Competing with five other companies, Timber Group won the award for best Ponsse representative in South America in 2023. Coming in third place in the world ranking, it competed with 30 other companies that represent the brand worldwide. Among the criteria analyzed for the award are results in sales, after-sales and customer satisfaction.

Every year, Ponsse awards its subsidiary and the brand representative that stood out during the period. In 2023, the Brazilian Timber, considered the best in South America, won third place among all representatives worldwide. First place went to Wahlers Forsttechnik, Ponsse’s representative in Germany since 1993 and in Austria since 2019.

The Timber Group, which has represented Ponsse since 2015, officially operates with the brand in three Brazilian states (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Paraná). This award, presented at the beginning of August, is not the first that the company has received. In 2020, they achieved first place in the world ranking.

The focus on customer needs and the synergy with Ponsse are highlighted by Timber Group CEO Jober Fonseca as the differentiators for achieving this distinction. “This recognition validates all the effort and dedication we put into our work every day. It is a testament to our ability to offer high-quality solutions and our team’s commitment to exceeding customer expectations. This motivates us to continue evolving and always seek the best for our partners and customers.”

For the Executive Sales Manager and Area Manager for Dealers at Ponsse Brazil, Rodrigo Marangoni, developing the brand through representatives is also what sets Ponsse apart. “We are closer to our customers, focusing on personalized service that truly understands the needs of the field. We feel that this closeness is what makes the difference,” says Rodrigo.

For Jober, after-sales service is the main differentiator in achieving customer satisfaction. “The Timber Group’s differential lies in our continuous focus on deeply understanding our customers’ needs and providing solutions that truly make a difference in their operations. Our specialized technical support, combined with after-sales service, ensures that our customers have confidence and peace of mind when operating our equipment. I believe this combination of exceptional service and constant innovation is what positions us as leaders in the sector,” he said.

Ponsse South America Vice President Martin Toledo also emphasizes that the similarity of values ​​between the two companies translates into results. “We feel that Timber Group is aligned with Ponsse’s values ​​and this is reflected in customer satisfaction. At the same time, we want this recognition to be a way to encourage other representatives in South America to also achieve excellent results,” Martin concluded.

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The IFI August September issue is now available in Digital here.

Features include:

SAWLINES
Skidders
Shredders and Grinders
PONSSE in South America

Ponsse is expanding its dealer network in the United States. On 1 July 2024, Ponsse signed a dealer agreement with the company Bailey’s, based in Woodland, California. The new dealer will focus on the sales, servicing and training of PONSSE forest machines in the states of California and Nevada.

The company was founded in 1975 by Bill and Judith Bailey in Laytonville, California. Bailey’s is still a family company, now owned by the second generation – Bill’s sons, Nik and Sam Bailey.

Bailey’s has been in the forestry industry since the beginning. They started by selling chainsaws and accessories, tree care products, work clothing and other forestry equipment. Over time, they have grown into a premier supplier of forestry products in the region and are also known for their marketing catalogue, which is published annually. In 2014, they expanded their product line to include sales and servicing of larger industrial forestry equipment.

“We are thrilled to partner with Ponsse and bring their exceptional forest machines to our customers in California. Ponsse’s equipment is synonymous with quality and innovation, and this partnership allows us to offer our clients the best solutions for their forestry operations. Our team is excited to provide the sales, support and service that Ponsse customers have come to expect.

This new partnership aligns with Bailey’s mission to support the forestry community by offering cutting-edge tools and equipment that enhance productivity, safety and sustainability in the field. Customers in California can now access Ponsse’s complete range of products, backed by Bailey’s industry expertise and dedication to customer service. To celebrate this new partnership, Bailey’s will be hosting a series of launch events across California at which customers can learn more about Ponsse’s machinery, meet with experts, and see demonstrations of the equipment in action,” says Nik Bailey, CEO, Bailey’s.

