Vieremä, Finland, 2014-01-21 17:04 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  

The PONSSE Scorpion harvester received the "Quality Innovation of the Year" prize in the major company group on 20 January 2014. The harvester's new structure was the basis for the award: the structure has improved driver ergonomics and the working efficiency of the harvester. Ponsse introduced the Scorpion harvester at the Elmia Wood 2013 fair. Serial production of the harvester commenced at Ponsse's Vieremä factory at the beginning of this year.

At the award ceremony, which took place in Stockholm, recognitions, signed by Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland, were distributed by Per Westerberg, speaker of the Swedish parliament. The competition is organised by Laatukeskus Excellence Finland and the participants are from Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The goal of the competition is to increase the number and quality of innovations in Finland and other countries.

 Advanced forest machine technology caters to driver needs

In the Scorpion harvester, major factors disrupting the driver's work have been successfully eliminated, which makes harvesting less stressful. At the same time, product development has been guided by goals adhering to sustainable development. Scorpion is more environmentally friendly as a result of its maintenance intervals, which are longer than usual (less waste oil and other maintenance waste), the new, low-emission Euromot 4F engine technology and the harvester's low surface pressure levels, which are reached as the harvester's weight is divided evenly onto eight wheels.

Five separate patent groups are pending in relation to the solutions introduced in PONSSE Scorpion. The innovative product solutions have been created through customer cooperation, and the product has resolved problems related to the productive and ergonomical use of the harvester. The patented solutions have strengthened the PONSSE product group's leading position in forest machine technology and have reached the best driver working visibility and comfort, working efficiency and technological reliability of the harvester.  

Already the second recognition to PONSSE Scorpion 

The award is already the second one granted to Scorpion. In October 2013, PONSSE Scorpion received the Viva Automation! prize for the development work related to its stabilising and levelling system. The prize is granted for a significant, innovative solution in the automation field. In the grounds for awarding the prize, Ponsse was praised for the comprehensive and innovative utilisation of automation technology in their new harvester model. 

For further information:
http://www.ponsse.com/products/harvesters
http://www.laatukeskus.fi/suomen-laatuyhdistys/laatukeskus-english