On 19th November 1957, the famous Triple Triangle made its distinguished debut, in advance of the creation in 1958 of the new “Massey Ferguson” company, born of its then 110 year Massey Harris Ferguson pedigree.
Now, fifty years later to the day, Massey Ferguson has celebrated a unique landmark in its history by the inauguration of exciting new facilities at its Beauvais European Operations, laying the foundations for continued global growth and an even greater future. It also marks the beginning of an anniversary year that celebrates fifty years of one of the world’s most famous and outstanding brands and its contribution to the advancement of farm machinery technology and innovation throughout its history.
A Celebration of Investment – Beauvais 19th November 2007
On 19th November 2007, Martin Richenhagen, AGCO’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, along with Gary Collar, Senior Vice President, General Manager AGCO EAME and EAPAC, and Richard Markwell, Vice President and Managing Director Massey Ferguson EAME, officially inaugurated AGCO’s most recent investments in its Beauvais European Operations in the presence of local civic dignitaries. The new facilities, which include office extensions for Engineering and Sales, a new International Training Centre, Driving Track and Visitor Centre, are the latest in a series of major investments which have included enhanced manufacturing, engineering, research and design facilities.
“These ongoing developments illustrate AGCO’s commitment to ensuring Massey Ferguson maintains its leading edge as a producer of exciting new products that all feature high calibre, innovative engineering, in keeping with their heritage which is being acknowledged today” says Martin Richenhagen, AGCO’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“The quality, performance and reliability of the total new range of MF tractors are truly representative of a global brand. Massey Ferguson continues to move forward with a vigour and vitality that resonates throughout the entire company and would make its founders proud. As AGCO’s global brand, Massey Ferguson has played a major role in enabling us to become not only one of the world’s leading farm machinery manufacturers, but the fastest growing – by far. AGCO has made huge gains across every sector and is set to increase its net sales this year by $1 billion – through internal growth alone.”
Unprecedented investment during the past four years has transformed the Company’s Beauvais factory, enabling it to double annual production to nearly 18,000 units and marked by the manufacture of the 50,000th new MF “4 series” in March of this year. Products carrying the Massey Ferguson brand account for over 90% of Beauvais production volume.
“Beauvais is the global home of AGCO’s global brand - Massey Ferguson,” said Richard Markwell, Président Directeur Général, AGCO S.A. and Vice President, Managing Director, Massey Ferguson EAME.
“Today’s inauguration was symbolic of the continuous investment that AGCO has made in the facility over the last four years, stimulating intense activity throughout every aspect of Beauvais’ operations - particularly Research & Development, Engineering and Production. Beauvais is now producing the best, most comprehensive and technologically advanced range of Massey Ferguson tractors ever made.”
The transformation of the Beauvais factory began in 2003 with a €130 million cash injection to prepare the facility for production of the outstanding new ‘4’ Series. This has seen Massey Ferguson completely rejuvenate its entire tractor range, with the Beauvais factory introducing an unparalleled four new ranges, over 70 new models offering powers from 75hp to 315hp in the past four years.
Over the last 4 years, the number of engineers employed at Beauvais too has increased by 40% to 320 and the total number of employees on the site has risen by 50% to approx 2500, both as a result of volume expansion and the consolidation of the commercial offices of all AGCO brands for the French market into Beauvais.
Most recently, €4 million has been used to upgrade the support services infrastructure, with a further €1.5 million planned during 2008.
Officially opened for the first time, the new state-of-the-art International Training Centre, comprising 1,300sqm of 8 practical workshops and 8 lecture rooms, will enable AGCO to provide outstanding levels of training on the latest technology for all AGCO brands in France and for Massey Ferguson training teams around the world. It is estimated that over 2,000 students per annum will attend service training and related courses here, thus ensuring AGCO dealers everywhere can continue to provide industry leading levels of aftersales service.
The new Massey Ferguson “Technology Centre” will provide the first stage of a new, enhanced visitor experience to the Beauvais site. The Technology Centre is designed to feature milestones in Massey Ferguson’s development, illustrating their contribution to innovation and advancement of technology in the farm machinery industry.
Mr. Markwell added “Today we receive over 10,000 visitors a year in Beauvais. We are confident that during our anniversary year, with the benefit of our new facilities, the number of visitors will double to 20,000, consisting of either existing or future Massey Ferguson customers”
“AGCO’s Beauvais manufacturing unit is the largest agricultural machinery plant in France, Western Europe’s largest agricultural market, where AGCO is also tractor market leader. It is, in addition, France’s largest farm machinery exporter, exporting 85% of its production around the globe,” continues Mr. Markwell.
“Locally it is the largest single commercial employer in Beauvais, and Massey Ferguson is proud of the substantial contribution the facility brings to the economic prosperity of the Département of the Oise and the Picardie region. We are honoured that so many key civic dignitaries are here today to share in our celebrations and thank them for their support particularly over the last four years”.
Celebrating success – Massey Ferguson Announces its plans to Mark Fifty years of Innovation during 2008
The inauguration marks the beginning of a year when Massey Ferguson will acknowledge landmarks in its heritage, celebrating not only the 50th anniversary of the creation of Massey Ferguson, but also its plans for an even greater future.
“We are preparing to celebrate in style during the coming year. These celebrations will not only acknowledge Massey Ferguson’s proud heritage, but will also focus on the future plans of the dynamic and invigorated Massey Ferguson brand,” said Mr.Markwell.
“The best is yet to come. With further introductions planned for the near future, Massey Ferguson is set to begin its next 50 years with the same philosophy as when it began fifty years ago: leading from the front with pioneering developments to improve farming efficiency across the globe.”
ENDS
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About AGCO
Founded in 1990, AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AG) (www.agcocorp.com) is a global manufacturer of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts. AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements, which are distributed through more than 3,200 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries worldwide. AGCO products include the following well-known brands: AGCO®, Challenger®, Fendt®, Gleaner®, Hesston®, Massey Ferguson®, New Idea®, RoGator®, Spra-Coupe®, Sunflower®, Terra-Gator®, Valtra®, and White™ Planters. AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance. The company is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, and in 2006 had net sales of $5.4 billion.
CONTACT:
Paul Lay
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Tel: + 44 (0)24 76 851209
