank everyone for our shared successes through this recognition too,” says Jarmo Vidgrén, Chairman of Ponsse Plc’s Board of Directors.

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RETRO CORNER / OLAVI KAUHANEN

USED MACHINES / PONSSE SCORPION

CORNER

Olavi Kauhanen – a pioneer of contracting abroad

A

s early as in the 1970s, Finns travelled to Germany to harvest trees knocked down by storms. Olavi Kauhanen from Vieremä was one of these pioneers.

Kauhanen recalls how he left Northern Savonia and headed towards the great unknown in 1974.

His destination was Germany, and his objective was to work at German logging sites harvesting trees felled by storms.

Einari Vidgren himself was the other reason why Kauhanen left for Germany. The men did contracting work together, and Einari had heard that it was possible to make some money at German logging sites.

“Back then, I didn’t even know where Germany was”, Olavi Kauhanen reminisces.

Kauhanen and Vidgren had visited Germany with their wives before the first contracting trip abroad. However, when Kauhanen finally headed for Germany with a group of loggers he had gathered and their first machine, they were to face new things.

There were four contractors leaving Finland for Germany at the same time. There were no lowbeds to carry the machines from the port, so there was a peculiar column travelling from Bremen to Cloppenburg and regions being hit by storms. They had to drive the machines to the site – it was approximately 80 kilometres to their destination.

“It was a long distance for a forest machine. Sometimes they were lost and found themselves on an autobahn. They were eventually stopped by a police officer who told them that they could not drive there. Finally, they get to their destination driving along small roads”, Olavi says.

Storm-felled trees were waiting for harvesters, and Kauhanen got the men working. There were so many trees down that Olavi soon had to contact Finland and ask for another machine for help. They managed to find loggers among Finns who had first travelled to Sweden and then ended up at German logging sites. “For two machines and the men there was enough work for 18 months. We worked and got the money. When there was no more work to do, I called Finland to say that our job was completed.”

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Kauhanen returned to Finland, but only for a short period of time. He had time to go to one logging site in Finland before he travelled abroad again. This time he went to the Soviet Union.

Urho Kekkonen was the president of Finland then, and in the Soviet Union, there were Finns building Kostomuksha.

Enso-Gutzeit was in charge of harvesting in the Kostomuksha region, and the company had its own machinery back then. There were only a couple of machines owned by private contractors there, and Kauhanen was one of the contractors.

“Working in the Soviet Union and Germany was very different, like night and day. Back then, the borders were closed, and people working for Enso had to stay in a small area”, says Kauhanen.

After the contracts in Kostomuksha, Kauhanen continued to work for Russian customers in Russian Karelia, by Lake Onega in Medvezhyegorsk and Petrozavodsk.

It was risky business for private contractors.

“In Germany and when working for Enso in Kostomuksha, we were paid for the work. It was not necessarily the case when contracting on your own.”

LONG CAREER

Einari Vidgren and Olavi Kauhanen had started to cooperate already before working in Germany. The men came from the same village. As a truck driver, Kauhanen was used to operating a loader. He was therefore a natural choice to operate Ponsse’s first prototype machine and take care of loading.

“I knew how to do it, because I had used Hiab loaders. But of course, it took some time before all started to go smoothly.

I cooperated with Einari in various ways. We travelled around Finland at the time when it was a new thing to take care of loading with the same machine that carried the load to the destination. I operated the first prototype all the way to Southern Finland.”

After the trips to foreign countries, Olavi Kauhanen continued to work in Finland for Enso-Gutzeit, nowadays known as Stora Enso.

Olavi retired at the age of 65 in 2003, but Metsänkorjuu Kauhanen Oy continues to harvest as a regional contractor for Stora Enso.

The company is now headed by Olavi’s eldest son Ismo.

RELIABLE

USED MACHINE

PONSSE Scorpion was Pertti and Markku Piipponen’s choice as a used machine.

