Deere & Company has a $70-million program in place to increase manufacturing capacity for large farm tractors its Waterloo, Iowa, operation. The project details were scant, but the equipment builder said the improvements would increase manufacturing flexibility and speed. The news follows a December announcement that the farming equipment producer will invest $85 million in Des Moines, Iowa, to increase output of self-propelled sprayers.
"The market demand John Deere has experienced for large agricultural equipment has remained strong for several years,” noted David Everitt, president of the Worldwide Agricultural & Turf Equipment division. “We believe the time is right to invest in our facilities to meet future demand for the large John Deere tractors that help our customers meet the world's growing demand for food."
Deere said the investment would increase the plant’s capacity by over 10% as soon as mid 2013.
The Waterloo operations have more than 6,000 workers, though Deere said its new investment would not add any manufacturing jobs. The plant ships finished tractors to more than 130 countries.
"The John Deere Waterloo Works are an important part of the company's global manufacturing strategy," according to Everitt. "Not only does Waterloo produce whole goods in the form of the large tractors, the operations also manufacture components that are used in John Deere machines built at other facilities."
