The Swedish forest-machine manufacturer Eco Log Sweden AB belonging to Eco Log Group AB (both of Söderhamn) is discontinuing production of the forwarder models of its affiliate company Gremo AB (Ätran, Sweden). This was reported by Eco Log on 16 February 2023. In the days that followed, however, the release was altered due to the reactions of customers and sales partners. This mainly involves the date that production will stop, which had been given as the turn of the year 2023/2024 in the first release.
The reason Eco Log gives for the decision is that extensive investment measures are necessary at the works in Söderham if production were to continue. Furthermore, Eco Log only sees little sales potential, at least at the moment, for the 8.5-12.5 t payload forwarders originally developed by Gremo and built at the Eco Log works under the Eco Log brand name after the merger between the two companies in 2020. Eco Log is announcing the development of a new model in this class, however. Eco Log will continue to build the 14-20 t-payload forwarders unchanged.
Eco Log had encountered financial difficulties last year. As part of revitalisation and restructuring measures, Eco Log Group’s partners, Accent Equity Partners AB (Stockholm), Weland AB (Smålandsstenar), and Stig Linderholm, sold all or part of their shares to the investment company Lazarus Industriförvaltning AB (Stockholm) at the beginning of December. Eco Log Group was formed in 2020 after the merger between Eco Log Sweden, Eco Log Försäljning AB (Nyhammar), Gremo, Gremo Maskinservice AB (Ätran), and SP Maskiner AB (Ljungby).
Waldburg Forstmaschinen Wolfegg (WFW) GmbH, responsible for sales of forest machines of the Swedish manufacturer Eco Log Sweden in large parts of central Europe, put the Eco Log news on Gremo forwarders into perspective. WFW’s authorised signatory Winfried Möhler points out that forwarders of the model series stated in the release will still be built and delivered in 2024. Möhler regrets the annoyance caused amongst customers by the statement on Eco Log’s company website. Möhler draws attention to the fact that model-maintenance measures are due anyway owing to technical requirements. The model series will then be given a thorough upgrade in the course of these. He confirms that Eco Log will continue to press ahead with the development of these new models in the class of up to 12 t until the end of production in 2024, which has not been precisely defined yet.