“The partnership with Bailey’s is an exciting opportunity for Ponsse to expand into a new market area. Logging in California has mainly been done using traditional methods, but there are signs that cut-to-length logging is the future over there as well. There are a few Ponsse machines in the region already, and we hope to increase that number. It will be a long-term process, but we believe Bailey’s is the right partner for us in the region. They are well-connected in the local forestry industry, and as a family company, it is a great cultural match with Ponsse,” says Samuel Vidgren, Ponsse Plc, Area Manager, USA Dealers.

Most of the logging in the region is steep-slope logging in the mountains. The estimated standing timber volume in California is 1.4 billion cubic metres. The forest cover is mostly softwood – mainly pine in the mountainous areas.

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The construction of Metsä Group’s Kerto LVL mill in Äänekoski, Finland, has reached a significant milestone as the building has now attained its rooftop height. To mark this achievement, a traditional topping-out ceremony was held on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. The event was attended by key figures including Metsä Wood’s Executive Vice President Jaakko Anttila, Project Director Eero Lampola, and SRV’s Chief Executive Officer Saku Sipola, who all expressed their congratulations and appreciation for the project’s progress.

The construction work, which is progressing according to plan, is expected to be completed by autumn 2025, with production slated to begin in the second half of 2026. “The construction of the Kerto LVL mill in Äänekoski has progressed safely and in a high-quality manner according to plan. A construction project of this magnitude requires excellence and seamless cooperation between different parties, and I would like to thank every partner involved in the project, which has made the project progress to this point,” stated Jaakko Anttila.

SRV’s CEO, Saku Sipola, also emphasized the success of the cooperative project management contract, which has facilitated the creation of mill premises that align with Metsä Group’s modern production processes. He noted, “Metsä Group is a pioneer in the industry’s transition to collaborative project formats for its construction investments. The lessons learned from this project will also be fully utilized in the development phase of Metsä Group’s new 20,000 square metre fibre products mill planned for the Rauma mill site.”

Project Details and Progress

The Kerto LVL mill, spanning an area of five hectares, is a large-scale construction project, with the building measuring 400 meters in length and 150 meters in width. As of now, the construction is approximately halfway completed, with ongoing work inside the building. The structure is divided into six sections, allowing the work to progress in stages. Land construction will continue almost until the project’s completion.

Currently, the construction site is operating at full capacity, with around 200 workers on-site. Over the course of the project, up to 1,000 workers will be involved, with about half of them hailing from Central Finland.

Once completed, the new mill will have an annual production capacity of approximately 160,000 cubic meters of Kerto LVL, significantly increasing Metsä Group’s Kerto LVL capacity by about 50 percent. Kerto LVL, made from wood veneers, is a high-value building material known for its strength and efficiency. Its versatility makes it ideal for various construction applications, including elements and modular construction, while also contributing to carbon storage throughout its lifecycle.

This milestone represents a major step forward in Metsä Group’s ongoing commitment to expanding its sustainable construction materials production, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in the wood products industry.

To read previous Metsä Group posts click here.

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Johanna Lindén will assume the role of CFO at the wood industry company Setra on 16 September. She has extensive experience in the wood industry and most recently held the position of CFO, Strategy and IT Manager at Södra Wood.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Johanna and warmly welcome her to Setra. With her drive and industry knowledge, she will be a strong addition to our executive management team and contribute to Setra’s development and the ongoing improvement work in the company,” says Setra’s CEO Marcus Westdahl.

Johanna Lindén has previously worked as Head of Business Development at Derome Husproduktion, Chief Financial Officer at Derome Timber, and held several managerial positions at Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Bentley University.

“During my years in the sawmill industry, I have always seen Setra as a stable and solid company. The investment and development journey that Setra is now undergoing to improve its position in the industry is exciting and proactive, and it is something I really want to contribute to,” says Johanna Lindén.

At Setra, we believe in “Grönsamhet”. When a business is profitable for everyone, we call it Grönsamhet – Green profit. Setra is one of Sweden’s largest wood industry companies. We process raw material from responsibly managed forests into climate-friendly products such as glulam, planed products, components, CLT and sawn wood products. We also sell bioproducts such as bark, chips and sawdust to customers in the paper and pulp industry, and for energy production. Our customers are located all over the world. Find out more at setragroup.com

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