Production of the specialized bodies was subcontracted to Valmet in Finland.
Karlstads Mekaniska Werkstad, a former Swedish mechanical industry, which was taken over by Valmet (paper industry equipment) and Vickers (marine equipment - KaMeWa) in 1986
In early 1990, Cherry took part in plans to modernize the manufacturing firm Valmet-Dominion Inc. (a unit of the Finnish company Valmet) and relaunch its corporate office in Montreal.
As a testament to its heritage, early prototypes were fabricated using Valmet Rk 62 receivers manufactured in Helsinki.
A convertible version was constructed by Finnish Valmet, the prototype version is currently on display at the Uusikaupunki car museum near the Valmet factory.
After several organizational shifts in state ownership, the SAKO name remained for the privately owned gun- and cartridge-producing company located in the cities of Riihimäki and Jyväskylä (former Valmet factory in Tourula, which was later closed).
In manufacturing, Valmet Automotive’s customer references include Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Saab, Opel and Fisker.
The Valmet M76, M72 and M78 have been used as props to simulate the AK-47 and related Soviet weapons in a number of US films during the Cold War, most notably Red Dawn, Commando and Firefox, most likely due to their availability.
Later on, the Helsinki University of Technology and Valmet Oy joined the project and the design process started from scratch.
In spite of their economic problems, the aircraft manufacturer Valmet began designing a new aircraft in the beginning of the 1950s, to replace the aging FAF VL Pyrys.