There are many tractor brands that have their original founders’ and owners’ names proudly displayed on the respective machines. John Deere himself never lived to see his name stand with such high regard on such a legendary line of tractors which started back in 1918 when the board of Deere management decided to purchase the Waterloo gasoline engine company and thus got Deere into the tractor business. Its first production tractor would be the Waterloo Boy.
As a follower and fan of the John Deere brand, I was lucky enough to win a trip to the celebration of 100 eyars of Deere tractors in Mannheim on the weekend of 15 to 17 June having entered an online selfie competition. To enter you had to own a classic or vintage John Deere tractor which was at least 25 years old. Having received a call from Chris Wiltshire, the tactical sales manager for John Deer in the UK and Ireland, informing me of my win, Chris quickly got the wheels in motion for myself and a guest to travel to Germany.
The tractor parade was one of the highlights of the trip.
Exciting
My guest would be my son Tadhg, who was also excited on receiving the news. We would also be joined on the trip by Mel Guinan, the dealer territory manager for John Deere in southern Ireland.
Owners from across Europe brought vintage and classic tractors for the event. One guest drove over 350km on a 1990 John Deere 1950 tractor while another fellow enthusiast travelled from Poznan in Poland with a Lanz hot bulb tractor which he brought on a trailer towed behind a Mercedes van and it took him two days to get to Mannheim.
The tractors on display consisted from two original Lanz hot bulb machines, a US-made R, 830, 4020 and a 4230 which were assembled in Mannheim and a 4955 from the Waterloo factory in the US. A 3650 which was the largest tractor built at one stage in Germany and the one millionth 6400 tractor produced was also present, along with a fully restored Waterloo Boy and a 9620R the largest farm tractor in production from the US. On the Forum , there was a selection of current production tractors from the Mannheim factory.
The Werke Mannheim factory and campus is now the largest factory outside of North America, situated on a 42ha site. There are 3,610 employees in Mannheim and 2,978 of the staff work in the factory – and it takes three-and-a-half hours to produce a tractor. John Deere Werke has been the largest manufacturer and exporter of agricultural tractors for more than 50 years in Germany and the factory also accounts for two-thirds of total tractor production in the country.
Modern John Deeres lined up and ready for delivery.
Production programme
The current production programme for the worldwide market is of 27 different base models of which a host of optional extras can be accommodated for on any customer order. The range consists of tractors from 95hp to 250hp which are from the 6MC, 6RC, 6M and 6R. Some 140 tractors are produced in a normal working day. In 2017, more than 27,000 tractors rolled of the production line and the largest number of tractors ever recorded was in 2008, when more than 46,000 tractors came through the factory. Production can be increased depending on demand and orders received. Current production numbers over the years now stand at more than 1.8m tractors. The R&D department for the tractors produced in Germany is also in Mannheim.
On Saturday morning 16 June we got to attend a short press briefing for the day ahead and the first area we got to visit was the 3D cave where all JD tractors, combines and implements can be digitally enhanced on a white glass floor, ceiling and walled area.
Here the machines can be slooked at on computer in minute detail and this is used by engineers to design and also to train technicians on the servicing and maintenance of newly designed machines.
Next on the agenda was to travel by coach to the centre of Mannheim and meet at the famous water tower. This was the location of the first of two tractor parades where 35 tractors took part from the early Lanz to the latest R series tractors. Each tractor was presented by its owner/ driver and a brief description on the history was explained as the tractors passed the stage.
Tractors from the John Deere collection were on display at the evening event.
Pristine
One of the most pristine tractors in the parade was the Mannheim-assembled 4230 driven by Mark Von Pentz.
With 2640 hours on the clock, this tractor was immaculate and was of showroom condition. The 4230’s components originated from the US but were assembled in Mannheim with some European modification carried out to meet the different standards which mainly consisted of general lighting to the front of the bonnet and cab area. It was also equipped with the hydraulic front wheel drive axle.
From here, we went back to the factory campus for the factory tour. The production factory floor was not in operation but the entire facility was opened to the public and after our tour we were allowed to freely recap over the whole area. The highlight of the trip for myself and my son was to be able to walk down on to the assembly line and see where every component comes together from start to finish. The full-frame chassis is first assembled and then the front axle is bolted on. Next on the line is where the rear axle and transmission come together.
The assembled components then travel to the main assembly area where the engine is dropped into the chassis and then further down to the cab drop area where the wiring looms from the engine and transmission are connected to the cab displays.
The tractors are almost complete before they pass into the area where all the oil fluids are put in before the tractor is started for the first time. The final area is where the wheels are mounted to the axles and the tractor is now ready to drive off the assembly line to the ramp area to test its brakes.
From here, the tractor passes to the audit area where a team of inspectors check over the full build quality and the finished tractor then is driven to the outside holding yard where they await dispatch to countries all over the world.
At 3pm on the Saturday afternoon the second tractor parade took place around the factory campus. This time there were 67 tractors in the parade which, like the earlier event in the city centre, consisted of various Lanz tractors with a large assortment of both US- and European-built vintage and classic Deere’s along with modern models. It is estimated there were in the region of 30,000 visitors to the factory open day which truly was an epic day to remember.
