The international forestry sector conference FORMEC 2025 was held in Joensuu this June. The event brought together the world’s leading experts and scholars in wood procurement. The conference boasted more than 160 oral presentations and around 40 poster sessions.
- Text Kalle Kärhä & FORMEC 2025 team
- Photos Oskari Hassinen, Loimu Creative&Research ja Tommi Rautio Unipic Oy
Held annually, FORMEC is Europe’s largest and most significant scientific conference in forest engineering and wood procurement. Throughout the week, participants explored the latest research findings and connected with colleagues from across the globe. This year marked the 57th edition of the conference, attracting more than 270 attendees from 27 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa.
“According to our feedback survey, conference participants were extremely satisfied with the various sessions, and how they were organised. Over 90% of respondents rated the conference programme and the conference dinner as excellent or good. The field excursion, evening events and trips via Lusto to Joensuu and to the Ponsse factory also received praise”, says Professor Kalle Kärhä of the University of Eastern Finland.
The conference week began with an ice-breaking event in the METLA building in Joensuu. On Tuesday, participants visited either the Stora Enso mill in Uimaharju, or the Savon Voima new biochar plant in Iiksenvaara, Joensuu. Following these visits, the programme continued with a timber-harvesting demonstration by Ponsse machinery, showcasing the use of precision positioning in harvesting operations. Also featured was Metsä Group’s newly launched forest management model, Metsä Group Plus, which considers biodiversity in forest ecosystems.
“From the timber-harvesting show, we returned to central Joensuu, Penttilä, to attend an event organised by Forest Joensuu at Cederberg Square. Participants had the opportunity to learn about timber rafting. We also presented a low-emission biogas-powered timber truck combination, the efficient Risupeto energy wood harvester, and the Kesla HydraX forest fire extinguishing trailer unit”, Kärhä says.
“Wednesday and Thursday were dedicated to the core conference programme with its keynote speeches and scientific presentations. Partner companies were also invited to give company and product presentations. Our keynote speakers included Professor Ola Lindroos from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Forest Director Karoliina Niemi from the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, Director, Research & Programs Kalle Einola from Ponsse, and Professor Juha Hyyppä from the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute.
The conference boasted more than 160 oral presentations and 40 poster sessions ranging from teleoperation of soil preparation machinery to assisting forest machine operators using mobile laser scanning technology. Wednesday evening concluded with the conference dinner at Sokos Hotel Koli.
On the final day, participants had the opportunity to visit the Ponsse factory in Vieremä, where they were introduced to the Ponsse product portfolio and the benefits of cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting in Nordic forestry, along with a guided factory tour.
FORMEC 2025 was organised in collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the University of Helsinki, Metsäteho Oy, BOKU University in Austria, and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). Finland has previously hosted a FORMEC conference in 1974 and 1987.
Ponsse Plc served as the main partner of the conference. Other partners included the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, the University of Joensuu Foundation, Metsä Group, Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation, Metsäavain Oy, Trimble Forestry Europe Oy, Arbonaut Oy Ltd, Ecomond Oy, Kelluu Oy, Pentin Paja Oy, Scanpole Oy, and Stora Enso Plc. The City of Joensuu contributed to the conference arrangements through the Innokaupunki Joensuu project and the Forest Joensuu innovation ecosystem.
FORMEC 2026 will be held in the Czech Republic in autumn 2026.
Source:
Kärhä, K., Acuna, M., Kanzian, C., Kasurinen, S., Kymäläinen, H., Malinen, J., Ovaskainen, H., Palander, T., Pesonen, J., Sikanen, L., Sivén, J., Uusitalo, J., Väätäinen, K. & Stampfer, K. 2025. CTL-puunkorjuu vahvasti esillä FORMEC:issa – Konferenssivieraiden palaute oli erinomaista [CTL harvesting techology strongly featured at FORMEC – Conference feedback was excellent]. Metsäalan Ammattilehti 40(Kesä): 60–61. https://issuu.com/ammattilehti.fi/docs/mets_alan_ammattilehti_kes_2025
