Valtra modernises and expands their brand home factory of Suolahti

Recent investments in Valtra’s factory in Central Finland enable even better customer service through improved manufacturing efficiency and better working conditions for many of its 1,200 employees.

Big improvements for big tractors

The most noticeable change at the Finnish factory is Valtra’s new 2,000 m2 paint shop. This impressive building sits immediately adjacent to the main assembly line. The new paint shop ensures high-quality of the finished paint for customers and enhances process efficiency.

In the new set up, the assembled tractor frames are taken from the assembly line to the new paint shop via  Automated Guided Vehicle carts (AGV)s. The frames are then suspended and carried by overhead conveyors. This hanging method of conveyance and the additional space afforded in the new building allows for more efficient washing, drying, painting and priming processes.

The original paint shop was built in 1969 and was located in the main assembly hall. While painting technology has developed over the years, the old paint shop was not large enough to accommodate Valtra’s newest high horsepower tractors – the Q and S Series. Relocating the paint shop has enabled the Valtra team to better serve its customers by facilitating an accelerated production pace that increases capacity.  This change also significantly improves employee working conditions in the assembly plant as the noise, heat and moisture from the old paint shop have been eliminated.

More capacity and efficiency for transmission plant

Valtra’s Suolahti transmission plant is also undergoing significant expansion and modernisation. The factory currently manufactures transmissions used in the N and T Series tractors and delivers powershift transmissions for the South American market and transmission components for other AGCO sites. In the future, the AGCO CVT transmissions used in the Q and S Series will also be made in Finland.

A new transmission test bench dedicated to Q and S Series transmissions will enable higher production of high horsepower tractors to meet growing customer demand.

Other recent investments that improve customer outcomes include the new Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) 5 automated manufacturing system that is linked to the material store and state-of-the-art machining centres. This new system ensures consistent quality while also enabling larger capacities. Three additional machining centers will complete the FMS in early 2024.

Come to stand 9.420 to find out more about the changes.