![](https://news.ponsse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/card-placeholder.jpg)
Looking ahead
The forest industry is in a challenging situation. The consumption of paper, board and pulp has decreased in the uncertain financial situation, and demand for sawn goods has fallen as construction projects have been suspended.
Operations and goals must be straightforward amidst all the changes and difficulties. We need to make decisions that are sustainable in the long term. To keep up with the competition, we need to focus on what is important, make sensible investments, and take good care of our employees and customers.
Looking ahead when facing challenges has always come naturally to Ponsse. Investing in research and development and opening the new Epec factory in Seinäjoki are good examples of investments reaching far into the future. In maintenance services, we are investing in a new service centre in Central France, and our dealer network is making significant investments in its service network.
The intensified geopolitical tensions have had the most dramatic impact on the challenges faced by the forest industry. Expanding to new markets used to be practically self-evident, but the world has changed. Examples include our decision to discontinue our operations in Russia and Belarus. We had operated in Russia’s markets for more than 20 years, and the discontinuation had a drastic impact on our operations. The decision was a heavy one for the company, both considering our finances and our local personnel. We are now adapting to the current situation. We need to look ahead and seek growth in areas where the operating environment is stable, and business is sustainable.
In the United States, we developed our operations exceptionally by entering into a dealer agreement with PacWest Machinery, including the sale of our service centre in Oregon to PacWest. As a result of this partnership, our maintenance service network expanded and we gained new service centres on the West Coast. While we have never made a similar solution before, it was the best possible decision for our customers. Through the partnership, the availability of Ponsse’s services on the West Coast improved, also enabling future growth.
Competitiveness is measured during challenging times. Ponsse has always been at its best in challenging situations. Throughout our history, we have developed our operations and believed in what we do. In this global situation as well, I am certain that we are in the correct and growing industry.
We also need to look ahead for the future of our employees. Our goal is to provide a safe and motivating work environment for Ponsse’s employees, in which everyone has the opportunity to improve themselves and feel well. Every Ponsse employee is an important part of our working community.
The common goal of Ponsse’s employees is to always serve our customers better than before. In the fiercer competitive situation, our customers’ trust in and satisfaction with Ponsse is what matters most. This is at the core of everything we do.
Jarmo Vidgrén
Chairman of the Board
![](https://news.ponsse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/jarmo-vidgren-700x700-1.jpg)