Argo Tractors SpA takes another step forward in terms of organisational and quality development. The company recently opened its new hub, dedicated to the development and production of transmissions in Campagnola Emilia, in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The opening of this new plant coincides with the year in which Argo’s Landini tractor brand celebrates 140 years of history.
“It is the strategic component that makes an important contribution to the value of the tractor, and producing it in this new environment means raising the level of specialisation and quality control”, comments Alberto Morra, member of the Management Committee of Argo Tractors SpA..
The new site, which became operational in January 2024, covers an area of 30,000 square meters and employs more than 150 people.
“Product evolution and innovation at Argo Tractors”, continues Alberto Morra, “has seen a noticeable acceleration in recent years. This is why it was necessary to introduce a high level of specialization also on the transmission assembly lines, through the creation of a dedicated plant. A place where it is possible to concentrate the resources and experience acquired over the years on this primary component, with the aim of achieving maximum production efficiency and high quality of the finished product”.
This hub is characterized by four assembly lines differentiated by power and range, each of which is supported by pre-assembly areas. On Line 1 the transmissions of specialized as well as light and medium utility tractors are assembled. On Line 2 the transmissions of tractors destined for the Low Regulated Countries. Finally, Lines 3 and 4 are dedicated to medium-high power transmissions.
At the Campagnola plant, as is already the case at other Argo Tractors plants, the Kaizen industrial production philosophy of continuous improvement is applied, through the application of concepts that have led over the years to the development of lines supplied by specific and targeted components for each type of product.
For this very reason, special attention has been paid to the supply of components to the assembly lines, which is managed through the creation of a “supermarket”, a kind of warehouse that is constantly fed by the central warehouse and from which the specific components of the individual transmissions are routed to the assembly lines.
Furthermore, the new centre also houses the testing area for transmissions – mechanical and hydraulic – which, once assembled, are all subjected to a thorough inspection and specific functionality tests.
“With the launch of the Argo Tractors Transaxle department it has been possible to optimize assembly timing, making the cycle constant and regular with a further overall improvement in quality”, Morra concludes.
