WHY SERVICE SUPPORT IS A REAL DIFFERENTIATOR IN A COST-CONSTRAINED MARKET

Pieter Smuts, Managing Director of Husqvarna South Africa

It usually happens at the worst possible time.

The team is ready. The day’s work has been planned. Customers are waiting. Deadlines are tight. Then a machine that worked perfectly the day before refuses to start.

In that moment, downtime becomes very real. And very costly.

It’s not only the repair bill that matters. It’s the hours lost, the next job delayed and the customer who still expects delivery. For many South African businesses already under pressure, it’s another expense they didn’t plan for.

According to Pieter Smuts, Managing Director of Husqvarna South Africa, it’s the reason service support is now emerging as a critical differentiator in equipment buying decisions. “Downtime has never been more expensive,” says Smuts. “And when margins are tight, lost operating hours can actually outweigh a higher purchasing price for an item.”

Fuel prices, labour costs and general operating expenses also continue to place pressure on margins, and many commercial users such as landscapers, grounds maintenance teams and foresters are opting to keep machines for longer before replacing them. While this may help to manage costs, Smuts notes that it also makes maintenance, parts availability and after-sales support more important.

“When customers keep equipment for longer, servicing becomes critical,” he explains. “A well-maintained machine can continue delivering value, but small issues that are ignored can quickly become bigger, more expensive problems.”

This is influencing how customers define value. A lower upfront price may look attractive, but if a machine cannot be serviced quickly, if parts are difficult to source, or if support is limited, the true cost of ownership can be far higher over time.

Smuts highlights the following practical questions customers should be asking before buying outdoor power equipment:

1. Can the machine be serviced locally?

2. Are genuine parts readily available?

3. Is there a dealer nearby who understands the product?

4. What support is available if something goes wrong?

5. How quickly can the machine be back in operation?

“These can no longer be afterthoughts,” he adds. “For professional users, downtime means delayed work, idle teams, missed deadlines and unhappy customers. That is why service support has become part of risk management, not just a support function.”

A strong dealer network helps reduce that risk. Dealers are often the first people customers turn to when they need advice, servicing or repairs. Their ability to respond quickly can directly affect how long a machine is out of use.

“For Husqvarna South Africa, what happens after the purchase is just as important as the product itself, Smuts emphasises. “The sale of a machine is only the beginning of the customer relationship, with ongoing service and support playing a critical role in long-term performance.”

“Customers need to know that support is available when they need it,” he says. “That includes trained technicians, knowledgeable dealers, access to the correct parts and advice that helps them get the best performance from their equipment.”

In a cost‑pressured market, cheaper alternatives to genuine parts can be tempting. However, Smuts warns that shortcuts often create higher costs later. “Original components are designed to work with the machine as intended,” he continues. “They help protect performance, reliability and safety.”

The same thinking applies to extended warranties. As customers keep equipment for longer, warranty support can offer peace of mind and help protect against unexpected costs. It also gives customers confidence that their asset is protected, and in today’s challenging market conditions, that kind of assurance is increasingly valuable.

Smuts believes customers are becoming more value-focused in terms of total cost of ownership. While price will always matter, it’s no longer the only measure of a good investment.

“The brands that will stand out are the ones that keep users operational,” he says. “It’s not just about selling a machine. It’s about supporting it throughout its working life and helping professionals protect their productivity.”

As operating costs continue to shape business decisions, service support is becoming central to business resilience. “Customers remember who was there when they needed help,” concludes Smuts. “That is why service support has become such a powerful differentiator. It gives people confidence, protects productivity and helps them get the best possible value from their equipment.”

If you would like to know more about Husqvarna products and services, go to https://www.husqvarna.com/za or visit your nearest dealership.

A Press Release on Behalf of:
Timothy Isabirye
Marketing Manager – Husqvarna South Africa

Fort Cox celebrates the Class of 2025

The Fort Cox graduation ceremony celebrating the Class of 2025

Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute in the Eastern Cape hosted its May 2026 Graduation Ceremony to celebrate and confer qualifications on the Class of 2025.

