More comfortable forest machines from Ponsse of Finland

Ponsse of Finland have won the 2015 Swedish Steel Prize for their new generation of harvester, the Scorpion, which departed from traditional designs by concentrating on the operator’s needs.

For improved comfort, the operator sits in the middle, in front of the crane.

Operator comfort is alo looked after a new Komatsu timber harvester which has three hydraulic pumps, eight wheels, and low weight.

Low ground pressure, stability, and comfort even in steep terrain and on soft ground, are claimed features of the 931XC.

Built around Komatsu’s proven chassis with an articulated joint, swing axle, and tilting crane and cab, the machine also has a suspended bogie on the swing axle for improved ground contact and lower centre of gravity.

Even weight distribution on all eight wheels, and the lightest weight in its class, make for high performance on soft ground, excellent handling characteristics, and close alignment to irregularities in the terrain. High ground clearance is one of the advantages in steep terrain.

Several different hand controllers to choose from, and the industry’s first remote-controlled keyless system, add to operator comfort. Three-pump hydraulics allows the operator to perform several tasks simultaneously.

The Komatsu 931XC’s Stage IV/Final engine fulfills the most stringent emission requirements.

• In other timber handling news, a forestry machine small enough for transport on a car trailer has been launched by HSM in Germany.

The new Forest Crawler CTL 250FR is only 1700 mm wide and has a total weight of 2.5 t.

A tracked machine with a low centre of gravity for stability even when carrying out demanding front or rear winch work, it is therefore recommended for deployment on critical slopes, and hard-to-access areas.

A 37 kW/50 HP Yanmar diesel engine, and integral battery changer are among the features.

It can take take a hydraulically operated three-point add-on unit at the rear.

It is priced at €86,000.