Ponsse developing a harvesting solution for soft peat soil
PONSSE OYJ PRESS RELEASE 10 October 2007 AT 14.00
Ponsse developing a harvesting solution for soft peat soil
Ponsse has been involved in the development of wood harvesting technology for
soft peat soil together with the Finnish state forest enterprise Metsähallitus
and the Finnish Forest Research Institute. During the course of the project, a
new prototype has been developed enabling profitable and environmentally
friendly harvesting also on soil with bad bearing capacity. The concept is based
on a ten-wheel, five-shaft forest machine equipped with a soft ground track
solution, which in combination significantly decrease the surface pressure
imposed on the soil compared with traditional solutions.
”The increased need for timber harvesting on soil with bad bearing capacity has
been recognised at Ponsse. The quantity of timber harvested from peat soil,
trenched areas and young thinning forests has been steadily increasing. In
Finland, the annual need for added harvesting capacity amounts to approximately
10-15 million cubic metres. Changing climate conditions also impose new
requirements on harvesting machinery, as warm winters make the harvesting season
shorter. The starting point of the newly designed concept has been to develop a
harvesting solution suitable for soft peat soil and to extend the harvesting
season for existing harvesting machinery while simultaneously observing the
environmental requirements. The results of the research are very promising and
anticipate improvements in terms of contractors' finances and environmental
values alike,” says Hannu Airavaara, Director (Renewable Energy Solutions) of
Ponsse Oyj.
Vieremä, 10 October 2007
PONSSE OYJ
Hannu Airavaara
Director, Renewable Energy Solutions
FURTHER INFORMATION
Hannu Airavaara
tel. +358 20 768 8604 or +358 400 255 594
DISTRIBUTION
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Principal media
www.ponsse.com