This piece is an extract from this week's Forestry Features newsletter, which is emailed out at 4PM every Wednesday with a round-up of the week's top stories. 

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THERE was a certain irony to the news. At a time when so much forestry appears to be moving towards low-impact machinery, there was Eco Log last week announcing it would no longer be producing its 'smaller' forwarders due to poor demand. 

As if this weren't enough, the move essentially killed off the Gremo brand, given the three models getting the boot at the end of the year – the 750F, 1050F and 1250F – were the only remaining machines to have originally carried the firm's distinctive green colours. Since a 2020 merger, they had been built by Eco Log and clad in its yellow. 

READ MORE: Gremo 'killed off for good' as Eco Log ends production

The response was overwhelming. Many bemoaned the loss of the last remnants of one of forestry's most popular manufacturers. Others questioned the logic behind it, saying the range was by far and away the best in its class. Given Gremo's immense popularity and that need for reliable, smaller forwarders, some even suggested the firm may exit its marriage with Eco Log and go back to producing its own machines. 

Forestry Journal: The Gremo range remains hugely popular The Gremo range remains hugely popular (Image: Stock)

Hope really did spring eternal. 

Then came another release from Eco Log this week. After being inundated with responses, the Swedish manufacturer announced it will now look at how it can reintroduce smaller forwarders into its range in the long term. In fairness, it had always left the door open to such a move but the outcry seems to have inspired the firm into immediate action. 

Working alongside a "product council" and its German dealer, WFW, Eco Log will develop plans for new machines. 

READ MORE: Eco Log looks to reintroduce smaller forwarders after Gremo outcry

A statement from Eco Log read: "It is a natural step for us to now review how we can implement small forwarders in our ordinary lineup  in the long term and start producing one or several small forwarders that replace the previous models and at the same time combine the best characteristics from the original Gremo machines with the strengths of Eco Log's forwarders in the large segment." 

Whether these are truly 'Gremo machines' will be discussed and debated by operators across the world. But at least there's been something of a reprieve.