AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATION HAVE A

Transcription

AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATION
HAVE A NEW HOMETOWN.
A special commemorative publication of
2 • Sunday, June 3, 2012 • Supplement to the
WE
APPRECIATE
YOUR
BUSINESS!
We’re proud to offer
you catering services
to fit your needs!
Tony’s
o ys
CATERING
U.S. Hwy. 71 N., Jackson, MN
507-847-2074
Mon.–Sat., 6 a.m.–10 p.m.;
Sun., 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
www.sunshinefoods.com
Photo courtesy of AGCO Corp.
Eric Fisher, director of operations at AGCO-Jackson, marks the completion of the first
Jackson-built Massey Ferguson tractor with employees in December 2011.
Operations director sees great
things ahead for AGCO-Jackson
A moment etched in Eric
Fisher’s mind makes the
toils of the past year and a
half all worthwhile.
It wasn’t the moment he
learned the Jackson facility
he oversees would become
AGCO’s North American
home of high-horsepower
wheeled row-crop tractors.
It wasn’t the first time he
saw plans for the state-ofthe-art Intivity Center.
It wasn’t the day he was
joined by Gov. Mark Dayton to announce the expansion to much public fanfare,
nor was it the day he led a
personal tour for U.S. Sen.
Al Franken or for U.S. Sen.
Amy Klobuchar or for U.S.
Rep. Tim Walz.
Fisher’s moment came on
a Thursday in late December 2011 as he and his fellow employees celebrated
the completion of the first
Jackson-built Massey Ferguson tractor.
Following brief remarks,
Fisher invited employees
to approach the gleaming
red machine and sign their
names on it in black ink,
forever sealing their place
in history.
“At that moment,” Fisher
said, “after we had dedicated that brand new Massey
Ferguson to the showroom,
to look around and see the
smiles and pride on the
faces of all our employees
— that made the efforts of
the past 12 to 18 months
worthwhile.”
It’s been a whirlwind year
and a half for Fisher, direc-
tor of operations at AGCOJackson. He’s overseen
preparations for and execution of a major expansion of
manufacturing operations
at the Jackson plant, the
addition of a world-class
visitor center to the campus
and an unprecedented period of job creation that has
pushed employee numbers
to an all-time high.
But Fisher says none of
it would have been possible
without an outpouring of
community support and the
tireless efforts of AGCOJackson employees.
“I am really proud to be
part of this community and
this expansion here,” Fisher
said. “I couldn’t be more
thrilled with the support
from everybody to make
this happen.”
Fisher cited the “tremendous number of community leaders” who worked
so hard to convince AGCO
that Jackson was the best
place in North America for the production of
high-horsepower wheeled
Massey Ferguson and Challenger tractors. For their
efforts, Jackson has been
rewarded with an employer
of more than 1,100 and the
reputation of being the
home of what Fisher termed
a “world-class, state-of-theart manufacturing facility.”
“That’s not an exaggeration,” Fisher said. “The
products that are made here
are competing globally.”
And that fact is due, in
large part, to the people
who manufacture them,
Fisher said.
“It really goes back to the
people,” he said. “So many
of our employees come
from rural, ag backgrounds.
They have worked with soil,
they know equipment, they
know how to get things
done. Many of them own or
have family members who
own 50-, 60-, 70-year-old
Olivers, Allis or Fergusons
at home. That made bringing a brand like Massey
Ferguson back to North
America — right here to
Jackson — so exciting. It’s
neat to see that heritage
come back.”
That heritage is on full
display in AGCO-Jackson’s
world-class visitor center,
dubbed “Intivity Center.”
Fisher said it is something
everyone has to see.
“It is truly unique in the
industry,” he said. “It tells
a story of the heritage of
innovation that gave rise
to these venerable AGCO
brands and how that innovation continues today.”
It is the innovation of
AGCO-Jackson employees
that will ensure a bright future, Fisher said.
“I am so optimistic for the
future,” he said. “Growth is
the one word that can sum
it up. We have a great product, we have great people
and we have the promise
of a lot of potential growth.
We are positioned for great
things.”
Congratulations
on your latest expansion
and Intivity Center!
It’s a pleasure to serve a company
such as AGCO that has invested
in the future of Jackson and the
surrounding area.
HENNING
Located 1 block north of fairgrounds
100 Railroad Street, Jackson, MN
507-847-3785
www.HenningRental.com
RENTAL
INC.
Equipment Repair and Rental
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 3
Expanded line doubles tractor productivity at AGCO-Jackson
An expanded and remastered assembly line at
AGCO-Jackson Operations
has doubled tractor productivity at the industrial park
plant and made Jackson
the official home of highhorsepower Massey Ferguson and Challenger wheeled
row-crop tractors for the
entirety of North America.
“Five models of the Challenger MT600D Series,
five models of the Massey
Ferguson 8600 Series, five
models of the Challenger
MT500D Series, five models of the Massey Ferguson
7600 Series — all made
right here in Jackson,” said
project manager Travis Van
Genderen.
