1970s

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History 1970

1970

Einari sets up a factory

Einari receives encouraging feedback on the Ponsse Dino from forestry company Tehdaspuu , and decides to set up a forest machine factory in Vieremä. However, prior to starting the building work, help is required by the municipality of Vieremä.

In April 1970 Einari visits Hannes Hirsimäki, the municipal manager of Vieremä, explaining that he would like to establish a forest machine factory if the local government builds him a factory hall for the purpose. A meeting is held by the municipal council, and they vote on the matter. Finally with a majority of a single vote, the council approves the proposal to start building a factory hall that is to be let out to machine entrepreneur Einari Vidgrén. The hall is completed already at the end of 1970, and Ponsse Plc is established the same year.

History 1971

1971

Engineer from Salo

Before the first factory-made Ponsse machine is manufactured, an engineer is needed at the factory. Einari places an ad in the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper to recruit a production manager to Vieremä.

An application by Jouko Kelppe, a young engineer from Salo, attracts the most attention. In February 1971 Jouko and Maritta Kelppe travel 600 kilometres to Vieremä for a job interview. After a short interview it becomes clear that Jouko is to be hired as the first ever engineer in the history of Ponsse.

First machines sold

The manufacturing of the first machine is started in the spring of 1971, but the company has no customers. At that time, however, forest machine contractor Eero Vainikainen is in the process of acquiring a forest machine.

The forest company makes a recommendation to purchase either Volvo or Valmet machines, but Metsäliitto's Iisalmi area supervisor Sauli Piispanen strongly urges Vainikainen to buy a Ponsse forwarder manufactured in Vieremä. Vainikainen visits the factory, which at the time has only two beams and a Valmet motor lying on the floor. However, Vainikainen is very impressed by Dino, a prototype machine at the logging site that comes highly recommended by both Einari and Sauli Piispanen. The deal is closed and the machine is sold for FIM 120,000.

The first machine

The first machine was produced at Vieremä factory. Eventual it was on transfer condition in the autumn of 1971.

Through the first ever Ponsse is driven out of the factory, the driver Einari with customer Eero Vainikainen.

History 1972

1972

Evening gatherings at Marttisenjärvi

Every year Einari organises common gatherings for his employees and customers. The turnout is always good. People enjoy sauna, swimming and games in the summer house on the shore of Lake Marttisenjärvi.

During the first years a skiing competition is often organised and Ponsse is represented by a strong company team, even though many of the participants are not in proper skiing condition. The main objective is to enjoy the common spirit and leisure-time activities.

History 1974

1974

A trip to Germany

Ponsse premieres in the international markets in 1974. A massive storm hits Germany, knocking down trees everywhere, and a large amount of foreign equipment is needed for harvesting the trees felled by the storm.

Einari finds this out and hears that the job is well compensated, and goes to check out the logging site with Olavi Kauhanen. Olavi, the loggers and Ponsse travel to Germany. The machine is transported on a pallet to the harbour and by ship to Travemünde, but nobody has remembered to book transportation to the German logging site more than 70 kilometres away. Olli and some other Finnish contractors and their machines wait in the harbour. Because no means of transportation is available, Olli mounts his Ponsse and sets off along the German motorway while the others follow. This is an unusual sight - the forest machines slowly chugging along the edge of the road, one of them actually carrying a Finnish sauna in the load space…

It's in the game

The national pastime of Ponsse employees - Laistokatko card game.

This noble card game has maintained its role as regular coffee break entertainment for decades.