From Excavator-Mounted Planters to a New Era of Mechanized Planting: Bracke Forest Introduces the P16 Concept

For more than three decades, Bracke Forest has led mechanized forest regeneration, continuously developing solutions that improve productivity, planting quality, and operational sustainability. Since 1991, the company has specialized in planting technology designed to integrate with forestry base machines such as excavators, bulldozers, harvesters, and forwarders, helping forestry companies worldwide establish plantations more efficiently. Throughout its history, innovation has been central to Bracke Forest’s identity. A significant milestone came in 2013, when the company’s technology was used to plant the first eucalyptus trees in South America through a fully mechanized planting operation. This achievement demonstrated that mechanized forest regeneration could successfully meet the demanding requirements of eucalyptus plantations while delivering consistent quality and operational efficiency.

Today, Bracke Forest is taking another major step forward with the development of the P16, a completely new planting concept that expands beyond the traditional machine-mounted planting head. Unlike previous Bracke solutions, which have always been integrated with forestry base machines, the P16 has been designed as a trailer-based planting system, opening new possibilities for mechanized forest regeneration. The first P16 prototype has already undergone field testing in Brazil, where forestry conditions provided an excellent environment to validate the concept. Initial results have been highly encouraging, demonstrating excellent planting quality and confirming the potential of this innovative approach. The positive outcomes achieved during the first testing phase have reinforced confidence in the project’s future development.

Following the successful Brazilian trials, the P16 concept is now preparing to enter its next chapter, with operational testing planned in Europe. This international testing program will provide valuable insights across different terrains, soils, and planting conditions, further validating the machine’s versatility. Development continues at a rapid pace. A second-generation P16 prototype is currently being finalized and is scheduled to begin testing in Brazil in early 2027. This next-generation machine incorporates lessons learned from the initial prototype and represents another important step toward bringing a new level of efficiency and flexibility to mechanized forest planting. Internally, the Bracke P16 prototype is described as a tractor-based planting concept designed to deliver high productivity, while the next generation is being developed with future market requirements in mind.  With the P16, Bracke Forest is not only building on more than 35 years of planting expertise but also redefining how mechanized planting can be performed. By combining decades of practical experience with innovative engineering, the company continues its mission to advance forest regeneration and support the growing demand for efficient, high-quality, and sustainable plantation establishment.

A video of the P16 concept can be viewed on the Bracke LinkedIn post: Bracke P16