Used machines going strong!
The trade in used forest machines has increased in popularity. Inspected, serviced and cheaper machines in good condition can quickly begin productive work. After a reliable customer relationship, even the previous number of working hours of the machine does not cause fear.
Describing current forest machine sales in Finland in brief, Finnish companies purchase new machines, and used machines recognised on the balance sheet of companies that sell new machines are traded to other countries, say in the Baltics or Europe.
While used machines also remain in Finland to extend their careers, Finnish customers mainly prefer new machines. Recent years have reshaped the mindset of many entrepreneurs: the global coronavirus pandemic followed by the war in Ukraine with its far-reaching consequences has resulted not only in radically extended delivery times but also in higher prices for every forest machine manufacturer.
A used forest machine in good condition has also become an even more attractive option for contractors who have normally purchased their machines new.
LOOKING FOR USED MACHINES
For PH-Forest Oy based in Korpilahti, the purchase of PONSSE forest machines, either new or used depending on the situation, has been an extended tradition, and the 18-machine company has not been forced to choose due to the current situation. Pasi Hynynen from PH-Forest says that this practice has been a particularly good one when increasing the size of the company.
“When we’ve added machines to our fleet, we’ve usually started with a used machine and then changed it for a new one after a few years,” Pasi says. The most recently added used machine is a Scorpion King dating back a few years, which was originally acquired as a leased machine. “Shortly afterwards I decided to buy it, and we eventually ended up purchasing three used Scorpions during the autumn and winter,” Pasi says.
Currently, used machine sales are thriving, and quick decisions and a keen eye are required.
“Whenever we’re in a situation where we require a new machine, I contact Pekka Rajala, Ponsse’s area sales manager in Jyväskylä. He then starts to look for the perfect option for us,” Hynynen says.
“Delivery times have been quite long in recent years,” says Pasi Hynynen. “But it’s not the only reason. I believe that a used machine in good condition is the right choice, in forwarders and harvesters alike, to boost a company’s growth. It’s a lightweight investment compared to a new machine, and when it’s time to change, we’ve received reasonable amounts for trade-in machines,” Pasi says, describing the reasons underlying their decision.
GROWN IN VIEREMÄ
Currently, PH-Forest operates 18 machines, and it uses subcontractors whenever required. Ponsse is clearly the number one brand, as the company has three Ergos, seven Scorpions, two Elks and five Buffalos. This makes a total of 17, with one machine from another brand.
“I was born and raised in Vieremä, right next to the factory,” Pasi says. “As my father worked for nearly 40 years at Ponsse, it was the only brand for us,” he laughs.
Pasi’s own active forest machine career started in 1998 when he was 16 years old. “I started by operating a forwarder,” Hynynen remembers.
“In 2006, I started my own business here in the Jyväskylä region and signed an agreement for one harvester with the Päijänne forest management association,” he continues.
In only 16 years, the company has grown considerably. Its current contractual partners are Versowood, JPJ-Wood Oy’s Korkeakoski-based sawmill, and still today the Päijänne forest management association. The company operates within a radius of 100 kilometres from Korpilahti in central Finland, and its harvesters are operated in one shift, and forwarders in two.
TRUST AND EXPERIENCE
When we get back to talking about used machines, Hynynen underlines the trust between the seller and customer.
“Although the range of machine sellers is broad, I’ve always turned to my go-to seller. As it’s always been easy and effective to work with Ponsse and Pekka Rajala, there’s been no reason to look elsewhere,” Pasi says.
However, personal expertise and knowledge of machines have always been part of every deal. “Having operated Scorpions since 2015, you know what to look for, and you can also evaluate each machine based on its history.”
When it comes to harvesters, Pasi Hynynen considers the harvester head to be a good indicator of the machine’s overall condition. “The harvester head model and how it’s been used say a lot – the tree sizes it’s been used with and the parts that have become worn,” he says.
This information speaks volumes for the machine’s history and possibly its future. “Of course, when you buy a machine, you also learn about its maintenance history and its previous operations. Often, it also helps if you know who the machine’s previous owner was,” Pasi says.
As a rule, it’s easier to buy machines whose previous owners have a reputation of being diligent and meticulous. For example, Pasi says that the currently operating Scorpion is a good-condition forest machine.
PROPERLY RECONDITIONED
As another key factor that helps seal the deal, Hynynen mentions Ponsse’s reconditioning operations for used machines, which means not only that machines are reconditioned, but also that they are re-equipped whenever a customer requires something new. Of course, you can always fix machines yourself, but according to Hynynen, having a machine checked reliably and professionally before buying it is also profitable for future operations.
Pasi also finds the purchase of a used machine to be profitable in a broader sense. When a deal can be sealed quickly, a high-quality used machine offers leverage and flexibility, both financially and when facing the pressure of long delivery times and operational growth.