The MT600D and 8600
Series are in full production at the Jackson plant,
Van Genderen said, with
the local manufacture of the
MT500D and 7600 Series
tractors to be piloted later
this summer with production ramping up to full by
early fall.
At that point, the Jackson
factory will be able to churn
out a half-dozen wheeled
tractors per day.
“Total assembly time for
each wheeled tractor, not
including the cab, is approximately a day and a half,”
Van Genderen said. “Each
tractor has about 75 hours
of assembly labor into it.”
Add those six wheeled
tractors per day to an equal
number of track tractors
able to be produced daily,
Van Genderen said, and
annual tractor production
numbers out of the Jackson
plant easily extend into the
thousands.
From France to Jackson
The process of relocating the production of highhorsepower wheeled tractors from Beauvais, France,
to Jackson began in the
spring of 2010. John Sandison, facilities manager with
AGCO-Jackson, remembers being charged with the
task of figuring out how best
to get the manufacture of
wheeled tractors destined
for North American markets back to North America.
“We were given a clean
slate,” he said. “I was told
to conceptualize a first-class
factory under perfect conditions. After we had the architectural rendering made
up, we began to consider
and weigh the pros and
cons of building new vs. expanding, taking it from the
ground up vs. renovating existing space and also exactly
where to do this. In the end,
the decision was made to
expand in Jackson.”
The expansion was announced publicly to much
fanfare in January 2011, the
same month contracts were
signed. Ground was broken
in March of that year, Sandison said, and then it rained.
And rained.
And rained.
“That was our biggest
challenge through this
whole process,” Sandison
said.
Despite the best efforts of the chronically wet
weather, the first major
construction milestone was
reached on July 5 — right
on time, Sandison noted —
with the completion of the
42,000-square-foot material
kitting center.
“Basically, our contractor
had that 42,000-square-foot
kitting center built in 30
days,” Sandison said. “We
made the goal.”
Next came a major shift
— and, in some cases, relocation — of certain existing
assembly lines in advance
of line expansion. The re-
arrangement was done in
such a way that assembly
crews were able to continue
working on one production
line while the new line was
being built.
Work on the 125-foot
line expansion to the north
wrapped up around the
end of September and the
55-foot expansion to the
south was completed shortly
thereafter. A two-week
shutdown in October allowed a complete transition
to the new assembly line,
which came online that
same month.
“For such a huge project,
there really was minimal
downtime,” Sandison said.
See LINE on Page 5
Thank You . . .
for your many contributions
to our community!
We are happy to have you
in Jackson!
(507) 847-3110
2007 Highway 71 North
Jackson, MN
High-horsepower Massey Ferguson and Challenger wheeled row-crop tractors destined
for North American markets are now manufactured in Jackson.
Thanks, AGCO!
We appreciate your very positive contribution to
the strength of Jackson and the surrounding area!
FCA is a proud customer of AGCO!
Congratulations on your new Intivity Center
and expansion of manufacturing operations.
Contact your local FCA Co-op agronomist
to access the latest technology in crop production:
Heser AUTO
and
Matt Benson Jeremy Ambrose Ben Voss
Matt Benda
Jeff Dean
Chris Thurk
Brad Milbrath
Dustin Voss
DETAILING, INC.
Jackson’s Hometown Used Car Dealer
Selling Quality Used Vehicles!
Highway 71, Downtown Jackson • 507-847-5582
Hours: Mon.–Fri., 7–5:30; Sat., 8–noon
DL-22531
FCA CO-OP
507-847-4160
You can feel the future in it.
The 8600 Series. Be prepared. The first time you experience our Massey Ferguson® 8600 Series
tractors, it’ll take your breath away. These are our most advanced row crop tractors, offering unequalled
engine and transmission technology that virtually reads your mind. More space, more comfort, more
quiet than you could ever imagine. And e3TM clean air technology that offers compliance without
compromise. The 8600 Series. Not just a new tractor. A new day. Visit your local dealer soon and feel
the future at masseyferguson.com today.
Congratulations to AGCO in Jackson
on the new Intivity Center
Mountain Lake, MN
(507) 427-3414
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 5
Line: Expansion doubles tractor production in Jackson
Continued from Page 3
“To keep everything going
while these major changes
were taking place was really
a priority.”
Van Genderen agreed.
“Aside from the two-week
shutdown, there was virtually no downtime,” he said.
“Everything went really
quite smoothly.”
Built for success
The new 18-station assembly line was designed
with operator safety, product quality and cuttingedge efficiency in mind, all
the while accommodating
manufacturing activity new
to the Jackson facility.
The factory addition is
equipped with windows to
the north allowing direct
natural light in and filtered
panels to the east.
“We’ve improved the
work environment and operator comfort,” Van Genderen said, “and the new
line is equipped with the
latest in safety technology.”
A series of four quality
gates are positioned along
the line, Van Genderen
said, ensuring testing and
inspection at every point in
the process.
In terms of efficiency, kit
carts loaded with materials
specific to the tractor being assembled at the time
are delivered to the proper
point on the line by automated delivery vehicles.
