The December Iron Test comes from the Douglas thinnings at Forest Creek Station on the Rangitata River in Canterbury. The Ponsse Buffalo King at King One Logging is the piece of equipment being put through its paces. The machine is powered by a Mercedes Benz 7.7litre diesel pumping 281 horsepower, a lot of grunt for a thinnings forwarder. It features some interesting innovations to increase productivity and machine durability.
 
The crane can be housed automatically and very smoothly, saving wear and tear on the grapple and headboard, not to mention the operator’s neck trying to see what's going where in this common manoeuvre. There is also a slick looking auto greaser, which probably saves around half an hour per day clambering over the crane and under the axles etc, which must make for a safer and happier operator, especially when it's muddy. 
 
To find out more about the Ponsse Buffalo King, read the full article in the December 2026/January 2027 edition of NZ Logger magazine, on sale from 30 November. Check the link on this page to subscribe to either a printed or digital copy (or both).