GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY TAKES PLACE

PICTURED ABOVE L-R: Etienne Bourasseau (Le Mans site manager / Vice President Manufacturing); Thomas Spiering (Claas COO), Stéphane Le Foll (Mayor of Le Mans), Gilbert Autret (architect) and Fabrice Bardel (head of global maintenance).

Claas has commenced construction of a new multifunctional production facility at its Le Mans tractor plant.

The company says the 6.5 million Euro investment in the new building is being made in preparation to meet an expected growth in production over the next 10 years, and is the latest investment in the facility, where over 80 million Euros has been invested by themselves since taking over the site in 2003.

Le Mans is responsible for the production of tractors ranging in size from 75hp to 450hp, with more than 200,000 tractors now produced.

Thomas Spiering, chief operating officer of the CLAAS Group, emphasised the strategic importance of the Le Mans site, saying, "Le Mans is the heart of our global tractor business. We have come to stay - and we have proven this by investing more than 80 million euros to date in the transformation of this site into a model of modern tractor manufacturing."

Due for completion in 2026, the new production facility will help optimise site logistics and reduce the need for transportation and overall costs.