THEIR Elephants, Buffalos and Bears roam the world’s woodlands. But it’s an Elk that had Ponsse staff celebrating last month. 

An Elk forwarder became the 18,000th machine to roll off the Finnish firm’s factory line, marking a landmark moment for the Vieremä-based enterprise that has gone from strength to strength since being founded by Einari Vidgrén in the 1970s. 

READ MORE: £7m cash boost for timber transport projects across Scotland

Still based in its Northern Savonia birthplace, the family-owned business now operates in the harvesting markets of more than 40 countries, with forwarders, such as the Elephant King, and harvesters, including the Fox, active in all corners of the globe. 

Handed over to VMC Bois, the Elk, one of Ponsse’s mid-sized machines, will now be put to work in the forests of central France. 

Forestry Journal: An Elk forwarder became Ponsse's 18,000th machine An Elk forwarder became Ponsse's 18,000th machine (Image: Stock)

Marko Mattila, Ponsse’s sales, marketing and service director, said: “The highly demanding harvesting industry calls for solid professional skills, determination and close cooperation. These are also the characteristics of our partnership with VMC Bois. It feels really good to deliver this machine to VMC Bois, and I would like to thank them for our excellent cooperation.” 

VMC Bois owns four Ponsse machines. Established in 2009, the company currently has 27 employees and is also engaged in sawmill operations, generating energy from chips. 

Alexandre Collomb, co-owner of VMC Bois, said: “We started our cooperation with Ponsse after we purchased a used Ponsse Ergo a few years ago. 

READ MORE: Mammoth and Scorpion Giant: Ponsse unveils new 25-tonne forwarder and 'versatile' harvester

“We continued our partnership by buying a few new machines, and today we received the 18,000th Ponsse machine here in Vieremä. Our cooperation has been productive, and we are very satisfied with our partnership.” 

In production since 2005, more than 1,000 Ponsse Elk forwarders have been built, delivered to more than 20 countries and tested in real-life conditions across the globe.