John Deere is strengthening its European presence with a new business site in Belgium. Rhenus Automotive is supporting the American agricultural machinery manufacturer with logistics and production services at the site. The warehouse was previous located in the Dutch town of 's-Heerenberg. “The new business site has ideal transport connections for us. We therefore made the decision to move here very quickly. We receive most of the production materials by sea from India and the USA in containers. We have a direct canal link to the port of Antwerp here,” says Jörn Weber, Manager Asset Management at John Deere. Another inland waterway port is also due to be created at the “Port of Limburg” by 2025. John Deere will greatly benefit from this in strategic terms too. “We’re looking forward to the excellent links to the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge and destinations further inland – and this will be equally possible by inland waterway, rail and road,” Weber explains.
Logistics and assembly work from one source
In addition to complex assembly work, Rhenus Automotive will handle the entire logistics operations for incoming goods and exporting new machines on behalf of John Deere. The latter made the decision to use the services of Rhenus Automotive because of its combination of well-founded expertise in both fields and its ability to “handle everything from one source”, which the logistics specialist is able to guarantee. The new site with its integrated production area, into which the partners are moving, offers John Deere the opportunity of working more efficiently and serving the rising demand for agricultural machines in a better way. John Deere will produce, store and distribute its high-quality machines from space measuring 30,000 square metres. A further 10,000 square metres are available as a storage area outside the building.
The property, which already exists, has been precisely geared towards the needs of the agricultural machinery manufacturer by Rhenus Automotive and John Deere. “For example, we’ve set up additional docks in order to be even more flexible when transhipping goods. We’re also placing great importance on the ergonomic design of the assembly lines and all the working areas in order to offer our employees an ideal working environment,” says Bob Schreurs, the Managing Director at Rhenus Automotive Belgium, explaining the new features. Rhenus Automotive and John Deere are creating 70 new jobs through the new business site. The official opening took place as part of a festive celebration on 7 December.
Herzog-Adolf-Straße 3
