Industry
Lawn tractors coming off the line
introductory talk about the 175th Anniversary, a presentation about the company’s history and how the Horicon factory has developed over the years to produce a number of key JD products, including lawn and garden tractors, zero- turn mowers, Gators, greens mowers and various attachments, service parts and stampings.
The factory is split into two areas. One area is designated to pressing the raw steel into specific parts components, which are then assembled in the other area of the factory. The factory was bought as an acquisition in 1911 and, along the way, has been developed and modified to accommodate modern day manufacturing techniques.
Manufacturing processes seen during the visit include stamping, welding, painting and assembly.
Interestingly, in 2010, the five-millionth lawn tractor was produced and, in the same year, the number of Gators manufactured reached half a million.
The scale of investment on these assembly lines to keep them running to meet production targets is simply staggering.
In the afternoon we visit the historic site at Grand Detour, Illinois where the whole story began, when John Deere himself
Assembly line
It was then back on the coach for a three hour drive to our next destination - Hotel Radisson on John Deere Commons, Moline.
Tuesday 24th April
Day two of the tour begins with a visit to The John Deere Pavilion, the company’s largest agriculture museum, where we are able to see a wide range of John Deere products and get the chance to buy a few mementoes. Next stop is John Deere’s Worldwide headquarters. Built in 1964, it sits on 1,400 acres of beautifully tended land. The building includes offices for over 900 employees, as well as a display floor and a 350-seat auditorium.
The building also provides a unique viewing platform above a display floor exhibiting some of their largest products. The display floor also features a one-of-a- kind work of art - a three-dimensional mural by Alexander Girard contains 2,200 authentic pieces of memorabilia dating from 1837 to 1918, spanning the company’s first 75 years.
The company also has one of the largest private collections of portraiture, which are on display throughout the building.
Next stop, just a few miles down the road from their HQ, is a visit to the TPC Deere Run golf course, which is now home to the John Deere Classic, one of
The John Deere Pavilion at Moline
following day, for the next round of visits to John Deere operations.
Chicago has a world famous reputation for being the Blues capital of the world, so the evening was spent in the House of Blues, a restaurant and live music venue.
Wednesday 25th April
Our flight to Raleigh was not until the afternoon, giving us the chance to have a guided tour of Chicago, which is a truly breathtaking city. We visit the tallest Marilyn Monroe statue in the world, before having a wonderful lunch on the 95th floor of the famous John Hancock Building, one of the tallest buildings in the city.
Thursday 26th April
The final day of site tours includes a visit to the John Deere Turf Factory in the town of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Here, the company manufacture many of their commercial products, including wide area mowers, Z-Trak zero-turn mowers, front mowers and the heavy-duty walk-behind mowers as well as mowers for tees, fairways, greens, surrounds and roughs, plus aerators for greens.
We learn that over 7.7% of the company’s equipment sales revenue is re-invested in research and development, and are also given the opportunity see the level of testing carried out on the products. Each
The famous running deer ... and Loz
invented the Self Scouring Plough in 1837.
The original blacksmith’s foundry has been excavated, showing the layout of the smithy, location of the bellows, anvil and fireplace, whilst the museum displays tools, metal shards, forks and nails from the archaeological dig of the site.
A replica blacksmith’s foundry is fitted out as it would have been when John Deere started his business, and the family home depicts the quality of life he enjoyed during the early days of the company.
Vintage tractor
the PGA’s top annual events. Paul Grogan, the Courses
Superintendent, is on hand to show us around the course, workshops and garages which, unsurprisingly, house every conceivable John Deere golf product. The tour of the course rounds off with a putting competition on the practice greens where, to my amazement, I win one of the prizes for best score over three holes.
After lunch, we take the long drive back to Chicago to be ready for an internal flight to Raleigh, North Carolina the
Looking down from the viewing platform
one is extensively tested for performance, durability and reliability.
John Deere also value their workforce, with many of the current employees being the third generation of local families. The workplace is a pleasant and safe environment, and the company has won many awards and accreditations for their strong sustainability policies, specifically in reducing their carbon footprint, waste and recycling materials.
In the afternoon, we complete our last technical visit at the Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education
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