GLOBAL manufacturing giant Ponsee last week sold its 19,000th forest machine which is now heading to the Scottish Borders.
The Ponsse Scorpion Giant harvester with H8 harvester head will work at logging sites in the region.
On Friday February 17 at a special ceremony at Vieremä in Finland, the machine was handed over to long-term customer Selkirk based Elliot Henderson Group, with the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band playing in the background.
READ MORE: Charity offers school groups free entry and travel to Edinburgh Zoo
With Elliot Henderson Ltd being a long-standing customer for well over 20 years, Ponsee felt that it was a fitting tribute to the relationship between the customer and manufacturer that the landmark 19,000th machine is joining the fleet.
Gary Glendinning, Managing Director Ponsse UK said: “Thank you to the Elliot Henderson group and the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band for coming to Vieremä to celebrate the 19,000th machine milestone with us.
“I understand this is the first time a pipe band has played at Vieremä village, which makes this day even more special for all of us, as this is Ponsse UK’s first milestone machine.
“This is a day that we will remember for years to come,”
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf "unfit” to lead the country says John Lamont
Elliot Henderson Ltd started more than 35 years ago, planting trees with a small squad of men. Over the years, the business has grown and diversified into forestry, construction, and scaffolding.
Today, the company comprises more than 40 forest machines which can undertake clear fell, thinning, steep ground harvesting operations, ground preparation or the construction of forest roads.
It also has the capability for site brash clearance, stump removal and servicing the biomass industry.
Neil Purves, Director of Harvesting for Elliot Henderson Group said: “Elliot Henderson Ltd has always been at the forefront of new machine releases over the years, which in turn keeps the harvesting fleet productive and at the vanguard of innovation.
“We are excited to be adding this Scorpion Giant to the fleet. This machine will go straight to work in the windblow resulting from Storm Arwen and we feel the extra power and H8 head will benefit us in this application.
“We look forward to seeing what it can do! We are currently running PONSSE Scorpion, Ergo, three Elephants and one Buffalo.”
READ MORE: Roxburghe Rocks returns to Floors Castle this summer
Ponsse UK was established in 1996, and since 2017, the company has operated at Annan.
The first PONSSE forest machine was already delivered to the country in 1994, and the fleet now comprises nearly 400 Ponsse machines.
The Annan service centre is a workplace for about 30 Ponsse professionals.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here