This time they wanted a high-quality harvester more quickly and at lower costs than a new machine. The reliability of a well-known brand and the rotating cabin made them choose Scorpion – the driving comfort has made Markku wonder whether to go hunting or just enjoy the Scorpion’s smooth ride.

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I

n addition to owners Markku and Pertti Piipponen, forest machine contracting company Koneurakointi Piipponen Oy employs five operators. Based in Mäkelä to the north of Lahti, the company mainly operates in nearby Sysmä, Hartola, Luhanka, Pertunmaa, Asikkala and Heinola.

This is not the first time in the woods for brothers Markku and Pertti: combined, the two have 75 years of experience in forest machines. It’s enough to know what to want from a machine, say the contractors who recently purchased their used Scorpion.

“Ponsse is a proven manufacturer whose machines have always been reliable. The rotating cabin was an absolute requirement, which is why we chose PONSSE Scorpion.”

The mutual journey of Koneurakointi Piipponen and Ponsse started in 2002, when the two brothers started their own business.

Their first choice was the PONSSE HS 16 ERGO harvester. They have also transported wood using many Ponsse’s forwarders, such as Bison, Wisent, Elk and S16 Ergo.

“They have all been solid machines, and they have worked like a charm, with the exception of the broken curved bunks that we have had to weld from time to time,” the two brothers say, remembering their former workhorses.

LOOKING FOR A NEW USED MACHINE

This time the Piipponen brothers were looking for a used machine. They wanted to upgrade their harvester, and a high-quality used machine was the perfect choice because of its quicker availability and lower price.

“We found an excellent Scorpion equipped with the H7 harvester head, and that sealed the deal. As wood procurement company Koskitukki mainly cuts larger logs, a large harvester head was a must. It can also handle smaller trees, while a small harvester head cannot handle big ones,” Pertti says.

Ponsse has been manufacturing the best forest machines in the world for 50 years now, and it has also traded used machines from the very beginning. End customers are import to Ponsse and the aim is to always provide them with the best possible service.

The promise of high-quality machines is kept in every deal.

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS

“The whole process certainly exceeded our expectations. The machine was largely upgraded, even more than we agreed upon.

We are very pleased with the deal and Scorpion.”

Ponsse also offers attractive used machines, and it is valued by contractors.

When a customer purchases a used machine from Ponsse, they know that they have access not only to a first-grade machine, but also to a broad range of services and partners in Ponsse’s network.

Ponsse’s guarantee, always reliable maintenance services and quick availability of spare parts were key reasons for the Piipponen brothers for choosing PONSSE Scorpion. All the good things listed by Markku’s sons, who operate Scorpion for another company, were also decisive.

“We have tried other brands and their maintenance services, and there is no going

HOWDY! Don’t leave rubbish in forests!

back. Next, we will buy a new machine – but the make and model will be the same.”

VERSATILE AND COMFORTABLE SCORPION

The brothers, who have tested Scorpion in real-life conditions, appreciate the machine for its versatility. It is a powerful and productive machine in different conditions and at different sites – important features for a company operating at logging sites of all types.

“The large harvester head makes Scorpion ideal for harvesting larger trees, but it is truly excellent at all sites, starting from first thinning. It does not even have any problems with twisty birch trees. There has been no need for us to pick up a handsaw.”

The Piipponen brothers, who have decades of experience working at logging sites, think highly of Scorpion’s technical solutions made to improve the operator’s efficiency and driving comfort. Visibility, stability and ergonomics also stand for higher productivity.

“The stabilisation system works like a charm, without even noticing it. We cannot even compare it with our previous machine.

The back stays healthy, and everything works with the push of a button. Scorpion’s fuel consumption is a little higher than in its predecessor, but it also produces much more wood: 50–100 cubic metres per hour, depending on the type of forest,” the two brothers say.

Even as a used machine, PONSSE Scorpion is a true example of a modern harvester, which has also been recognised for its design. “Scorpion is a good-looking machine, and it is a true pleasure to operate it at logging sites,” Pertti and Markku conclude.

