TMCNet: Deere planning upgrades at Moline plant

[November 26, 2012]

Deere planning upgrades at Moline plant

Nov 26, 2012 (Chicago Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Deere & Co. on Monday said it will invest approximately $58 million on improvements at its planting equipment factory in Moline, Ill.

The improvements will include a new paint system and an increased use of automation and robotics. Deere, which employs about 800 workers in Moline, said it does not anticipate a significant change in total employment.

"Our employees at John Deere Seeding have served customers well and responded to the needs of the marketplace," John May, Deere's president or Agricultural Solutions, said in a statement. "Our investments at John Deere Seeding are focused on helping agricultural equipment customers succeed in the important work of feeding the world." Deere spokesman Ken Golden said there is no connection between the company's announcement and its production inefficiencies during the third quarter.


Deere experienced delays of up to 14 days as it increased production of a new combine line. As a result, Deere let dealers cancel orders because the machines would have shipped too late for harvest and that boosted inventory.

The company blamed the delays on an increase in unique parts for the combines and workers who needed training. The factories have since caught up to demand.

Deere shares were down .12 percent to $83.87 per share in morning trading.

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