Forest Machinery

Kesla Oyj Introduces Enhanced Models of Its Popular 20SH-II and 25SH-II Stroke Harvester Heads

Kesla Oyj has upgraded its widely used stroke harvester heads with a range of enhancements designed to improve durability, performance, and user experience. The new harvester head models, known as KESLA 20SH-II Advance and 25SH-II Advance, introduce productivity-boosting features, strengthened structures, and expanded configuration options to better meet the demands of modern timber harvesting.

Sumitomo SH135 & KESLA 25SH-II Advance harvester head, Japan.
Sumitomo SH135 & KESLA 25SH-II Advance harvester head, Japan.

Productivity-enhancing updates include optimized hydraulics, an optional tilt lock function and proportional pressure control, redesigned delimbing blades, as well as new sensor solutions for measuring length and stroke position.

Durability has been increased by strengthening material thickness in critical areas and through design changes to the tilt arm. The new delimbing blades are also stronger than before. Reliability in daily operation has been significantly improved through several changes to hydraulic hoses and electrical wire harnesses.

Improvements that enhance user comfort and serviceability include better tilt damping and modifications to protective covers.

The selection of configurable accessories has been expanded, enabling KESLA SH-II Advance models to be equipped even more precisely according to customer needs.

“The stroke harvester is an excellent solution for timber harvesting in mountainous areas and for particularly challenging tree species, as the stroke feed enables very high feeding force even with low-power base machines. Kesla is the undisputed market and technology leader in stroke harvesters worldwide, and with the improvements now introduced, the products are once again even more competitive”, says Mika Tahvanainen, Kesla’s Product Management Director.

Deliveries of the renewed SH‑II Advance models began in early 2026 to Japan, and they will replace the previous SH‑II models in other markets during Q1/2026.