Ponsse launches new Bison forwarder and H6 harvesting head

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 2, Finnish forestry machinery manufacturer Ponsse released a new batch of timber harvesting equipment and digital solutions, with plans to showcase them at FinnMETKO 2026, held from September 3 to 5 in Jämsä, Finland. The new products include the next-generation PONSSE Bison forwarder, the PONSSE H6 harvesting head, as well as the Opti 5G information system expanded for forwarders, the Connectivity Ready Satellite satellite connection solution, and the Active Flow hydraulic solution.

The new Bison forwarder features a lighter structure than the previous generation and continues to be equipped with a continuously variable transmission system. Ponsse has added an optional auxiliary fuel tank for this model and offers the Active Cabin suspension system. The company states that by adjusting the gear ratio, fuel consumption at high speeds will not increase to the same extent as with conventional transmission systems.

The simultaneously released H6 harvesting head is designed for operations ranging from thinning to final felling. The new model features a new measuring wheel to improve timber length measurement accuracy, the connecting hoses have been relocated to the front of the valve block, and the saw box structure has been redesigned to reduce snow and ice accumulation during winter operations. Certain compatible harvesters can also be equipped with the HH360 rotator for the H6, enabling continuous 360-degree rotation of the harvesting head.

This product update also extends the Opti 5G information system to forwarders. When the system is connected to PONSSE Manager Pro, basic site data, production volumes, and map routes can be automatically transferred from the harvester to the forwarder, with operational status shared between the cab and the back office. Connectivity Ready Satellite, on the other hand, provides satellite antenna mounting, cabling, and antenna protection provisions for Ponsse harvesters equipped with Opti 5G, establishing data connectivity in areas without mobile network coverage; the satellite antenna equipment and communication service subscription are purchased separately by the user from service providers.

Ponsse has also launched the Wisent Thin Line forwarder and the Scorpion Thin Line harvester for thinning operations. The Wisent Thin Line has a rated load capacity of 10 tonnes and features an optimized load space and lower ground pressure design; the Scorpion Thin Line has machine parameters adjusted for thinning conditions and can be configured with the PONSSE H5 or the new H6 harvesting head. The PONSSE Buffalo Planter automated planting device will also be demonstrated at the event, integrating site preparation, planting, watering, and soil compaction into a single work process, with a designed planting capacity of approximately 750 seedlings per hour when including the site preparation stage.