The Valmet 15A was introduced at a time when small tractors were replacing horses as the principal means of power on the farm. Diminutive by today’s standards, the 15A weighed only 780 kilograms and was powered by a 15 horsepower, 1.5 liter four-cylinder petrol engine manufactured by the Linnavuori engine factory.

Sales got off to a good, profitable start, and September 1954 saw the delivery of the 2000th Valmet tractor. Just as today, users continually requested more power, so the Valmet 20 was introduced in May 1955. Also powered by a petrol engine, but now producing 22 horsepower, this new model could be fitted with a revolutionary new development: a hydraulic lift linkage. It rapidly became clear, however, that farmers were in need of a medium-heavy diesel tractor. Gustaf av Wrede, Director General of Valmet Oy, initiated the development of what was later known as the Valmet 33. This tractor was designed at the Tourula factories in Jyväskylä under the leadership of Olavi Sipilä, who had also contributed to the design of the smaller Valmet tractors. The new tractor was again powered by an engine from the Linnavuori factory. The impressive diesel powered Valmet 33 was launched at the Helsinki Messuhalli Fair in November 1956.

Valmet began exporting tractors in 1958, with 1250 machines going to Brazil and a further 250 to China.

Exports to Brazil started promisingly, but almost immediately the Brazilian government decided to commence domestic tractor production. Competitive bids were invited from all tractor manufacturers, and of the ten applicants six, including Valmet, ultimately commenced production. Incidentally, the proposals presented by Valmet were considered the best in their class.

In 1960 Valmet established a factory in the town of Mogi das Cruzes, near São Paulo. The first 40 horsepower Valmet 360D tractors were completed in December of that year. Initially Valmet did not receive a permit to use its own diesel engines, and as a result early tractors were fitted with MWM power units.

Back in Finland, contractors were demanding tractors with yet more power. Valmet responded in 1964 by launching its largest tractor so far: the 864 fitted with an American power transmission. In the same year Valmet also introduced a pivot steered forestry tractor. Mostly constructed from Valmet 361D farm tractor components, this was the predecessor of today’s comprehensive range of Valmet forestry machines. Owing to a shortage of capacity in the Tourula factories, forest machinery manufacturing was transferred to Tampere.

Olavi Sipilä moved to Tampere at the same time, and Rauno Bergius was assigned product development manager at the Tourula unit. His first design was the Valmet 565, featuring a synchronized transmission.

The next issue to be addressed was the tractor cab. A protective frame was to become an obligatory feature, and this was also used to attach cladding for weather protection. Introduced in 1967, the Valmet 900 represented a new line of thinking: it was the first tractor with an integrated safety cab as standard. This development introduced an important consideration for the comfort – as well as safety – of the driver. For example, the gear levers of the synchronized 8F/2R transmission were now located more comfortably on the driver’s right side. Tractors with cabs required higher assembly areas than were available in the Tourula plant, and it was recognized that a new factory would be required. Initially this was to be located near Jyväskylä. However, an appropriate alternative location was found 45 kilometers away at the present site in Suolahti, where production commenced in September 1969.

Following negotiations with Valmet, Volvo BM made a strategic decision to cease manufacturing tractors and farm machinery. However, the company wished to remain a component supplier in order to reduce the impact on employment in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The tractor operations of Volvo BM were transferred to a company called Scantrac, 50 percent of which was owned by Valmet. The design of a new range of tractors designated Volvo BM Valmet had already commenced by the time contracts were signed in September 1979. Valmet was later to become the outright owner of Scantrac.

In May 1982 Valmet introduced the red 04 models ranging from 49 to 67 horsepower. Later, in June 1982, a completely new 05 line of 65 to 95 horsepower tractors was produced. The new line combined the durability and high quality of Volvo BM tractors with the more advanced, modern operating characteristics of Valmet tractors. Production of the new line commenced in Brazil in the mid-1980s and continues today.

In 1983 Volvo BM Valmet tractors became market leaders not only in Finland and Sweden but in all the Nordic countries.

In 1986 Valmet and Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG signed a letter of intent to co-operate on the design and manufacture of a range of engines and a series of tractors from 90 to 140 hp. The project commenced positively but in 1989, the Deutsche Bank, owners of Deutz, and Steyr’s owners – Kreditanstalt – required Deutz and Steyr to instigate a co-operative venture causing Valmet to withdrew. Based on knowledge gained from working with Steyr, Valmet proceeded to develop the Mezzo and Mega ranges.

Co-operation with Steyr had produced a number of advanced features, and sales of 4-cylinder Mezzo tractors, introduced in 1991, and later 6-cylinder Mega models grew rapidly throughout continental Europe and the British isles.

1991 and ‘92 were years of depression for the world tractor industry. At Valmet our Brazilian tractor operations and the diesel engine factory located at Nokia, Finland, were merged with our European tractor operations. Throughout this period the Suolahti factory was developing a customer order system and moving towards ISO 9001 quality accreditation. A sales office was also established in each of Valmet’s major export countries in order to foster closer contact with customers.

In 1993 Valmet became the first tractor manufacturer in the world to obtain ISO 9001 certification. In ’99 the company also received the Finnish quality award. During this turbulent decade ownership changed twice: Valmet Oy wished to concentrate on paper manufacturing machinery and general factory automation. As a result, in 1994 Sisu acquired the tractor division. In 1997 Valmet, as a division of Sisu, became part of the Partek Group. Other Partek companies, including Kalmar container handling machines and Hiab truck cranes, are acknowledged world leaders in their sector.

A glimpse of what the new millennium would offer was seen at the Agritechnica exhibition in Hanover in 1999. The introduction of the S Series spearheaded future development, incorporating increasingly high levels of information technology.

Celebrations marking Valtra's 50th anniversary were held in January 2001. These included the inauguration of a new customer service center at Suolahti.

Since the beginning of 2001, all our tractors carry the Valtra brand name.

Valtra launched the new T Series in 2002. In 2003 the fascinating M, XM and C Series were introduced in Europe and the BF/BL Series in Brazil.

The Kone Corporation acquired the Partek Corporation in 2002, and Valtra Inc. became a part of the new Kone Corporation. Although this was a temporary arrangement, Valtra was able to enlarge the factory premises in Suolahti during the Kone period in order to increase manufacturing capacity.

The 500,000th Valtra tractor was delivered in September 2003. If we include Volvo BM tractors, the total is nearly 800,000 units.

Kone decided to sell Valtra Inc. in June 2003. The highest bid was made by the AGCO Corporation. As of 5 January 2004, Valtra is a part of the AGCO Corporation

Additional information can be read in Hannu Niskanen’s work “50 tales about Valtra” available in Finnish, English, Swedish, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese.