August 11, 2014 at 4:15 p.m.
Ponsse introduces new product line in Rhinelander
Ponsse introduces new product line in Rhinelander
Hundreds of people made their way to the forest just off of South Shore Drive near the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom to try out the company's newest harvester. While many came from far and wide, some in the group traveled much farther than others.
Representatives from Ponsse's home base in Finland made the trip over the Atlantic to Rhinelander for the North American debut of their Scorpion line.
After those in attendance had an opportunity to get up close and personal with the machines, the real show started.
The operators climbed into the cabins of the machines and got to work. The Scorpion King cut down and picked up trees like they were made of paper mache.
Antti Rasanen, marketing manager for Ponsse, was part of the group who came over from Finland. He said he was very happy with the unveiling.
"It's the very first demo and launch of the Scorpion King models in North America, so it's a really big moment for us," he said. "It's a way for us to introduce this incredible new line to the public. We have some traditional Ponsse models here as well to show off, but the Scorpion King line is really the big thing for today. It's a completely new harvester concept. There have been a ton of new developments and invention that has gone into this line and that makes it really impressive."
The Scorpion series is truly the first of its kind. Rasanen said many in the crowd were excited to see Ponsse's latest innovation and were impressed by the increased focus on the comfort of the driver.
"There are many different ideas that have gone into making these machines," he said. "It's really incredible how much innovation has gone into them. They're really comfortable for the operator. It has the best visibility in the market, the best stability, and incredible harvesting power."
When the show was over, the crowd went back down the hill where Ponsse was serving a free lunch and ice cream.
The demo was just the first stage of a weekend-long celebration though. Ponsse hosted a party just down the road at Holiday Acres Friday evening.
Rasanen said he was really looking forward to it.
"It's a good company and these are good people," he said. "We're going to show off our machines and mix in some good food, good music and maybe a few beers too."
On Saturday morning, a ladies boat cruise on the Wisconsin River was planned to continue the fun.
Andy Hildebrand may be reached at [email protected].
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