By Alan Sherrard

Elmia Wood 2025 brought together forestry professionals from around the world to the forest of Bratteborg, just outside Jönköping, Sweden. A total of 27,751 visitors from 48 countries and 327 exhibitors from 25 countries enlivened the quiet woods over the three-day show.

In keeping with its five-decade heritage, the trade show was defined by live machinery demonstrations, innovations, and an atmosphere filled with optimism for the future and business opportunities.

For many exhibitors, both old and new, a trade show like Elmia Wood is an ideal platform for product updates and launches. Indeed, the 50th anniversary exhibition, along with several Elmia Classics scattered throughout the grounds, served as a reminder of just how much innovation and business have evolved.

While most of the "big iron" forest machinery brands were missing from the exhibitor list, for reasons previously communicated by the brands, those that did participate took full advantage of having less competition on site.

Logset

Logset, one of the few big iron forest machinery companies that participated, had a full demo stand showcasing its eight-wheeled harvester and a new version of its 4F GT forwarder.

The company released four new harvester head models, thereby expanding its range of harvester heads. The 4.0 series replaces the 3.0 series, which was first introduced in 2009, with the TH60, TH70, TH80, and TH90, respectively.

Each model includes key updates, including Bucher hydraulic valve block, offering advantages such as proportional control of the saw unit, measuring sensor repositioned above the rear feeding roller, extended frame length for increased stability, improved accessibility and optimised hose routing, reinforced tilt arch for enhanced durability, and powerful top saw option for the TH80.

Logset also launched a new crane line, the H series, with three model sizes, the H245, H325, and H405. Key features of the H series include an exceptional lifting capacity and performance across all functions, powerful hydraulic motors for smooth and powerful rotation, a hydraulic cylinder-based parallel linkage that offers flexible and precise movement, a robust frame construction ensuring long-term durability, and an extended tilt angle for versatile operation.

Vimek

Swedish forest machinery manufacturer Vimek AB, a Fassi Group company, launched a six-wheeled version of its popular four-wheeled 470 thinning harvester.

"This gives a much more stable harvester and lower ground pressure. At the same time, the excellent driving characteristics are maintained", said Åsa Eriksson, Technical Information Officer at Vimek.

"Sweden is large and has varying forestry conditions. With the 6-wheel concept, we are expanding further. 6WD, as we call it, is an interesting complement. Both the harvester and the forwarder are available with the six-wheel concept or their previous versions, which have four or eight wheels", explained Johannes Nilsson, CEO of Vimek.

"Forest owners like this size of machine. And in the end, the forest owner is our customer – after all, it is in their forest that our machines will achieve good results. Even if the machine is owned by the contractor, the forestry company, or the forest owner himself, the result in the forest is most important. And we know that the new 6WD concept delivers", Nilsson said.

Menzi Muck

Emil Glömmen from Swiss machinery manufacturer Menzi Muck was excited about the Elmia Wood debut of the firm's novel universal tool carrier.

While the flat, boulderless terrain in Bratteborg is anything but challenging for a Menzi Muck carrier, it provided an ideal platform to perform a spectacular "dance", demonstrating the carrier's unique capabilities in manoeuvrability while wowing onlookers.

Steep slope logging in neighbouring Norway is the first forestry application that comes to mind, as well as other conventional vegetation control applications, such as roadside verges and utility right-of-way maintenance.

"Our tool carrier has gained a lot of attention at construction fairs. This is the first time we're exhibiting at Elmia Wood, and it feels like the perfect fit, given the forestry applications our machine can now offer," commented Emil Glömmen.

Bioenergy tech

As ever, there were plenty of firewood processors and biomass boilers in action and on display. Hardly surprising, since many forest owners and rural households source fuelwood from their backyards. A recreational and forest management activity that has an economic dividend.

Other notable bioenergy implements and equipment included various tree shears and accumulating harvesting heads, such as those from Farma, RagnarTech, and Bracke Forest. The dedicated bioenergy area, located on the forest trail, featured prominent brands in shredders, grinders, and chippers, including Albach, Bandit Industries, Bruks, Morbark, Terex–CBI, and Vermeer.

"We're drawn to the broad international perspective Elmia Wood offers. The interest during our demo runs has exceeded expectations", said Thommy Nilsson, Sales Manager for Komptech in Sweden, who demonstrated their biomass crusher on-site.