There are many tractor brands that have their original founders’ and owners’ names proudly displayed on the respective machines. John Deere himself never lived to see his name stand with such high regard on such a legendary line of tractors which started back in 1918 when the board of Deere management decided to purchase the Waterloo gasoline engine company and thus got Deere into the tractor business. Its first production tractor would be the Waterloo Boy.
As a follower and fan of the John Deere brand, I was lucky enough to win a trip to the celebration of 100 eyars of Deere tractors in Mannheim on the weekend of 15 to 17 June having entered an online selfie competition. To enter you had to own a classic or vintage John Deere tractor which was at least 25 years old. Having received a call from Chris Wiltshire, the tactical sales manager for John Deer in the UK and Ireland, informing me of my win, Chris quickly got the wheels in motion for myself and a guest to travel to Germany.
The tractor parade was one of the highlights of the trip.
Exciting
My guest would be my son Tadhg, who was also excited on receiving the news. We would also be joined on the trip by Mel Guinan, the dealer territory manager for John Deere in southern Ireland.
Owners from across Europe brought vintage and classic tractors for the event. One guest drove over 350km on a 1990 John Deere 1950 tractor while another fellow enthusiast travelled from Poznan in Poland with a Lanz hot bulb tractor which he brought on a trailer towed behind a Mercedes van and it took him two days to get to Mannheim.
The tractors on display consisted from two original Lanz hot bulb machines, a US-made R, 830, 4020 and a 4230 which were assembled in Mannheim and a 4955 from the Waterloo factory in the US. A 3650 which was the largest tractor built at one stage in Germany and the one millionth 6400 tractor produced was also present, along with a fully restored Waterloo Boy and a 9620R the largest farm tractor in production from the US. On the Forum , there was a selection of current production tractors from the Mannheim factory.
The Werke Mannheim factory and campus is now the largest factory outside of North America, situated on a 42ha site. There are 3,610 employees in Mannheim and 2,978 of the staff work in the factory – and it takes three-and-a-half hours to produce a tractor. John Deere Werke has been the largest manufacturer and exporter of agricultural tractors for more than 50 years in Germany and the factory also accounts for two-thirds of total tractor production in the country.
Modern John Deeres lined up and ready for delivery.
Production programme
The current production programme for the worldwide market is of 27 different base models of which a host of optional extras can be accommodated for on any customer order. The range consists of tractors from 95hp to 250hp which are from the 6MC, 6RC, 6M and 6R. Some 140 tractors are produced in a normal working day. In 2017, more than 27,000 tractors rolled of the production line and the largest number of tractors ever recorded was in 2008, when more than 46,000 tractors came through the factory. Production can be increased depending on demand and orders received. Current production numbers over the years now stand at more than 1.8m tractors. The R&D department for the tractors produced in Germany is also in Mannheim.
On Saturday morning 16 June we got to attend a short press briefing for the day ahead and the first area we got to visit was the 3D cave where all JD tractors, combines and implements can be digitally enhanced on a white glass floor, ceiling and walled area.
Here the machines can be slooked at on computer in minute detail and this is used by engineers to design and also to train technicians on the servicing and maintenance of newly designed machines.
Next on the agenda was to travel by coach to the centre of Mannheim and meet at the famous water tower. This was the location of the first of two tractor parades where 35 tractors took part from the early Lanz to the latest R series tractors. Each tractor was presented by its owner/ driver and a brief description on the history was explained as the tractors passed the stage.
Tractors from the John Deere collection were on display at the evening event.
Pristine
One of the most pristine tractors in the parade was the Mannheim-assembled 4230 driven by Mark Von Pentz.
With 2640 hours on the clock, this tractor was immaculate and was of showroom condition. The 4230’s components originated from the US but were assembled in Mannheim with some European modification carried out to meet the different standards which mainly consisted of general lighting to the front of the bonnet and cab area. It was also equipped with the hydraulic front wheel drive axle.
From here, we went back to the factory campus for the factory tour. The production factory floor was not in operation but the entire facility was opened to the public and after our tour we were allowed to freely recap over the whole area. The highlight of the trip for myself and my son was to be able to walk down on to the assembly line and see where every component comes together from start to finish. The full-frame chassis is first assembled and then the front axle is bolted on. Next on the line is where the rear axle and transmission come together.
The assembled components then travel to the main assembly area where the engine is dropped into the chassis and then further down to the cab drop area where the wiring looms from the engine and transmission are connected to the cab displays.
The tractors are almost complete before they pass into the area where all the oil fluids are put in before the tractor is started for the first time. The final area is where the wheels are mounted to the axles and the tractor is now ready to drive off the assembly line to the ramp area to test its brakes.
From here, the tractor passes to the audit area where a team of inspectors check over the full build quality and the finished tractor then is driven to the outside holding yard where they await dispatch to countries all over the world.
At 3pm on the Saturday afternoon the second tractor parade took place around the factory campus. This time there were 67 tractors in the parade which, like the earlier event in the city centre, consisted of various Lanz tractors with a large assortment of both US- and European-built vintage and classic Deere’s along with modern models. It is estimated there were in the region of 30,000 visitors to the factory open day which truly was an epic day to remember.
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