The event was marked by pride and excitement as 163 graduates crossed the stage to receive qualifications across a range of programmes. Of these, 115 graduates were awarded NQF Level 6 qualifications, including Diplomas in Animal Production (38), Crop Production (26), Agribusiness (23), Forestry (22), and Agricultural Engineering (6). A further 48 graduates earned NQF Level 7 Advanced Diplomas, including Forestry Management (18), Animal Production (18), and Horticulture (12).

The ceremony celebrated the graduates’ hard work and achievement, while highlighting the Institute’s continued commitment to developing skilled professionals for the agricultural and forestry sectors.

The distinguished guests included the MEC for the Department of Agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe; Chief Gayika of the Amangqika Traditional Council; Chief Zibi-Ahh Zanoxolo of the Mgwalana Traditional Council; and Prof Lisa Buwa-Komoreng, Chairperson of the Fort Cox Academic Board.

The Gaxela family celebrate with Liphulaphule Gaxela

The CEO and Principal of the institute, Mkhululi Mankazana, congratulated the graduates, saying,
“Your perseverance has earned you the distinguished title of ‘graduate’. Go forth and be agents of positive change in your respective fields, communities, and the environment”.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr DF Bese, was the keynote speaker at the first session. “Today, you step forward not merely as field-expert practitioners, but as custodians of one of the earth's most complex and vital systems. Fort Cox has prepared you for a world in which the old boundaries between disciplines no longer hold. Foresters and agriculturalists of the 21st century must be ecologists, data scientists, community liaisons, entrepreneurs and policy architects, all at once”.

The second keynote speaker was Dr S. Ngqangweni, CEO of the National Agriculture Marketing Council. “Graduating from Fort Cox is not simply about earning a qualification. It marks entry into a rapidly evolving agricultural sector, where success depends on far more than production alone. I urge you to see your diplomas as a starting point. Embrace the realities of climate and market demands, and position yourselves as catalysts for inclusive growth and transformation in South Africa’s agricultural future”.

Top Achievers

Top achievers from the respective programmes were acknowledged, celebrated, and awarded a floating trophy, a certificate, and a cash voucher.

Onako Mbali Dana - Top achiever Diploma Forestry programme

Ezile Kwakho Gqwede - Top achiever Advanced Diploma Forestry Management — Onako Mbali Dana - Top achiever Diploma Forestry programme

Advanced Diploma in Forestry Management

The top achiever was Ezile Kwakho Gqwede. When she registered for her forestry diploma, she knew little about the industry. Her studies and fieldwork deepened her interest and led her to pursue the Advanced Diploma in Forestry Management.

“My time at Fort Cox made it clear that forestry extends beyond timber and trees. It is fundamental to climate stability, water security, biodiversity conservation, and rural economic development. I entered Fort Cox uncertain and left with a commitment to contribute meaningfully to sustainable resource management”, she said. “

I look forward to the opportunity to apply my training in forestry management to support sustainable land use practices that benefit the environment and rural communities”.

Diploma Forestry Programme

Onako Mbali Dana was the institution’s top achiever, and her academic excellence was also recognised by the Southern Africa Institute of Forestry (SAIF).

“Raised by my grandmother in Lusikisiki, I developed strong values of respect, perseverance, and determination that have guided my personal and academic journey. Studying at Fort Cox enabled me to gain expertise in sustainable land-use practices, specialised harvesting systems, and forest economics,” she said.

“I am deeply grateful to Fort Cox for providing a conducive learning environment, and to my colleagues and family for their unwavering support. I am currently seeking employment opportunities to gain professional experience in the forestry and environmental sector, while expanding my knowledge in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and contributing positively to the sustainable development of the forestry industry”.

The academic procession marking the start of the graduation ceremony

A word from a parent

Celebrating the graduation of Liphulaphule, Gaxela, her mother commented, “The graduation ceremony at Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute was excellent and filled with joy, pride, and excitement. Graduates looked beautiful in their gowns, and the choir added to the lively and memorable atmosphere”.

