The new facility, called Wheel Works, gives Finland a second wheelset lathe critical for railway operations. According to VR, this reduces a key vulnerability in the national maintenance system and improves the operational reliability of rolling stock.
The investment is also relevant for freight and cross-border logistics. The new lathe can maintain wheelsets for the European standard gauge of 1,435 mm, expanding VR’s service capability beyond Finland’s domestic broad-gauge network and allowing it to support international rolling stock.
Wheelset lathing is a core part of railway maintenance. As wheels wear in operation, their profile changes, increasing stress on both vehicles and infrastructure. Turning restores the correct wheel profile and supports safe, reliable operation.
The new centre also supports wagon manufacturing in Pieksämäki, where several major freight and defence-related projects are currently underway. These include the production of heavy transport wagons for the Swedish and Norwegian defence forces, as well as roundwood wagons for UPM.
VR says the layout of the new facility is designed to improve production flow, shorten lead times and use resources more efficiently. The centre will also be used in the production of wheelsets for new wagons.
Otso Ikonen, Senior Vice President of Maintenance at VR, said the investment addresses “a critical vulnerability” in Finland’s security of supply, while also extending VR’s ability to serve international rolling stock.
The project strengthens Pieksämäki’s role as one of Finland’s key centres for rail maintenance and wagon production, at a time when freight resilience, industrial capacity and defence mobility are becoming increasingly connected.
