Loglogic named Swedish Steel Prize 2025 finalist

Low ground pressure vehicles 

Loglogic, based in Devon, England, was originally formed to build computer controlled timber harvesters, hence the name. Today Loglogic is a world leading manufacturer of low ground pressure tracked vehicles for use in nature conservation, agriculture, forestry and the utility industries.

Biodiversity, CO₂ reduction, paludiculture

Wetlands are a vital habitat for fish, birds, insects and other wildlife, making them essential for biodiversity. Peat bogs, for example, store large amounts of CO₂. Today, in order to correct excessive draining of wetlands in the past, tens of thousands of hectares around Europe are now being re-wetted.

Re-conservation is the first step. The next step towards a sustainable future for wetlands is “paludiculture”, or bog-farming. It means to farm with high water tables for the profitable and sustainable production of wetland crops. 

The birth of Softrak

In 1998 Loglogic was approached by a Nature Conservation Organization looking for machines for use on areas previously deemed inaccessible to heavy machinery. More specifically, they needed a vehicle for managing wetland sites and the ground pressure exerted by the machine had to be less than 1,5 PSI (pound-force per square inch). For reference, the pressure exerted by a human foot is about 8 PSI. 

In response, Loglogic developed the ultra-low ground pressure, high mobility vehicle known today as the Softrak.

High strength steel from the start

Softraks can be used in terrains where other vehicles would get bogged down, stuck, or cause a lot of damage to delicate environments.

“We used high strength steels from SSAB from day one,” says Marcus Frankpitt, head of Design and Development at Loglogic. “It allows us to use considerably less material, making the vehicle lighter. That is why we go places where others can’t.”

Initially developed for moving men and equipment, the Softrak soon developed into a multipurpose tool carrier with a wide range of attachments such as: Cut and collect systems, mowers, mulchers, chippers, stump grinders, cranes, winches and specialist bodies.

Nearly 200 Softraks are at work throughout the world. If not for Covid and a lingering struggle to keep up with demand, there would be many more.

Lighter, stronger, better

The Softrak is the only series-made vehicle of its kind. It comes in several models that can be adapted for different tasks and for different environments. The core is built with Strenx and Hardox, with galvanized Strenx used for machines built for corrosive, coastal environments. The design would have weighed 30% more with ordinary steel qualities. Marcus is pleased with other aspects, too.
“During manufacture we can treat the high strength steel almost like a normal steel. Being a small manufacturer, this makes it more straightforward for us.”

Making a difference every day

The Softrak is a light, well-balanced machine. It is also tough as nails and comes with a long service life. It is uncertain how long, because none of Loglogic’s low pressure vehicles have yet been taken out of service. 

Wetland restoration and management in Britain is Loglogic’s biggest market sector, but Softrak vehicles are busy at work (except for during nesting season) in wetlands throughout Europe and the Americas, and more. They are contributing to saving tens of thousands of tons of CO₂ equivalent per year.

“We’re not just here just to make a profit, we’re here to make a difference,” says Marcus.

For further information, please contact: 

Eva Petursson, Chair of the Jury, Swedish Steel Prize, [email protected]
Anna Rutkvist, Project Manager, Swedish Steel Prize, [email protected]