New Forests launches global natural capital fund

Fund manager New Forests launched its Global Landscape Opportunities (GLO) strategy in June, the company’s first global natural capital offering for institutional investment across forestry, agriculture, and complementary markets, including carbon and biodiversity.

While New Forests is based in Sydney, Australia, the GLO fund will be established in Luxembourg. The new strategy brings together New Forests’ two decades of experience investing across regional markets into a single, globally integrated portfolio, targeting opportunities across North America, Europe, Australia-New Zealand, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa.

The initiative responds to growing investor demand for institutional-grade, global allocations to natural capital, as capital markets increasingly recognise the role of land-based assets in delivering inflation resilience, diversification, and the potential for attractive long-term real returns, alongside environmental outcomes.

“The launch of our Global Landscape Opportunities strategy marks a significant step in the evolution of New Forests as a global natural capital investment manager,” Mark Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, New Forests, says.

“We are seeing strong investor demand for scalable, institutional strategies that provide diversified exposure to natural capital. This strategy responds directly to that need by bringing together our global platform, investment expertise, and track record into a single offering.

“Natural capital is increasingly recognised as a core component of resilient portfolios, offering the potential for long-term returns while supporting critical outcomes such as climate stability, biodiversity and sustainable land use”.

The GLO strategy will invest across a broad spectrum of natural capital assets, including sustainable forestry assets, agricultural land and food production systems, carbon and climate-related investments, and biodiversity and ecosystem markets.

David Shelton New Forests Global Head of Investments

“Historically, many investors have accessed natural capital through regional allocations, but not all institutions have the scale, resources or expertise to build and manage global portfolios themselves”, David Shelton, New Forests’ Global Head of Investments, explains.

“Building on New Forests’ regional return performance, this strategy allows investors to access a diversified global portfolio where we actively allocate capital across regions, sectors and markets to optimise outcomes”, he says.

Shelton continues, “Natural capital offers a compelling investment proposition, with characteristics such as attractive long-duration return profiles, inflation hedging, and low correlation to traditional asset classes. It also provides exposure to fundamental global demand for food, fibre, renewable energy and ecosystem services”.

The proposed asset allocation will be:

United States, Canada, Europe, UK, Australia, and New Zealand – 60% to 80% of the portfolio
Developed Latin America (Brazil, Uruguay and Chile) – up to 30% of the portfolio
Southeast Asia, other Latin America regions, and Africa – up to 20% of the portfolio

The target audience for GLO is institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, endowments and foundations.

STIHL’s BR Backpack Blowers are built for fire management

The STIHL BR 600 is the ideal tool for creating defined fire breaks

When you need to slow or stop the spread of fire, you need to remove the fuel. This is where professionals rely on the STIHL BR range of backpack blowers to clear combustible material and create effective fire breaks.

To understand the role of a STIHL backpack blower in fire control, you first need to understand how fire spreads. Fire requires oxygen and fuel. In forestry environments, the forest floor is covered with a dense layer of dry needles, twigs, and leaf litter. This layer serves as a continuous fuel source, enabling fire to spread quickly and unpredictably.

Although often associated with general clearing, professional users recognise these machines as powerful tools for fuel management. The BR 600, BR 700, and BR 800 use high-velocity airflow to remove combustible material, exposing mineral soil and creating effective firebreaks.

This approach reflects STIHL’s long-standing commitment to engineering solutions that make working with nature more efficient. This philosophy continues to guide the brand as it marks 100 years of innovation.

Redefining fire breaks

In remote or rugged environments, where access to water is limited, prevention is the most effective form of control. Creating and maintaining firebreaks is essential, and the ability to do so quickly can make a significant difference.

Fire spreads when there is a continuous path of fuel. Breaking that continuity is key to controlling its spread; traditional methods often involve manual clearing, which is labour-intensive and time-consuming.

A high-performance blower enables operators to clear fine fuels efficiently, reducing the time and labour required compared with manual methods. Rather than relying solely on hand tools, teams can establish clean, consistent breaks more quickly and with less physical strain.

