Ponsse introduces the world’s first felling assistant developed by a forest machine manufacturer.
The new OptiFellingAssist enhances harvesting quality and supports operators with intelligent, productivity boosting assistance features. The new solution enables precise and productive felling cuts, reduces equipment wear, and increases safety.
OptiFellingAssist makes the operator’s work easier and more efficient while improving the quality of the work. It supports successful felling in every situation. The result is increased safety, reduced saw bar and chain wear, a more durable boom, and increased productivity with less stress. OptiFellingAssist helps the operator in pre‑tensioning for the felling cut, which prevents the saw bar from getting pinched and enables safer tree felling.
The OptiFellingAssist solution also improves work safety and optimizes working time. The forest machine operator can focus on productive work when saw bars and chains do not need to be replaced as often. The following are specific features:
- Assistive feed tracking: OptiFellingAssist assists with the vertical movement of the harvester crane according to feeding. This is especially useful in deep snow conditions where the harvester head must be fed to the felling height through the snow cover.
- Assistive pre tensioning: The system performs the pre‑tensioning after gripping the tree to be felled, allowing the operator to proceed directly to the sawing phase. Combined with lifting during the felling cut, this ensures a complete cut-through and a high‑quality result.
- Technical requirements and availability: OptiFellingAssist works together with Ponsse Active Crane and Ponsse Opti 5G 3.3 software or newer. The feature is available as an optional add-on for new Ponsse machines. Source
The new Tigercat drum chipper has made its debut at CONEXPO 2026.
The new Tigercat 6440 is a heavy-duty drum chipper designed for high production and ease of operation. The high horsepower engine uses a through-drive and belt system where the rotor drive belt is driven off the motor using a flex drive coupling and drive adapter. The engine base extends and retracts to engage or disengage the drive belts, eliminating the need for a clutch.
The discharge chute is on a low 25° angle to allow for high volume output without the need for a chip accelerator. An optional chip accelerator is available for microchip applications. The discharge end chute pivots side to side, and up and down. Discharge end outrigger cylinders provide 620 mm (24.5 in) of stroke to adjust the height. Infeed outriggers provide 355 mm (14 in) of stroke to stabilize the machine.
The standard chip rotor consists of eight staggered knives, and the optional microchip rotor has sixteen knives. Chip pockets are lined with replaceable wear plates. An easily accessible platform and large pivoting rotor hood provide for a comfortable work area when changing knives. A large storage box located nearby holds tools and replacement knives.
The front belt cover may be removed in three separate pieces. The side access door on the middle cover allows for belt inspection and tensioning. A sonic belt tensioner is supplied with the 6440.
Access doors located at the bottom feed roll, infeed head pulley, side doors, and top slide plate allow for effective debris clearing. Platforms and steps are located around the machine at maintenance and service point areas to access engine air filters, hydraulic oil filters, and the fuel fill. A centralized service area in the centre of the machine provides access to hydraulics, electrical components, and engine filters. Source
Three new GR Series grader models will be released by Case Construction Equipment.
These three models are a result of the new collaboration formed between CNH and Bell Equipment, a renowned South African company with a global footprint in designing and manufacturing heavy equipment for the mining, quarrying, construction, forestry, agriculture and industrial sectors. Under the agreement, CNH’s Case Construction Equipment brand will have exclusive distribution across the United States and Canada for the motor grader models, manufactured at Bell facilities.
This agreement positions CASE to drive growth in the North American market, particularly in the government sector, where they had a gap in the current grader size class. Case announced its arrangement with Bell along with the largest of the new models, the 325-horsepower GR935, at CONEXPO 2026, North America’s biggest construction trade show. With first deliveries expected in Q4 2026, CASE will strengthen its presence with customers in the heavy size classes, reinforcing its position in this core market with powerful graders that excel in road construction, precision grading, maintenance work and government applications.
This collaboration is a significant step for Case, allowing their motor grader products to reach North American customers under the Case brand. As a full-line equipment provider with a strong dealer network, Case offers a suite of complementary machines that enhance their value proposition for customers in earthmoving applications.
Built for dependable performance and precise control, the new models offer highly responsive electro-hydraulic controls or traditional mechanical control options as well as a continuous variable transmission (CVT) for consistent power delivery and smooth operation. CNH-owned precision technology and Case Advanced Smart Features further enhance output and efficiency through onboard guidance, control, and GNSS navigation systems. Source
This automatically slows or stops a machine when there is an obstacle detected.
Enhancing jobsite safety for the construction market, John Deere debuts SmartDetect Assist, its latest object detection technology. Building on SmartDetect and SmartDetect Digital solutions, SmartDetect Assist takes a leap forward in supporting jobsite safety by automatically slowing or stopping a machine when there is an obstacle detected, supporting greater operator confidence.
