Valtra is a manufacturer of tractors and agricultural machinery with production facilities in Finland and Brazil. In 2004, Valtra became a fully owned subsidiary of the globally operating AGCO company. Prior to 1998, the tractors were sold under the Valmet brand name. From 1998 to 2001, the tractors’ transition name was Valtra Valmet. The Finnish Valmet company started to build tractors in 1951.
Valtra’s T-series was introduced in 2009, this model is powered by a Sisu 74CTA turbodiesel with an intercooler. An inline-six engine with a displacement of 7,368 cc and a maximum power output of 190 hp @ 2,200 rpm.
The tractor features Valtra’s Direct stepless transmission, as introduced in 2008.
Here’s the right side of the front drive axle. Besides farming, the high-quality Valtra tractors are also widely used in forestry.
According to the information I found on the tractor, its towing capacity is 32,200 kg (70,989 lbs).
And now to the interesting TwinTrac-part of the model designation. Turn the seat 180 degrees and you’re sitting behind another steering wheel and an extra set of pedals. You can have (and drive) it both ways, safety and good ergonomics in the best Scandinavian tradition.
Valtra tractors, and previously Valmet, come in multiple colors. I’ve seen them in orange, blue, red, silver, black and now in this shade of green.
Oh look, another AGCO family member. A French built (that’s right) Massey Ferguson 7720 S. We’ll have a closer look at that more recent machine later.
Nice! I wonder if these are used with backhoes, as the swivel seat is a necessity for that use case…
TwinTrac is a popular feature in Scandinavian forestry.
Another example, this is in the Netherlands (both pictures from Valtra’s website).
A backhoe must be one of the many (other) options.
There’s this common conception of the “simple farmer” that really doesn’t hold up to any scrutiny…nowadays you’ve got to be a plant and soil scientist, climatologist, and you’ve got to pilot this thing…which by the looks of that cabin is on par with some aircraft in terms of instrumentation.
Valmet Automotive has produced a series of cars under contract starting in 1969, including Saab, Talbot, Opel, Lada, and the Porsche Boxster/Cayman until 2011. They are currently producing some Mercedes-Benz A and GLC class vehicles. Details at Wiki.
Valmet’s pre-WW2 roots: the production of rifles and artillery. The priorities changed, after the war. Like developing and building farm- and forestry tractors…
You probably also know they built some aircraft, including an improvement on the Messerschmidt Bf-109G, mostly out of wood, and with a wider landing gear, addressing one of the Bf-109’s main shortcomings. One prototype of the VL Pyörremyrsky was built and flight tested 1945-46. Several training aircraft were designed and built post WWII.
An anorak fact: “Valmet” is abbreviation of Valtion Metalli, Finnish for “Nation’s Metal” as the company was originally owned by the state…
This is a brand of tractor I see occasionally but knew nothing about them, Thanx Johannes.
Thanks for that one Johannes. My late grandfather owned one Valmet made in Brazil, it was bought new, back in the 60’s and worked until a few years ago just fine.
I deeply admire Finland. A land of forests, not particularly good for agriculture, not reach on minerals, and yet (or because of it) developed some pretty competitive industrial and tech enterprises.
American audiences may be more familiar with the bidirectional Versatile tractors courtesy of our northern neighbors, later used by Ford-New Holland. Even after NH merged with Case IH and were forced to divest Versatile, they retained the bidirectional layout.