The STIHL BR 600 offers a more efficient alternative. Known for its strong power-to-weight ratio, it enables operators to work for longer periods while maintaining consistent performance. This makes it well-suited for clearing defined lines in challenging terrain. As the scale of the task increases, so does the need for higher output.

The top of the range powerful BR 800 backpack blower

The BR 700 and BR 800

The STIHL BR 700 is designed for higher air volume, making it effective for moving heavier or more compacted debris. In fire management, this allows teams to widen existing firebreaks and clear dense fuel loads more quickly, improving overall site readiness.

The BR 800 represents the highest level of performance in the range. Built for demanding conditions, it delivers maximum blowing force for large-scale clearing. Its side-start feature allows the operator to restart the machine without removing it, reducing interruptions and helping maintain momentum during critical operations.

Together, these tools enable teams to match the right level of power to the task, improving both efficiency and effectiveness in the field.

Controlled burns

Beyond preparation, blowers can also support active fire control techniques. In controlled burns, managing the direction and intensity of flames is essential. The focused airflow from a backpack blower can help direct flames and clear residual fuel ahead of the burn line. This adds an extra level of control, helping teams to manage fire behaviour more safely and predictably.

The BR range features anti-vibration systems and ergonomic harnesses to reduce operator fatigue

Ergonomic design

Forestry and fire management often involve long hours in physically demanding environments, and equipment design plays a key role in maintaining operator performance.

The STIHL BR range features anti-vibration systems and ergonomic harnesses to reduce fatigue. By improving comfort and stability, these features help operators maintain consistent output over extended periods, which is essential in high-pressure situations.

Fire management

Effective fire management starts with preparation. Creating clean, reliable firebreaks and managing fuel loads are essential to reduce risk. Whether it is the balanced performance of the BR 600, the increased capacity of the BR 700, or the maximum output of the BR 800, each machine offers a practical way to improve efficiency in the field.

As fire seasons become more demanding, tools that enable faster clearing, reduce labour intensity, and offer greater control will continue to play a vital role in protecting both land and livelihoods. This ongoing focus on performance and reliability reflects a century of STIHL engineering dedicated to supporting professionals in the environments that matter most.

The Ponsse Buffalo Planter has landed, and Novelquip’s tech is driving it

The Ponsse Buffalo Planter shows off its Novelquip planting system

Novelquip Forestry, a South African engineering company, and Ponsse, the Finnish manufacturer of forestry machines, launched their new mechanised planting technology, the Buffalo Planter, at Expo Minas Florestal in Brazil in May.

The Ponsse Buffalo Planter was developed by Novelquip Forestry and Ponsse, combining Novelquip’s specialised planting technology with Ponsse’s proven forwarder platform and global distribution network.

This partnership is an example of north-south collaboration, in which a global OEM worked with a specialised technology developer in George in the Southern Cape to bring new solutions to market.

Precision planting

The system enables a single operator to complete a full planting cycle, including soil preparation, seedling planting, watering, and compaction, using a single machine. This is hailed as a significant advancement in mechanised forest regeneration.

At the core of the system is a precision spot cultivation (spot tillage) approach, where the machine stops at each planting location to ensure a high-quality planting outcome rather than maximising speed at the expense of quality.

This method allows the system to:

Prepare only the soil necessary for planting, reducing overall energy usage.
Minimise soil erosion, particularly on moderate to steep slopes.
Reduce weed competition around each seedling in the critical early stages.
Improve water infiltration directly at the planting site.
Achieve proper soil compaction, ensuring optimal root-soil contact for improved survival and growth.

One operator, one machine and four seedlings pitted, planted, watered and compacted

Focus on planting quality

This focus on planting quality over pure output, combined with a single-pass operation and single-operator control, delivers consistent, repeatable results while reducing the need for rework and replanting.

The global launch of the Buffalo Planter marks Ponsse’s entry into forest regeneration solutions, extending its offering beyond harvesting into a broader forest lifecycle capability, with South America identified as a key initial market.

Transforming machine

Juha Inberg, Ponsse’s Chief R&D and Technology Officer, says the Buffalo Planter “improves the productivity and cost-efficiency of forest regeneration by enabling large areas to be planted in a shorter time. The automated planting process ensures high-quality, consistent results, creating favourable conditions for seedling growth and reducing the need for later replanting”.