Supporting jobsite safety remains a critical focus for the construction industry, and John Deere continues to invest in technologies that enhance operator awareness to help create safer working environments. SmartDetect, the foundation of the portfolio, uses cameras and machine learning to identify obstacles and deliver visual and audible alerts, helping operators better understand their surroundings. SmartDetect Digital adds another layer by bringing near miss footage and insights into the John Deere Operations Center, supporting worker training and management.
SmartDetect Assist leverages high-resolution cameras, radar, and an in-cab display to provide operators with a clear, accurate view of the machine's surroundings. When an obstacle is detected, SmartDetect Assist delivers instant visual and audio alerts inside and outside the machine, followed by dynamic slowing or stopping prior to a potential collision.
While SmartDetect Assist does not replace an operator's role and responsibility to safely operate the machine, the solution provides an added layer of support to help maximise uptime and jobsite safety. The system includes configurable operating parameters and safeguards, including operator-controlled momentary override. In addition, the in-cab display features projected reverse path lines, giving operators a clearer understanding of where the machine is headed to help increase situational awareness during operation. Optional SmartDetect Assist empowers customers with additional tools to improve situational awareness on the jobsite and focus on the task at hand. Source
The new heads introduce a range of enhancements designed to improve durability, performance, and user experience.
The new harvester head models, known as Kesla 20SH-II Advance and 25SH-II Advance, introduce productivity-boosting features, strengthened structures, and expanded configuration options to better meet the demands of modern timber harvesting.
Productivity-enhancing updates include optimized hydraulics, an optional tilt lock function and proportional pressure control, redesigned delimbing blades, as well as new sensor solutions for measuring length and stroke position.
Durability has been increased by strengthening material thickness in critical areas and through design changes to the tilt arm. The new delimbing blades are also stronger than before. Reliability in daily operation has been significantly improved through several changes to hydraulic hoses and electrical wire harnesses.
Improvements that enhance user comfort and serviceability include better tilt damping and modifications to protective covers. The selection of configurable accessories has been expanded, enabling Kesla SH-II Advance models to be equipped even more precisely according to customer needs.
The stroke harvester is a good solution for timber harvesting in mountainous areas and for particularly challenging tree species, as the stroke feed enables very high feeding force even with low-power base machines. Kesla is the market and technology leader in stroke harvesters worldwide, and with the improvements now introduced, the products are once again even more competitive. Deliveries of the renewed SH II Advance models began in early 2026 to Japan, and they will replace the previous SH II models in other markets during Q1/2026. Source
Ponsse’s service agreements have increased by 47% in Finland
An increasing number of timber harvesting contractors are choosing to maintain their forest machines through service agreements. At Ponsse, this has been reflected in a significant increase in agreement volumes over the last three years. At the same time, the company is continuing to systematically develop its service network in Finland – improving customer service and making everyday operations easier than ever. Source
JCB has kicked off a bold new chapter in Australia
JCB has announced a major new dealer appointment and big investment to back it. At a signing ceremony in Melbourne, JCB Deputy Chairman George Bamford confirmed Adaptalift Group as the company’s new dealer across Australia’s biggest cities — Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. JCB is also pumping serious investment into service support and spare parts supply, including new warehouses and a logistics partnership with DHL Supply Chain, aimed at keeping machines working and customers moving. Source
Cat Motor Graders move 150 and 160 to the Next Generation platform
Next Generation 150 and 160 graders combine proven power with smarter controls and a full redesigned cab. Both models now feature Caterpillar’s easy-to-use joystick steering controls: optional on the Cat 150 and fitted as standard to the Cat 160. The joysticks place transmission, gear shifting and machine-direction control on the left, while the right handles drawbar, circle and moldboard functions as well as throttle control and the manual differential lock and unlock. Source
Read More“Estimating the volume of stacked wood using the dynamic conversion factor calculated by a lidar-based smartphone app”
International Journal of Forest Engineering, 2026. Tomczak, K., Keefe, R. F., Moik, L., Gollob, C., Borz, S. A., Tomczak, A., & de Miguel-Díez, F. Source
“Optimization in the distribution and sequencing of machines in wood harvesting in planted forests”
Forest Systems, 2026. Masioli, W., Arce, J. E., Rodrigues, C. K., Fiedler, N. C., & Lopes, E. Source
“A User-Centered Evaluation of a VR HMD-Based Harvester Training Simulator”
Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 2026. Pranjali Barve and Raffaele De Amicis. Source
Read MoreTo see the full list of international logging, roading and trucking conferences and expo’s, please click the “Events” tab at the top of the page.
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