AGCO’s Valtra brand is marking a major production milestone at its Suolahti facility in Finland, following the completion of its 1,000th continuously variable transmission (CVT).
These CVTs are integral parts for Valtra’s most popular tractors like the A Series and S Series.
The expansion of the Suolahti facility was commissioned as part of Valtra’s €38 million high‑technology investment.
The addition to the CVT facility was officially opened last year and added 3,200m2 of production area to the transmission plant.
CVT facilities significance
Valtra claims the expansion of its CVT manufacturing facilities has “quickly proven its capability for efficient, high‑quality series production”.
In addition to Valtra tractors, AGCO CVT transmissions produced in Suolahti are also used in select Fendt and Massey Ferguson tractors.
According to Valtra, the facility has “rapidly reached a stable and efficient production level.” and the investment is seen as “one of the most significant in Valtra’s history”.
Valtra Suolahti transmission plant manager Kullervo Mansikkala spoke about the significance of the 1,000th CVT, noting that “series production began approximately one year ago.
“Reaching this 1,000th CVT milestone shows that the new Suolahti expansion has achieved its intended performance quickly, with quality, delivery reliability and efficiency fully aligned.
“We have created a solid foundation that allows us to scale up and further develop transmission production in close cooperation with AGCO’s global manufacturing network”.
Made in Finland
This AGCO manufacturing plant reinforces Valtra’s ‘Made in Finland’ promise, which means approximately 50% of components used at the Suolahti facility originate in Finland.
Valtra also customise roughly one third of its tractors through the Valtra Unlimited studio before they leave the factory so that they are ready for high specific farming and contracting needs.
Additionally, Valtra asserts its Suolahti factory uses 100% renewably sourced electricity and “is fast approaching zero emissions status, having reduced emissions by 97% over five years”.
The manufacturer moved its S Series production and development of its ML 260 CVT to the he Suolahti plant from Beauvais, France in 2023.
Valtra hopes that the 1,000th transmission celebration is proof of its plan to provide a “strong long‑term platform for competitiveness and continued development of transmission manufacturing in Finland”.