Inberg says an added advantage of the Buffalo is that, outside the planting season, the machine can be converted back into a conventional forwarder, which improves its utilisation rate.

The introduction comes at a time of increasing structural pressure on global forestry operations and climate change, which are driving the need for mechanised solutions that can operate at scale.

Under typical operating conditions, the Buffalo Planter delivers working rates of approximately 750 seedlings per hour with spot tillage and up to 1,300 seedlings per hour without tillage, enabling high productivity and consistent planting quality.

The system attracted strong interest from forestry operators, contractors, and dealers during the global launch event, supported by extensive media coverage and industry engagement.

“This represents a major milestone for Novelquip”, says Fanie Viljoen, CEO of Novelquip Forestry. “To see technology developed in George form part of a globally launched product from a world-leading OEM like Ponsse is a significant achievement. It reflects years of focused development and close collaboration”.

A closer view of the novel Novelquip four-head planter

Supporting partners

The development of the planting technology was supported by South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).

IDC CEO Mmakgoshi Lekhethe says the launch of the Ponsse Buffalo Planter highlights the export opportunities for South African industrial innovation.

South Africa has demonstrated its innovation in developing mechanised solutions that can operate on a global scale. The successful penetration of the product into the global market will facilitate job creation. This also speaks to our objective of industrialising our economy”, says Lekhethe.

Iodien Rensburg, Acting Head: Advanced Manufacturing at TIA, adds, “The Novelquip technology is a powerful example of how local ideas, when effectively supported and enabled, can compete and succeed in global markets. With the right support, our innovators can scale globally and position South Africa as a leader in innovation”.

Planting expertise

Helgaard Steenkamp, Technical Director and Co-founder of Novelquip Forestry, explains, “Developing the system in partnership with Ponsse has enabled us to combine our expertise in mechanised planting with a proven global platform”.

He says the technical challenge was integrating multiple processes into a single, reliable system that performs consistently in demanding field conditions. Early field demonstrations have confirmed strong market interest in South America and provided valuable insights to guide further development.

“The launch is an important milestone for the technology, and in realising my late father, Jaap Steenkamp’s vision of automated tree planting. We are extremely grateful to the IDC and TIA for their support in making this possible”.

Watch this space

Viljoen says the multi-head planter is not the only project Novelquip is working on. Look out for the excavator-based single-head planter, ideal for Southern African markets, launching later this year.

World's first tree harvested by a drone in a real forest - AirForestry

AirForestry says its drone felled trees in a working production forest and, separately, completed an end-to-end harvest without human control — each a first for the airborne thinning method it has built since 2020. Founded in 2020 by Olle Gelin, Mauritz Andersson, Markus Romar and Caroline Walerud, the company has drawn backing from several of Europe’s largest forest owners. Walerud, who became chief executive in December 2025, has moved AirForestry into a scale-up phase after a €10.3 million seed round led by Northzone late in 2024.

She has set the company an unusually large target, arguing that drone thinning can take a substantial share out of forestry’s carbon emissions against what she describes as almost unlimited customer demand. “I believe that AirForestry could become one of the world’s most important companies,” Walerud said.

Conventional thinning relies on machines weighing 20 tonnes or more, driven deep into the stand to fell trees that themselves weigh as little as 80 kilograms. AirForestry estimates that more than 20 per cent of the forest floor is damaged simply to move that machinery into position, with forest owners worldwide spending around €14 billion a year on the operation.

Built to avoid all of it, the company’s drone flies above the canopy on an electric powertrain that leaves no wheel tracks, no soil compaction and no root damage. Its 6.2-metre carbon-fibre airframe carries a purpose-built harvesting tool that grips a tree from the top, delimbs it on the way down, cuts it close to the ground and carries the trunk out to the nearest road. The machine is built to operate in Northern European conditions.

