THE NEW MANTSINEN 90 IN UIMAHARJU, FINLAND

THE NEW MANTSINEN 90 IN UIMAHARJU, FINLAND

The latest electric Mantsinen 90 with the new GEN3 control system has joined the wood handling operations at the Stora Enso’s Enocell pulp mill in Uimaharju. The first impressions are clear: more power, greater reach, improved precision, and an even better operator experience.

A New Generation for Debarking Operations

The Stora Enso Enocell pulp mill in Uimaharju produces softwood pulp and unbleached kraft pulp with an annual capacity of 630,000 tonnes. Across the mill and sawmill area, Mantsinen is responsible for wood feed to the debarking plant, locomotive operations for transporting mill by-products, and forklift work at the sawmill’s log yard.

The latest electric Mantsinen 90, equipped with the new GEN3 control system, has been commissioned for wood feed operations at the debarking plant, replacing one of the site’s two existing electric line feeding machines, which have been in operation since 2014 and 2016. From the very beginning, the machine has made a strong first impression, particularly in terms of productivity, handling, and operator comfort.

“Let’s just say that Mantsinen’s electric machines have been really good to drive right from the start. This production machine meets our needs and the challenges we have here perfectly,” says Hannu Liimatta, Site Manager and Supervisor in Uimaharju, working at the site since 1984.

Built for Productivity and Performance

According to Hannu Liimatta, the first driving experiences with the new machine have been very positive. The machine is comfortable to operate, offers an excellent power-to-performance ratio, and provides noticeably more capacity than its predecessors.

“The machine’s power capacity is, I’d say, at least triple compared to the debarking plant’s needs. The working pace is calm, so we have time to manage this local storage. Of course, the operator does more than just feed the plant; they receive wood and, if necessary, weigh incoming train wagons for the mill’s forest system,” Liimatta says.

The grab is nearly twice as large as before, allowing operators to move almost twice the amount of wood with every lift. The electric machines now handle the largest wood transfers at the Uimaharju debarking plant, significantly reducing fuel consumption.

“You could say the fuel for these machines is right here in these trees. When the wood is debarked, the bark goes to the bark boiler, and the mill produces electricity from it, which runs the machine on its own electricity,” Liimatta continues.

Designed Around the Operator

According to Juho Pekkanen, Project Manager at Mantsinen Group and lead of the GEN3 control system project, the new generation brings several operator-focused improvements. The machine features redesigned button panels, new joysticks, and a larger touchscreen that now combines all key functions into a single interface. The user interface has also been completely renewed, and the machine responds to operator inputs more smoothly and immediately than before.

Liimatta also highlights the machine’s serviceability and handling characteristics:

“The machine has great service platforms, from the ground to the intermediate level and on top of the machine. Everything seems to be in a good place, also from a maintenance perspective. We’ve generally received excellent feedback from the operators. They like the machine, and its driving characteristics are good. It’s precise, smooth to drive, and has calm movements.”

The Best Mantsinen Yet

Operators have welcomed the new machine, particularly praising its accuracy, responsiveness, and overall handling. Compared to the previous Mantsinen 90, they highlight improved power, longer reach, more intuitive controls, and a more spacious and quieter cab.

“I’ve liked it. The machine is very precise to steer and obeys movements well. It is more modern compared to the old one,” says Jere Jäppinen, Machine Operator in Uimaharju.

Machine Operator Iida Vartiainen also emphasizes the machine’s responsiveness and balanced performance:

“Compared to the old one, it’s been a really good experience so far. It has more reach, a longer boom, and the cabin is a newer model, so it’s a bit more spacious, and I think it’s a bit quieter, too. The machine responds very well and it obeys even the smallest command. I think it’s the power, reach, and precision in a package. That’s the best combined feature.”

Hannu Liimatta summarizes the overall impression:

“This is again the best of Mantsinen there can be. The machines develop every year. You always just have to wonder how they’ve managed to make the new machine one step better again.”