Sort waste correctly

It’s nice to spend time outdoors, and the best part is eating your picnic lunch there. But remember to take your rubbish with you when you return home. Connect different waste fractions to correct waste containers with a line. Ask an adult for help if you are having trouble working it out.

Metal

Glass

Burned Bio-waste

Biowaste

Cardboard

Plastic

Paper

“We found an excellent scorpion equipped with the H7 harvester head, and that sealed the deal.”

Paper is made from wood.

Paperboard, newspapers and books are made from wood fibres. When you look around at your home, what kinds of things have been made from wood? Draw or write down your answer.

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HOWDY! Pack paperboard tightly so it won’t take so much room in the waste container.

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WOMEN’S SWEATER JACKET Product number 1549, sizes 34–46, EUR 75

ANNIVERSARY YEAR PULLOVER FOR MEN Product number 1482, sizes S–4XL, EUR 65

ANNIVERSARY YEAR PULLOVER FOR WOMEN Product number 1483, sizes 34–46, EUR 65

Classic men’s / women’s knitted V-neck pullover made of warm wool.

Stylish details like 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.

ANNIVERSARY YEAR SCOTCH CAP Product number 1489, one size, EUR 20 Cap with low bill. Knitted wool blend material. Colour: brown/black. Yellow satin lining with anniversary year mark. Black leather strap on the side. Tightening with elastic band on the back.

ANNIVERSARY YEAR JACKET FOR MEN Product Number 1484, sizes S-4XL, 110 €

ANNIVERSARY YEAR JACKET FOR WOMEN Product number 1485, sizes S–4XL, EUR 110

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.

ANNIVERSARY YEAR TRAINER PANTS Product number 1481, sizes XS–4XL, EUR 55 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.

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MEN’S SWEATER JACKET Product number 1550, sizes S–4XL, EUR 75 Full-length front zip and zipped side pockets. Detachable hood. Made from comfortable and elastic cotton/elastane.

Ponsse logo on the left chest.

Material: 95% cotton, 5% elastane.

MEN’S LIGHT PADDED JACKET Product number 1554, sizes S–4XL, EUR 90

WOMEN’S LIGHT PADDED JACKET Product number 1555, sizes 36–46, EUR 90

Lightly padded. The outside of the jacket is black with Ponsse details, silver grey inside. Articulated sleeves, side pockets with zips, fixed hood and adjustable hem. Recycled material used in the outside fabric and wadding.

Material: 100% recycled polyester.

CHILDREN’S SOFTSHELL JACKET Product number 1511-1515, sizes 104–164 cm, EUR 50 Children’s unisex softshell jacket with a detachable hood. Full-length front zip and zipped pockets at the sides. Waterproof (WP 10,000 mm) and windproof.

Adjustable hem and cuffs. Ponsse logo on the chest and on the sleeve.

Reflective details on the back, on front pockets and on zips.

Material: 100% polyester.

CHILDREN’S RUBBER BOOTS Product number 1537 sizes 24–35, EUR 20 Bright yellow rubber shoes keep children’s feet dry in autumn rains.

Ponsse logo on the leg. Rubber boots are packed in a cardboard box.

Material: 100% rubber, lining 100% polyester.

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WHERE THERE’S A FIRE, THERE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE A ROAD

PONSSE Firefighting equipment We are introducing an innovative solution that raises the accessibility of wildfire locations to an entirely new level. The independent firefighting unit can refill its tank from a natural water source using its own pump and, because of its agility, it can bring water to an otherwise inaccessible firefighting location.

No more long hoses – firefighting is now possible at a high pressure where there are no roads. The fire fighting equipment can be fitted on all PONSSE Buffalo and Elephant forwarders.

After installing minor optional equipment in machine hydraulics and fitting the fire fighting equipment, the machine is ready to extinguish wildfires – quickly, effectively and in a variety of ways. Best of all, no capital is tied to downtime – machines can operate productively at all times and come to help as required.

A logger’s best friend www.ponsse.com