Ponsse has launched a completely modernised range of Scorpion harvesters, designed to meet all the requirements of forestry today. Taking harvest productivity and ergonomics to the next level with a focus on better visibility and safety, the new range aims to set a new standard for the working environment of machine operators.
FINNISH forest machinery manufacturer Ponsse has unveiled its new range of Scorpion harvesters.
First introduced in 2013, the Scorpion harvester has become Ponsse’s flagship product with over 1,200 made and the machine can now be found in over 25 countries.
The new Scorpion is said to take harvest productivity and ergonomics to the next level and sets a new standard for the operator’s working environment. The Scorpion is characterised by its visibility and manoeuvrability, Ponsse said.
Jan Kauhanen, product manager, harvesters at Ponsse, explained: “Development of the new Scorpion range has been based on feedback from forest machine users, which we have utilised to put the upgrades now being introduced into production. The cabin workspace is now more practical, and the quiet Scorpion landscape office has been developed specifically with the operator’s comfort and ability to keep working in mind.”
The harvester was unveiled in a special event, broadcast live from Ponsse’s headquarters in Vieremä, Finland.
CEO of Ponsse Juho Nummela welcomed viewers from around the world, calling the day “a big cause of celebration for all of us at Ponsse”.
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“Everyone knows how much effort we put into R&D and technology,” he said. “We are big believers in continuous development and this is a good example. We included a lot of customers in the project and got real feedback, going quite deep. This is the way we want to do things in the future.
“The first Scorpion was launched in 2013 at Elmia in Sweden. It was the biggest launch we’ve ever done. Since then, we’ve had continuous development. The machines have been changing over time, but this is a much more fundamental change.”
The main goal behind the development of the new model, which got underway in 2017, was to take the user experience to the next level, combining new technologies with the needs of customers. In addition to usability, safety, ergonomics and operator comfort were all important factors.
Customers have been involved in the process from the very beginning. Juha Inberg, director of technology and R&D, explained his department had started by interviewing operators, asking what improvements they would like to see. Based on feedback, they were able to begin the development process. During this, demos were arranged with reviews every three months, and improvements refined to manufacture a prototype in 2019, before reaching the finished product, which has now been unveiled.
Elaborating on the technical side, Marko Mattila, sales, marketing and service director, said: “It’s quite remarkable, the changes we have been making to the Scorpion product family. It’s already a legend in the world of forestry in many countries. With the developments we have been able to make, we are taking it to the next level.
“From the customer and operator point of view, the user-friendliness of the machine, visibility and ergonomics, all of this has been improved.”
One of the biggest developments is the all-new cabin, which boasts a number of innovative features. One of the most visible improvements is the new one-piece front window, which reaches all the way up to the cabin roof, intended to offer better visibility and safe working in any weather conditions.
Marko said: “Today’s Scorpion and Scorpion King machines already offer amazing visibility. About 57 per cent of the operator’s view is unobstructed. With the new cabin, that’s 79 per cent, so we have improved visibility even more. That’s important when you’re working long hours in the forests. Operators can now see the treetops, the sides, and their whole working area.”
Along with improved visibility, Ponsse has also redesigned the cabin’s working lights. The system was tested using modern visualisation tools to develop a light pattern that is smoother and causes minimal reflections, with a colour that is more comfortable on operators’ eyes. In total, there are 31 discrete new, energy-efficient LED lights on the new Scorpion.
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Responding to customer feedback, Ponsse has worked to increase the amount of room in the cabin. Marko said: “Even for very long-legged people, there is now room to stretch the legs in the cabin. There is also more room at the sides and more storage. Also, we have been getting good feedback from customers that the new cabin is even quieter than the previous one, which is quite a big thing when you think about how silent our existing Scorpion cabin is. A lot of details have been improved and changed in this cabin.”
The cabin utilises the Opti 8 computer, described by Ponsse as “the most modern forest machine computer on the market”. The state-of-the-art touchscreen computer offers more power and memory than the previous version, with doubled storage capacity on the hard disk to ensure the operation of future applications. Features include a 15.6” display, capacitive touchscreen used as on mobile devices, and a Windows 10 operating system.
The Scorpion and Scorpion King harvesters have been fitted out with an advanced fifth-generation Ponsse Opti 5G information system and a completely upgraded user interface. The user-friendly information system is described as the most modern on the market.
Markku Savolainen, product manager, equipment Automation at Ponsse, explained: “The fully upgraded Opti 5G user interface together with the recently launched Opti8 computer sets a new standard for the usability of Ponsse forest machine information systems. It’s also quick and simple for operators who have used the earlier Opti generation to switch over to using the new Opti 5G system.”
The Opti 5G information system also enables the Ponsse Harvester Active Crane management system, which gives the harvester a new way to control the crane and work more efficiently. The operator can use Active Crane to control the movement of the harvester head instead of individual crane functions. Active Crane is controlled using two levers, one of which controls the harvester head height from the ground, while the other controls the direction of the movement.
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The system also ensures that the crane’s functions slow automatically before the range of movement ends, thereby preventing hits to the mechanical structures and operator. When the operator indicates the required location, Active Crane performs the lift and uses the boom and extension automatically.
Digitisation and the 5G system were highlighted by Ponsse as key elements which defined the functionality of the Scorpion and future harvesting machines.
Juho Nummela said: “5G has been a huge product for us, which has taken a number of years and required a huge investment. It forms the foundation of the digitisation which will follow. It is a great breakthrough for us and lays the groundwork for the future.”
Of course, no-one knows a harvester better than its operator, so Ponsse called on a number of contractors who have already experienced the Scorpion at work in Finland’s forests to share their thoughts.
Hannu Liikanen, of Karttulan Metsatyo Oy, praised the new machine’s good visibility and modern lighting. He said: “The visibility is better, also to the rear. The cabin gets narrower and there are windows in the back. It’s easier to back up with better rear visibility.
“The Active Crane is great. It’s the future. If it’s not turned on, your finger starts searching for the button automatically. It’s great for thinning. It makes our work much easier. Everything that reduces manual work makes it easier for us. The lights don’t strain your eyes as much. They are in the right place and they light up the right spot. The numbers look good as well. It’s not worse than the old one, that’s for sure.”
Valtteri Pirttimaa, of Mesta Pirttimaa Oy, has also been using the new model for a few months. He said: “I think the Active Crane and the new cabin are the biggest differences. The cabin isn’t necessarily that much bigger, but it’s spacious and in the right places. The visibility is much better on the sides. It’s smoother to operate. It’s doesn’t sway around when driving and it’s quieter than the old model. The old one wasn’t bad, but this is even better.”
Asked if the changes had helped to increase productivity, he answered: “Certainly, especially in the long run. It’s much less tiring. A comfortable cabin makes the whole work easier. You don’t get tired as easily, which increases efficiency.”
At the conclusion of the launch event, Juho Nummela summed up: “Listening to the customer feedback has been amazing. We are extremely happy that our people have been able to achieve something like this.”
To watch the full launch event and build your ‘dream’ Scorpion, click here.
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