Logotipo Valmet

2011-01-20

After a little more than seven years with Japanese Komatsu Ltd as its owner and a strong focus on quality, it's time for forest machine manufacturer Komatsu Forest to take the next step. The machines are changing name from Valmet to Komatsu, but their distinctive red color will remain.

http://www.komatsuforest.us/default.aspx?id=1848&newsid=60676

The original name Valmet was an abbreviation of the words VALtion METallitehtaat, State Metal Works. The name was adopted in 1951, at the same time when the first tractor was produced. The parallel brand, Valtra, was first registered in 1963 and differs only slightly from Valmet.

When corporate reorganisation dispersed the old Valmet company, Valmet paper manufacturing machines became holder of the Valmet name and logo. The tractor business was transferred to Sisu Corporation in 1994 and the right to use the Valmet name on tractors was permitted to the end of April 2001.

Initially it was thought the name Sisu would be used to replace Valtra, but in tractor circles this idea was not accepted. It was decided to revive the name Valtra. The reasons are very evident. Valtra is part of the brand heritage and as close to the familiar respected name of Valmet as possible.

Sisu merged with Partek in 1997 and the tractor company changed its name to Valtra Inc. Partek management decided that the name Valtra Valmet would be used during the three and a half year transitional period after which the brand name would be Valtra.

http://history.valtra.com/en/product-history/1997-name-changes