Agco has announced that
it is proposing to close its Randers harvesting equipment operation
in Denmark in 2010.
Assembly operations will continue until the middle of next year
before being transferred to Agco's joint-venture harvesting
manufacturing facility in Breganze, Italy.
Gary Collar, senior vice president of the company's European,
Middle East, Australia and New Zealand operations, said: "It is
with regret that I have to make today's announcement.
"We are proud of the workmanship, quality and professional
attitude of our Randers workforce and everything they have achieved
over many years.
"In the long term, the operation of two separate combine plants
in Western Europe is not practical. As we move forward with our
product development plans and strategies for growth of our
harvesting business it is important that we also benefit from the
economies of scale, efficiency and increased competitiveness that
this consolidation will bring."
Agco acquired a 50% stake in
Laverda from the Italian
Argo Group in June 2007.
Laverda, based in Breganze, Northern Italy, has produced combines
for over 50 years and agricultural machinery and equipment since
1873.
The Randers plant was originally owned by
Dronningborg, which had a
marketing agreement with MF for many years and was eventually taken
over by Agco.