300,000 hectares and counting: How South Africa's forestry sector is quietly preserving biodiversity

*MTO Forestry Karen Kirkman and Alton Jacobs monitoring biodiversity in MTOs Longmore Plantation*

JOHANNESBURG – MAY 20, 2026 – Increasing land pressure, ecosystem degradation, habitat fragmentation and now a changing climate, mean all landowners now have a role to play in safeguarding biodiversity and ecological resilience says Forestry South Africa (FSA).

“Biodiversity stewardship must extend beyond the boundaries of protected areas,” says Dr Ronald Heath, FSA’s Director of Research and Protection. “Conservation has to happen across entire landscapes, where productive land uses and natural ecosystems coexist and support one another.”

As the world marks the International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, under the United Nations theme, “Acting locally for global impact”, FSA is highlighting how South Africa’s forestry sector is doing precisely this.

A recent survey revealed that the FSA members collectively preserve more than 300,000 hectares of natural ecosystems within forestry landholdings, over 20% of the total forestry area. This includes upwards of 170,000 hectares of grasslands and associated wetlands, 61,000 hectares of indigenous forests, 10,000 hectares of fynbos, alongside extensive riverine ecosystems.

MTO Longmore Plantation, Alton Jacobs Plantation Manager explains the importance of the production arm in their operation for funding the conservation arm

MTOs Longmore Plantation where over 50% of the landholding is preserved as natural habitat — MTO Longmore Plantation, Alton Jacobs Plantation Manager explains the importance of the production arm in their operation for funding the conservation arm

These natural areas are actively managed, monitored and maintained as part of responsible land stewardship practices. Together, they form ecological corridors and interconnected habitat networks that support species movement, climate resilience and ecosystem functioning across broader landscapes.

Importantly, environmental stewardship across the vast majority of the forestry sector is independently verified through internationally recognised certification systems.

While forestry landscapes provide refuge for many endangered, endemic and rare species, biodiversity preservation extends far beyond protecting individual species alone.

True biodiversity stewardship focuses on preserving functioning ecosystems and the ecological processes that sustain life, notes Heath. Healthy wetlands, grasslands, forests and river systems provide essential ecosystem services including clean water, healthy soils, carbon storage, pollination, erosion control, climate resilience, as well as being home to a multitude of species.

Hewitts Ghost Frog tadpole being identified during a population sample

Hewitts Ghost Frog found during sampling on MTOs Longmore Plantation — Hewitts Ghost Frog tadpole being identified during a population sample

One example can be found within the landholdings of MTO Forestry, where conservation efforts help protect the critically endangered Hewitt’s Ghost Frog, a species found in only a few locations globally. However, the conservation focus is not simply about saving a frog species in isolation. It is about protecting the wetland ecosystem on which the species, and many critical ecosystem services, depend.

At MTO’s Longmore plantation, approximately half the landholding remains unplanted natural habitat, with large portions designated as high conservation value areas. Revenue generated from the planted areas helps fund conservation management activities such as alien invasive plant removal, controlled ecological burning and ongoing environmental maintenance.

Similarly, NCT Forestry continues to preserve and manage natural conservation areas within its plantation landscapes, protecting rare endemic species and sensitive ecosystems as part of its environmental stewardship commitments.

The future of biodiversity conservation depends on landscape-scale stewardship and collaboration between landowners, industries, conservation organisations and communities. Sappi’s Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species Programme is a wonderful example of how partnerships between communities, industry, conservation organisations and other landowners are helping reverse the biodiversity crisis, bringing endangered species back from the brink.

A recipient with her Warburgia salutaris sm

Sappi Shafton Kusane Wetland — A recipient with her Warburgia salutaris sm

Another example is the water steward partnership between WWF South Africa and Sappi that looks after the uMkhomazi catchment. This catchment forms part of a globally significant Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity and wetland hotspot and home to endangered species and one of South Africa’s last large free-flowing rivers.

“South Africa needs connected landscapes where ecological corridors run through multiple land uses and landowners work together toward shared biodiversity goals,” Heath concludes. “The forestry sector has shown that productive landscapes can also sustain living ecosystems, and this model will become increasingly important in securing biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations.”