Forest machine factory
in Joensuu, Finland
Rauma-Repola established a machine shop in Joensuu, Finland, in 1972. One of the region’s most important competitive advantages was – and still is – the availability of a skilled and motivated workforce. In addition to forest machines, the Joensuu factory has produced excavators, road graders and rollers, and screens and feeders for crushing equipment. The factory has also performed subcontracting for other Rauma-Repola factories.
John Deere Joensuu Factory - Have you ever seen how forest machines are made?
Our factory uses the industry’s latest technologies and production methods, enabling efficient and sustainable production. Every one of our forest machines is meticulously designed down to the smallest detail because we know the demands of difficult forest conditions – both for the machines and the operators.
Production line
The factory’s production capacity is eight machines per day, and the total production volume since 1972 exceeds 35,000 forest machines in the year 2022.
John Deere has plenty of know-how in the manufacturing of machines and equipment. This expertise is also used at the Joensuu factory when planning work methods. At the Joensuu factory, safety, precise work methods and tidiness are crucial for work efficiency and occupational safety.
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Welder Jarkko Tuononen is checking the trajectories of the welding robot.
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The welder programs the automated tack welding robot ready for the task.
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Welding of a load space.
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The welder is finalizing a headboard welded by the robot.
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Material coordinator Toni Vartiainen is following up the production and component availability.
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Assembly mechanic Markku Kekkonen is is bleeding the hydraulic system of a 1270G harvester.
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Assembly mechanic Markku Kekkonen is controlling the mechanism of the rotating and levelling cabin.
Forest machine production started with forwarders in 1973. The annual output initially ranged from a few dozen to as many as one hundred units. Even today, the legendary Lokomo 909, 919 and 939 models of the 1970s and 1980s are remembered as the pinnacle of forest machine technology in their day.
The production of forest machines has been the exclusive focus at Joensuu since 1995. In the 1990s, the green forest machines became Timberjacks and remained as such until 2005 when the brand was changed to John Deere.
Deere has invested in Finland after the year 2000 approx. 370 M€, of which c. 270M€ in product development and retail and c. 100 M€ in the factory.
John Deere forwarders and harvesters have been awarded the right to use the Key Flag symbol. The Key Flag symbol indicates that the product has been manufactured in Finland. We are proud of the high Finnish commitment and quality.
50 years of Joensuu forest machine factory
Rauma-Repola acquired Oy Lokomo Ab in 1970. The factory of Oy Lokomo Ab was established in 1972 in Joensuu and the production started on the 12th of September, 1972. In the beginning, the factory was a subcontracting plant for Rauma-Repola's other plants.
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1973
The first 909 forwarders from the Oy Lokomo Ab Joensuu factory are completed.
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1982
Rauma-Repola acquires Ösa AB, a Swedish manufacturer of forest machines.
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1983
Rauma-Repola acquires Bruun Systems AB, a Swedish manufacturer of forest machines. In the same year, a forest machine group is established under Rauma-Repola's Lokomo industry. The company's name is Lokomo Forest Oy.
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1984
Rauma-Repola acquires Kockums Industri AB, a Swedish manufacturer of forest machines.
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1987
The company name is changed to FMG Lokomo Forest Oy (Forest Machine Group of Rauma-Repola). Joensuu factory has manufactured 1000 forest machines. Wheeled harvester production is concentrated in Filipstad, Sweden.
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1991
Rauma-Repola acquires Timberjack, a forest machine manufacturer from Canada, in 1989. In 1991, Yhtyneet Paperitehtaat and Rauma-Repola merge. Rauma Oy is a subsidiary of the merged Repola Oy, under which the company's metal and machinery industry are assembled. The name of the forest machine company is changed to FMG Timberjack Oy.
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1994
The name of the company is changed to Timberjack Oy.
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1999
Repola and Valmet merge and the new company Metso decides to divest the forest machine business. Joensuu factory receives environmental certificate ISO 14001.
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2000
Deere & Company acquires the forest machine business. The company is renamed to Timberjack Oy, a John Deere Company.
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2003
Wheeled harvester production is moved back to Joensuu.
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2005
The name of the company is changed to John Deere Forestry Oy and the trademark is changed to John Deere.
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2015
GreenPark supplier park starts beside the factory. All warehousing is centralized in GreenPark's premises and internal logistics are improved. Joensuu factory has manufactured 25,000 forest machines.
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2020
Deere & Company invests €15 million to increase production capacity at Joensuu factory. The factory has manufactured 32,000 forest machines.
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2022
Joensuu factory's 50th anniversary. The expansion of the production facilities is completed. The factory has manufactured 35,000 forest machines.
Our environment
Every John Deere forest machine manufactured in Finland has been produced with 100% renewable energy since 1.2.2020.