While Albach had its Diamant, Bandit had its Beast, Komptech had its Axtor, Morbark had its Wood Hog, and Vermeer had its HG, all well-established and capable machines; RagnarTech stole the show.

Visitors were drawn to the size and colour of the all-new RagnarTech UFKES 9400, a legendary product from size reduction machinery builder Anders Ragnarsson, founder of CBI, which subsequently became part of Terex.

Chainsaws

To mark its 50th anniversary, Elmia Wood posted an array of information boards out on the forestry trail highlighting (technical) highlights of each event from its inception in 1975. Some of these Elmia Classic machines were scattered around the trail.

Exhibitors that have participated in all of Elmia's forestry fairs over the past 50 years were marked with a special 50th anniversary logo at their respective stands.

Local global "forest and garden" power tool manufacturer Husqvarna was one of a handful of exhibitors that has participated in all of Elmia's forestry fairs over the past 50 years.

Lasse Strandell, Product Specialist at Husqvarna, said, "The atmosphere has been fantastic! Visitors are inquisitive about new developments and eager to try our chainsaws in practice. The test logs ran out almost immediately, which says something about the level of interest."

Germany-headquartered global power tool company, and cutting-edge competitor, STIHL AG, the headline sponsor of STIHL Timbersports, also celebrated 50 years at Elmia Wood.

"We've seen a fantastic flow of visitors and a strong interest in our latest products. The new trail layout has helped, and we've had people in the stand all day. We're thrilled", said Clara Bergström, Product Manager for Stihl's professional range at Andreas Stihl Norden AB.

Logosol

Elmia Wood is not just about showing or demonstrating products – deals are done right out in the woods. Portable sawmill manufacturer Logosol used Elmia Wood to premiere its new bandsaw mill.

"Elmia Wood is a real business platform for us. We know we make direct sales here at the fair. It's unique to meet so many of our customers in one place", said Robert Berglund, CEO of Logosol.

Alstor

Traditionally, Alstor's focus has been on the self-employed forest owner who wants a small, efficient forestry machine. However, the customers are changing. "Our target group is here, and they're genuinely ready to buy. We've met customers from all over Sweden, and from new markets where demand is growing, said Kristian Laurell, CEO of Alstor.

"We still have our core customer group. With our 840 series, which came out a few years ago, we saw that arborists and other professional segments became interested. And now, with the 850 series, we are taking another step, appealing to professional crews that perform thinning. We are broadening our range without losing our focus on gentle, within-forest-stands machines", Laurell said.

The company also launched its first-ever roller-fed harvester head option, developed in collaboration with Finnish Kone-Ketonen Oy. Stroke harvester heads have up until now been the standard for Alstor's popular range of harvesters.

"We know that our stroke-head units deliver. But we are still often asked if there are no roller-fed units. Now we were ready to take that step. Keto's head has belt rollers that work incredibly well. The head is available for our new harvesters and our combi machine, said Laurell.

A vibrant meeting place

"There's been a wonderfully lively buzz throughout the area. Visitors and exhibitors together demonstrate that Elmia Wood is an important meeting place. You could feel the energy radiating from the industry", commented Anna-Karin Zinnerfors, CEO of Elmia.

I'm also struck by the mix of big and small players, Swedish and international, as well as experienced and new. Together, we created something memorable in the Bratteborg forest."

Elmia's project manager, Johannes Hansson, had similar reflections. "The best part of this year's fair was the atmosphere, engaged visitors, active exhibitors, machines in motion, and a strong international presence. It truly was a vibrant meeting place for the entire forestry sector.

"The redesigned trail across the fairground proved to be a real success. Relocating over 100 exhibitors, enhancing the visitor route, and introducing new stages all contributed to improved flow and a more accessible, engaging experience for our visitors", Johannes Hansson said.

The trails, featuring special interest areas such as the Drone Zone, along with convenient and well-placed shortcuts, allowed visitors to make multiple trips to their area of primary interest with energy to spare, thereby avoiding the ebb-and-flow surges between the field area and the forest circuit that previous editions suffered from.

All in all, this bodes well for the coming biennial editions of Elmia Wood in Bratteborg. Hopefully, some of the names and brands that were absent will return with a vengeance in 2027, rolling out new forest technology and innovations that may yet become an Elmia Classic.

All photos by Alan Sherrard