One year after opening a new prototype workshop, Claas inaugurated two new assembly lines at its Metz-Woippy baler site in France. This investment enables production increase of new baler series, such as the Cerex round baler and Cubix square baler.
The €3.3 million investment reflects a shared long-term ambition for the future development of the site. Furthermore, it underlines the connection with the region and represents another milestone in the 65-year history of the site.
Balers are at the core of Claas’ business and represent one of the key competencies of the company, keeping with a more than 100 years lasting legacy giving birth to milestones such as the knotter billhook, Variant round balers, Rollatex net wrapping and Quadrant square balers. With new generations of variable round and square balers built in a modern new factory, Claas sets the stage for future growth.
“By combining innovative products with future-proof production facilities, we are strengthening the industrial and technological foundations for our baler business. Over recent years, we have invested in R&D, our protoshop, infrastructure and production at the Metz-Woippy site to drive innovation and operational functionality. Last year we launched a broad new baler product portfolio, which is now going into production for customers all over the world”, says COO Thomas Spiering.
Comprehensive modernization
The Metz-Woippy site combines long-standing industrial heritage with a broad range of expertise, including laser cutting, bending, robotic and manual welding, painting, and the assembly of round and square balers.
Modernization of the assembly includes:
- Freeing up 1,800 m² of space previously occupied by a logistics warehouse by outsourcing the storage of slow-moving parts and reorganizing on-site storage
- Reorganization of U-shaped assembly lines, with pre-assembly areas arranged in a herringbone pattern to optimize production flows
- Expansion and modernization of the square baler assembly line
- Construction of new test cabins dedicated to test larger machines, which are more ergonomic and soundproofed
- Renovation of heating systems and improvement of lighting
- Renovation of assembly floors
- Painting of ceilings, metal structures and overhead cranes in accordance with Claas standardsInstallation of intuitive ergonomic manipulators
- Widening of logistics aisles to secure flows and thus enable future automation.
Start of Cerex 700 series production
The new Cerex 780 and Cerex 760 variable chamber round balers features four models, with and without a cutting unit and with maximum bale diameters of 1.83 m and 1.60 m respectively. The new balers complement the range of variable chamber round balers and are positioned above the Variant 500 series. The new models combine maximum throughput with high bale density and low power requirements for baling silage, straw and hay.
