Virtual models for practical solutions
John Deere's Mannheim facility uses tools like digital tractor models, 3D glasses and special software to develop and improve tractors. The Furrow takes a visit to a virtual world with physical outcomes.
#Tractors
60 million litres of milk per year from thousands of cows at San José Farm
In terms of milk production, it is the second largest dairy farm in Spain: the Granja San José farm has to feed 4,300 dairy cows and 2,250 young cattle. All the feed is grown on site. This requires an extensive and reliable fleet of machinery.
“Quality is a continuous process.“
Rainer Loesch is Head of Quality at the John Deere Plant in Mannheim. The 6000 M and R series tractors are developed and produced there. In an interview, he talked about the ability to continuously develop as an organisation, and why employee motivation and an error management culture are so important for customer satisfaction.
“In the factory, we grow with our tasks.”
During the past 35 years, Christian Beisel has been working for John Deere in Mannheim; currently he is the Module Manager in the Final Assembly Department. In this interview, he takes a personal look at the development of the plant and describes which developments have been the most important for him in recent years.
Faces and figures behind the two millionth Mannheim tractor
The John Deere plant in Mannheim has produced a whopping 2m tractors as of the spring of 2023. A reason to celebrate – and a good occasion for a look at the people, data and facts behind this milestone.
From Umbria to the world
The Italian company Farchioni produces oil, flour, beer and wine with the help of innovative agricultural machinery. Traceability, controlled supply chains and sustainability are criteria that play an important role in the work.
From workhorse to Operations Centre
In early 2023, the two-millionth tractor came off the production line at the John Deere factory in Mannheim. In his guest article, Hans-Christian Quick, archivist at John Deere, reveals what has changed in performance, connectivity, and sustainability since the millionth tractor.
From the sports track to the open field
Sergio Campana is a passionate farmer and racing car driver who, inspired by the character and uniqueness of his homeland, and with his commitment, talent, and determination, has brought together two very different fields.
Winter service: With tractors against snow and ice
John Deere tractors don't just cut a fine figure in the fields. The tractors can also be relied on as a snow clearing service - as is the case in the Bavarian market town of Nordhalben.
“The multi-fuel tractor provides farmers with more flexibility in these uncertain times”
With the multi-fuel tractor, John Deere is working on developing a machine which can operate with both fossil and renewable fuels. Dr Edgar Remmele from the Technology and Support Centre (TFZ) in Bavaria has worked on the prototypes and provides some insight into the project.
Straw bales at record speeds
The John Deere 6R 150 tractor and the John Deere V461R round baler produced a mammoth 130 straw bales in a one-hour field test – beating the record from 2012.
A bridge to the battery
To reduce CO2 emissions from agricultural machinery, there are several possible approaches using alternative drive technologies. But all of them come with advantages as well as disadvantages. Functioning technology is already available for tractors adapted to use biofuels.
Save on diesel 6 tips and a contractor’s view
A vehicle that's well maintained and the right size for every task is a good start when it comes to regulating fuel consumption. "Telemetry allows us to further our good practices," reveals Jean-Noël Boissières, contractor in Cantal, France, and our primary interviewee for this article.
“Customers are taking the next big step with the new 6R”
John Deere's new 6R Series tractor models stand out thanks to their design, performance and intelligence. In this interview, product marketing manager Philippe Steinmann provides an overview of the series and its advantages for users.
Trust doesn’t rule out the need for an Expert Check
It makes sense to have equipment serviced in the off-season. To help, John Deere dealers have the Expert Check in place. For a controlled cost, this advanced inspection procedure can prevent costly downtime at the worst possible moment.
“The most productive tractor in the world”
The newest generation of tractors from the 9 series promises enormous productivity along with excellent comfort and a plethora of intuitive precision farming tools. Simon Schowalter, product marketing manager for large tractors, spoke to us about developing the tractors and what the features really bring to the field.
Bulldog: Mannheim’s most famous dog turns 100
One hundred years ago, Heinrich Lanz unveiled the first Bulldog, laying the foundation for tractor production at the Mannheim factory. The Bulldog was an important pioneer in the mechanisation of agriculture. Its name became synonymous with the tractor.
More environmentally friendly tractors on the horizon
The conversation around environmentally friendly tractors is gaining momentum in the agricultural industry. However, it's difficult to move away from heavy dependency on the traditional fuel, diesel. In the meantime, ideas which could help reduce CO2 emissions from agricultural machinery have been put forward.
Spare parts for every age
What started as a hobby has turned into a bustling business for Dutch John Deere fan Guus van Daele and his son Stanny: The two collect and trade in old spare parts and in so doing ensure that a piece of history is preserved.
“This is a real workhorse”
Twins Tom and Will Carlisle were pleased to have an addition to their fleet during harvest season - the S790i Hillmaster.
Data Connect optimises mixed machine fleets
The Agraset agricultural co-operative in Saxony farms over 5000ha. This spring, it equipped a Jaguar SPFH and five John Deere tractors with Data Connect for the first time.
“Of course, a heavy tractor can be gentle on the soil”
Heavy does not always mean high pressure on the ground. Simon Schowalter, product marketing manager of large tractors at John Deere, explains why this is the case and how the 8RX tracked tractor makes use of it.
Understand and reduce soil compaction
Soil compaction can reduce yields by up to 20%. Mathias Stettler and Roger Stirnimann from the University of Applied Sciences for Agriculture, Forestry and Food Economics explain what happens during this process and how it can be mitigated.
The autonomous swarm tractor from John Deere
What would an electric tractor look like if we didn't have to think about the power supply anymore? Simon Pfaffmann from John Deere's ETIC invites us to take part in a thought experiment – and explains how real this idea is.
A Deere a minute
Do you drive a John Deere 6 series tractor from the Mannheim factory? Then you will be particularly interested in this article, because we are going to take you on a tour of the factory and show you how our tractors are built.