Mark Willis Firewood – The Power and Reliability of Palax in Cornwall

In Mid Cornwall (TR4), Mark Willis Firewood runs a professional firewood operation with impressive efficiency. At the heart of his production is a 2017 Palax C1000 – a powerful, fully hydraulic processor that delivers consistent performance, smooth workflow, and dependable results day after day.

Mark’s journey with Palax began years ago when he started looking for a more powerful machine to meet growing demand.
“I previously had a Hakki Pilke 1×37, but I wanted something faster and built for professional use. At the APF show, I had a great chat with Jim from Caledonian Forestry, and he told me Palax was developing a new Power 90 – a model to bridge the gap between the 70 and 100. I placed an order straight away and ended up with one of the first Power 90s in the UK.”

That first Palax left a lasting impression: user-friendly, fast, reliable, and producing perfectly uniform firewood. After the Power 90, Mark upgraded to two Power 100 models, and today he runs a Palax C1000, which has proven to be a true workhorse for professional production.

For Mark, one of the C1000’s key advantages Is its fully hydraulic design. With fewer moving parts, there’s less wear, lower maintenance, and longer service intervals.
“Palax machines are very well designed. They’re robust, fast, and user-friendly. The machine does exactly what it’s supposed to do – with no surprises.”

In everyday use, Mark values the practical features that make a difference. The splitting knife can be changed quickly and without tools, and the swinging discharge conveyor allows two cages to be filled at once. “It saves a lot of time and keeps the workflow smooth without unnecessary stops.”

The C1000’s intelligent systems also boost efficiency. The Optimi system automatically adjusts the splitting stroke length based on log size, while PowerSpeed™ detects the required splitting force and adapts speed, accordingly, ensuring optimal performance for every log.
“When you’re processing large volumes, every small-time saving counts. The Palax keeps up with the pace, delivering consistent output day after day.”

Reliable after-sales support is another key factor for Mark. He credits Oxdale for excellent service and fast spare-part delivery. “Knowing help is available right away gives peace of mind and keeps production running.”

With years of experience across multiple Palax models, Mark is confident in his choice.
“The C1000 has been an excellent investment. It’s made my work easier, faster, and, above all, more reliable.”

In Cornwall’s demanding conditions, the Palax C1000 continues to prove itself as a powerful, low-maintenance, and dependable processor – built to perform safely and efficiently, day after day.