Case

Award-winning forest harvester cabin design

Designing the new Ponsse Scorpion harvester cabin was a comprehensive undertaking and included everything from early concept work and user insight to final production and roll-out of the product.

A human-centred design approach was utilised throughout the project, with an emphasis on gaining a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of the harvester operators and associated stakeholders through in-depth interviews, observations and co-creation workshops.

The Ponsse Scorpion cabin is a state-of-the-art forest harvester cabin design and results from a multi-year collaborative effort between Aivan and Ponsse. Ponsse is one of the largest manufacturers of cut-to-length forest machines globally and produces forest harvesters with a long reach and superior hillside maneuverability.

 

Case Information

Client

Ponsse

Scope

  1. Research & analysis
  2. Portfolio & roadmap strategy
  3. Opportunity mapping
  4. Brand & product DNA
  5. Concept design
  6. Product design
  7. Experience design
  8. CMF design
  9. Graphic design
  10. Mechanical engineering
  11. 3D visualisation
  12. Game engine development
  13. Virtual reality development
  14. Virtual prototype
  15. Prototyping
  16. Hard modelling
  17. Pre-engineering
  18. Pre-assembly
  19. Sourcing support
  20. Manufacturing support

Web

Awards & Recognitions

  1. Red Dot – Best of the Best Winner
  2. Fennia Prize Winner
  3. iF Design Award
A human-centred design approach was utilised throughout the project, with an emphasis placed on gaining a deep understanding of the challenges and needs of the harvester operators and associated stakeholders through in-depth interviews, observations and co-creation workshops.

Managing a high-stress workplace

Harvester operators work alone in a stressful environment, where the cognitive load is high and decisions made under time pressure can directly impact pay. Due to the nature of the job, which requires operators to sit for long periods, ergonomic working conditions were a priority. This includes everything from improved viewing angles and lighting to a more comfortable and accessible operator's seat and cabin environment.

Using gaming to create a user-friendly operating system

A more user-friendly operating system that provides essential information at-a-glance enables operators to focus more of their time on the task at hand — selecting and harvesting trees. Material choices that feel soft to the touch and provide acoustic dampening further enhance the cabin atmosphere, and together with the thoughtful layout aim to cut down on small annoyances and stressors, and create a more enjoyable working environment.

Once the door is closed to the outside world, all is quiet, elegant and in the right place.

More comfort
More precise
More efficient

The new cabin is a game changer for operators, giving them an unparalleled view of the working area, an intuitive control interface and improved comfort — so that they can be even more efficient and precise from dawn to dusk.

Better productivity begins with great design.

 

“You don't get tired as easily, which increases efficiency.”
Valtteri Pirttimaa, Metsä Pirttimaa Oy

Results

  1. Accepted and approved by actual users
  2. New productivity benchmark 
  3. Winner of several major design awards

Are you interested?

Antti Mäkelä

Head of Strategy & Products,
Partner
+358 50 547 4912

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