PONSSE EXPANDS ITS PRODUCT RANGE
PONSSE OYJ STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 25 AUGUST 2006 1:00 PM
PONSSE EXPANDS ITS PRODUCT RANGE Ponsse is to introduce to the market products in an entirely new size category in order to meet more wide-ranging customer needs. The new harvester, forwarder, harvester head and two new harvester cranes represent significant additions to the Ponsse product offering, which, until now, has been lacking in heavy products. In addition to our traditional markets, these new products in the largest size category of the product range strengthen our position in the Russian and Latin American markets. The market for heavy forest machinery has doubled over the past five years, and we are determined to increase our market share in this growing category. All the products introduced today are manufactured in Finland at Ponsses forest machinery plant in Vieremä. All the new products will be on display at the FinnMetko trade show in Jämsänkoski from 31 August to 2 September 2006. PONSSE Bear - Harvester in the Largest Size Category Bear harvesters, together with the new H8 harvester head and the new C55 crane, make up a highly efficient and productive harvesting system for the challenges in effectiveness presented by todays large regeneration cuts. The products competitive advantages include its powerful 240 kW diesel engine; PONSSE C55, Ponsses most powerful new parallel crane of all time; and PONSSE H8, the new robust, high-performance harvester head. Innovative engine technology enables high torque and power in the lower engine speed range, resulting in improved fuel economy. The common factor between all the functionalities of the harvester is the next generation of control modules that enable continual optimum performance and reliability. The new crane and harvester head are only available in conjunction with the PONSSE Bear harvester. In the smaller size category, Ponsse introduces the C33 parallel crane, which will be available with the smaller PONSSE harvester models. PONSSE Elephant - A Powerful Forwarder with an Extra High Load-Carrying Capacity The new PONSSE Elephant forwarder boosts forwarding productivity. The torque and pulling power of this 18-ton capacity forwarder are designed for highly demanding customer requirements and operating conditions, which is particularly important on steep slopes, in deep snow and, for instance, on the eucalyptus plantations in Latin America, all conditions where particularly high efficiency and availability are required. Superb manoeuvrability, a large 6.25 m2 load space, high-efficiency drive transmission and a powerful crane ensure that the raw materials for the forest industry are transported quickly and safely to the roadside for haulage to the processing plant or sawmill, regardless of the location of the felling site. "Ponsse will be at the FinnMetko 2006 show (from 31 August to 2 September) with its largest product line ever. Our FinnMetko exhibit will showcase the results of our close customer collaboration. Our entire product range is fitted with next generation control modules - that control all functions of the machines - from our technology company Epec Oy. As ours is the most modern production plant in the forest machinery sector, manufacturing quality products, the core components of all our products are manufactured at our own factory. Thanks to the expanded product range, we can now meet all the timber harvesting needs of our customers," says Arto Tiitinen, President and CEO of Ponsse. Vieremä, 25 August 2006 Arto Tiitinen President and CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Arto Tiitinen, President and CEO, tel. +358 20 768 4621 or +358 400 566 875 DISTRIBUTION Helsinki Stock Exchange Principal media www.ponsse.com