Ponsse Machines Ireland underwent significant transformation in 2024 and – with a new team in place as well as new and upgraded products – the reconstituted business is better positioned than ever to meet the needs of forestry contractors nationwide. We touched base with new Country Manager Brian Prendergast to get the latest on this progressive, customer-focused forest machinery specialist.
A lot changed at Ponsse Machines Ireland during the course of 2024, the result of the comprehensive overhaul and upgrade of the business being that it is now ideally placed to offer Irish forestry contractors access to a full suite of services (sales, service, parts and repairs) for its internationally-renowned, industry-leading range of forestry machines.
Reflecting on some of the changes that have come into effect at the County Laois headquartered business, Brian Prendergast, who was appointed Country Manager in June, comments: “Prior to June, 2024, Ponsse Machines Ireland was overseen from the UK office as part of Ponsse Machines UK, but we are now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ponsse Finland – a standalone company completely ran from here.
“We also have a new team in place, with a crew of seven at present, covering sales and service. There are also a few more positions to be filled, mainly on the admin side, so we are actively recruiting going forward into 2025. There has been quite a bit of upheaval but our customers have been patient and we are now geared up for what promises to be a busy and successful new year.”
The transformation of the business was instigated with one clear and critical objective in mind: to improve the service offering to customers. A renowned international manufacturer founded in Finland in 1970, Ponsse manufactures the most technologically-advanced, sustainable and robust forwarders and harvesters on the market, with a strong presence in forests across the island of Ireland.
Since its inception in 2017, Ponsse Machines Ireland has been serving the needs of an ever-expanding customer base here and Brian is confident that the structures are now in place to take the business’ services offering to the next level.
“Ponsse are highly-regarded and respected within the industry and globally they are the largest forestry machinery manufacturer, with a strong presence around the world. We have a very good customer base in Ireland, dealing with established forestry contractors nationwide, from customers with a single machine up to multiple machines, while we are also proud to count Coillte amongst our customers.
“As we deal directly with the factory in Finland now, since reconstituting the business, we have more independence and we have the right team in place to take Ponsse Machines Ireland forward.”
Irish forestry contractors were particularly excited to learn in October that Ponsse had launched the new H7 multispeed harvester head. “Customers here like it because it’s a head size that suits the Irish market, while our customers have been looking for a multispeed option” says Brian.
The Ponsse H7 has many features of the previously renewed H8 harvester head, such as powerful feed and excellent power-to-weight ratio to improve productivity. Maximum feed speed directly to the right measurement and controlled feed acceleration and braking reduce feed damage and improve machine efficiency.
Thanks to its improved geometry, the new H7 can handle even large timber conveniently. Adjustable compression pressure of pruning mats and feed rollers supports the wood from below the feeding rollers, guaranteeing minimal friction and a firm grip on the wood during feeding. Fast easy-to-use automation ensures that cutting adjusts sawing according to the diameter of the wood. In this way, sawing becomes more efficient, while the service life of the flange and chain is extended.
The advanced active speed function is a new feature of the H7 harvester head. By means of it, the speed of the
harvester head can be adjusted according to the type of wood and the diameter of the trunks. This will improve input even more and raises work efficiency and productivity to a whole new level.
“There’s good demand already for the H7 head and the first ones are due to arrive in Ireland in Q1 2025,” Brian reveals. “Ponsse always listen to their customers and we are very close to our customers. In keeping with that, we regularly conduct customer surveys and listen to the feedback we get from them. Even when it comes to small factory upgrades, that would generally be coming from feedback from customers. At the end of the day, it is only when a contractor or operator is out driving the machine that you are going to learn how they perform best out on site.”
In other exciting news, meanwhile, Ponsse has also announced key upgrades to its renowned Wisent and Elk models.
The Wisent forwarder – very popular here in Ireland – may be the most compact member of the Ponsse family, but it is ready to rise to challenges greater than its size. The compact new Ponsse Wisent has great features, with both emissions and operating costs being kept down in line with modern engine technology. This will help to improve both operational efficiency and working conditions.
Meanwhile, offering exceptional performance and extreme comfort, the new Ponsse Elk is particularly suitable for thinning furrows where distances are long. The new Elk works productively even in changing conditions and with long distances. It does the job reliably and efficiently, causing minimal harm to the soil and trees remaining in the forest.
“Both new versions will be available for sale in Ireland next year. We’re already taking orders for them and we expect them to arrive in late Q1 or early Q2,” Brian continues. “The big thing with all Ponsse machines is that they are so operator-friendly, while the reliability of the machines is excellent even in very demanding working environments where operating conditions are really tough.
“Finland is in their DNA. They are manufactured to cope with one of the most demanding environments globally and perform accordingly.”
While the bulk of Irish forestry contractors are located across the midlands, west and mid-west, from Laois to Roscommon, Longform, Mayo and down through Galway, there are also small pockets dotted elsewhere around the country. Ponsse Machines Ireland provides unrivalled sales, aftersales and parts services to them all and, going forward, Brian is confident that they can increase their customer base and market share:
“Our goal is to gain a bigger share of the market and to continue to deliver the best service we can to our existing customer base and to new customers alike,” Brian promises. “We’re building the best-possible team and we are focused on the future. I’m extremely confident that the people we have on board now are the right people to take this business forward and that we will be fully able to stand over our products from a service and parts point of view.”
Ponsse Machines Ireland,
Emo,
Cappakeel,
Portlaoise,
County Laois.
Tel: 057 8633762
Email: [email protected]
Web: ponsse.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PonsseIreland
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 13 No 1, Spring 2025
Featured, Ponsse Machines Ireland
