BAGPIPES were played at Ponsse's Finnish base for the first time when the company handed over its 19,000th machine to a Scottish harvesting firm. 

The manufacturer welcomed long-term customer Elliot Henderson to the Vieremä factory this month to collect a Scorpion Giant harvester with H8 harvester head. 

And the ceremony had a distinctly tartan flavour to it with the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band playing in the background to make the Scots – some dressed in kilts – feel right at home. 

Forestry Journal:

Gary Glendinning, managing director Ponsse UK, said: “Thank you to the Elliot Henderson group and the Royal Burgh of Annan Pipe Band for coming to Vieremä to celebrate the 19,000th machine milestone with us. 

"I understand this is the first time a pipe band has played at Vieremä village, which makes this day even more special for all of us, as this is Ponsse UK’s first milestone machine. This is a day that we will remember for years to come." 

Based in Selkirk, Elliot Henderson started 35 years ago and now comprises more than 40 forest machines, which can undertake clearfell, thinning, steep ground harvesting operations, ground preparation or the construction of forest roads. 

Forestry Journal:

Elliot Henderson – which also has another Ponsse Scorpion, an Ergo, three Elephants and one Buffalo– has has the capability for site brash clearance, stump removal and servicing the biomass industry. 

“Elliot Henderson has always been at the forefront of new machine releases over the years, which in turn keeps the harvesting fleet productive and at the vanguard of innovation," Neil Purves, director of harvesting for Elliot Henderson Group. "We are excited to be adding this Scorpion Giant to the fleet.

"This machine will go straight to work in the windblow resulting from Storm Arwen and we feel the extra power and H8 head will benefit us in this application. 

"We look forward to seeing what it can do!"