Ponsse’s firefighting equipment and harvester head rotator awarded in Belgium

Ponsse took part in the Démo Forest trade fair held in Bertrix, Belgium, on 28–29 July.On display at the fair were Ponsse’s firefighting equipment and the HH360 harvester head rotator, both of which won the main Innovation Award.

Ponsse’s firefighting equipment and HH360 rotator were featured on the Innovation Path, for which the event organisers, with the French FCBA Technological Institute (Institut Technologique FCBA), had selected nine innovative devices.

First launched by Ponsse in 2020 and developed in cooperation with fire safety professionals, the firefighting equipment features a 10,000-litre water tank that can be filled from natural water sources using its own pump or directly from a fire engine tank. The water cannon has a range of 47 metres and a turning radius of 360 degrees.

The HH360 rotator allows the unrestricted rotation of the harvester head.The rotating harvester head speeds up the handling of stems, makes the forest machine operator’s job easier and reduces hose damage.

In recent years, severe wildfires and forest fires in Europe have causedwidespread damage to nature, livelihoods and local communities.At the same time, the importance of effective fire protection has increased. Interest in fire protection solutions has increasedin Europe, and the fair gave Ponsse’s firefighting equipment wide visibility in the Belgian mainstream media.

“We would like to thank the organisers of the Démo Forestevent for the innovation award: it’s a pleasure to note thatPonsse’stechnology solutions are seen as useful when functionalsolutions are required not only for harvesting but alsofor forest-related challenges.Although the underlying forest and wildfires are a serious issue, it’s positive to see that there is also discussion on how to develop fire protection preparedness.Interest in our firefighting equipment is growing across Europe”saysTimo Savornin, Area Marketing and Communications Manager for Europe at Ponsse.

Démo Forest is one of Europe’s largest forest machinery and forestry demonstration events, where equipment is showcased in real working conditions. The 2026 fair attracted a total of 20,000 visitors over two days, mainly from Belgium, France, Germany and the Benelux countries. The number of visitors increased by 15% from the previous fair. 

Further information:
Timo Savornin
Area Marketing and Communications Manager
+358 40 662 9924 /timo.savornin@ponsse.com

Ponsse Plc is a company specialising in the sales, manufacture, servicing and technology of cut-to-length method forest machines and is driven by genuine interest in its customers and their business. Ponsse develops and manufactures sustainable and innovative harvesting solutions based on customers’ needs. The company was established by forest machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén in 1970, and it has been a leader in timber harvesting solutions based on the cut-to-length method ever since. Ponsse is headquartered in Vieremä, Finland. The company’s shares are quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic List.