A half-dozen people load
the carts at the direction
of a specially calibrated
material listing and inventory program managed via
rugged tablet computers.
Once loaded, one of five
automated delivery vehicles
transports the cart to the
proper point on the line at
the proper time, picks up
the empty cart and starts
the process over again —
all along a virtual path of
recalibration magnets via
the direction of inertial
guidance.
“These are all components of our kitting center
concept, which was really
designed to create efficiencies and balance workflow
and staffing,” said continuous improvement manager
Rick Reuter. “It has benefitted the whole line.”
Other changes in process
have further contributed to
the efficiency of the new
line, including the painting
of chassis on the line and
tractor cab assembly next
to the line.
“The painting of chassis
on the line is a big change,”
Van Genderen said. “When
you assemble and paint on
the same line, it results in a
much better material flow.”
The same is true of relocating tractor cab assembly from across the street
to right next to the line.
The drive for efficiency has
even been extended beyond
cab assembly to actual cab
manufacture.
“This is the first time tractor cabs have been manufactured in Jackson — it’s
another big first for us,” Van
Genderen said. “AGCO has
invested significant dollars
into new weld fixtures that
allow us to manufacture
two different sizes of cabs
that will go onto our new
wheeled tractors. This is
complex, high-volume cab
manufacture that we hope
will create the opportunity
for more such manufacture
in the future.”
Setting the bar high
With production of the
MT600D and 8600 Series
going full bore and the manufacture of the MT500D
and 7600 Series expected to
be at peak levels by the time
the frost sets in, attention
has turned to making sure
the extended line is running
as smoothly and efficiently
as it can.
“The focus now is on
optimizing the line,” Van
Genderen said. “How can
we fine-tune what we’re
doing to maximize efficiencies? Jackson is where these
high-horsepower row-crop
tractors are being built now
to meet the demand of
North American farmers.
We mean to ensure they
are built to the highest standards possible.”
PARTNERS
IN
PROGRESS
We are happy to have
been of service to help
make your expansion and
the Intivity Center a reality!
The new 18-station assembly line at AGCO-Jackson Operations was designed with
operator safety, product quality and cutting-edge efficiency in mind, all the while accommodating manufacturing activity new to the facility.
Jackson, MN • 847-4423
Email: info@cityofjacksonmn.com • www.targetjackson.com
Intivity Center the focal point of AGCO-Jackson experience
Agricultural innovation
meets productivity at Intivity Center, the showpiece focal point of a 75,000-squarefoot expansion at AGCOJackson Operations.
More than a visitor center, more than a museum,
more than a gateway to factory tours, Intivity Center
is an experience, according
to conceptual designer Phil
Jones — the intersection
Craig Rosa
point of a series of moments
designed to educate, connect and foster meaningful
relationships with all who
walk through its doors.
“In Intivity Center, we
wanted to create an experience that was enjoyable
and educational, but one
that also would connect
people to our brands and
speak to their hearts and
minds,” Jones said. “With
Profile
I
Employed from:
Dec. 13, 1976
I
Family:
Five children.
I
Hometown/education:
My hometown is Sherburn, and I
attended Welcome High School.
I
First job/job now:
I was hired to work in preassembly. Today, I am a paint
technician. I’ve been in paint for the last 30 years.
I
Most significant changes since beginning employment:
When I started, we were in a little space over in the
building that is today’s Challenger building. Today
there are new buildings, the machines are getting
bigger and there are a lot more people here now. The
people have always been great to work with; a lot of
them have been here for a long time.
I
Hobbies, activities or community involvement:
I like to fish and play basketball.
I
Work-related accomplishments of which you are
most proud:
My promotion from paint to paint technician.
Grow. Together.
Sanford Jackson Medical Center celebrates
serving the area for 50 years, and we
congratulate AGCO on its continued growth.
It is a privilege to share the commitment to
the community with you.
As you grow.
We grow.
Together.
regard to Intivity Center’s
target audience, we’re dealing with pretty sophisticated
people with a great deal of
knowledge. So, what we
present needs not only to
be accurate, but presented
in a way that we’re telling
our visitors what they don’t
already know.”
Creating the experience
The origins of Intivity Center date back to
the spring of 2010 when
facilities manager John
Sandison was charged with
conceptualizing a space that
could function as a starting
point for AGCO-Jackson’s
factory tours. Initially, the
thought process was toward
what Sandison termed a
“very basic structure with
meeting rooms.”
“It was to be very basic
and very plain,” he said.
That all changed following a fact-finding mission to
various automobile manufacturing facilities in the
South.
“I went with representatives from marketing and
sales on a trip to tour visitor centers at several auto
manufacturing plants —
places like BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai and Honda,” Sandison said. “Our
intent was to get the off-thestreet visitor experience.”
What the team got was a
wake-up call.
“It quickly became evident to all of us how much
a visitor center and tour
experience could sway the
whole opinion of a brand,”
Sandison said. “We were
considering a very basic,
very plain facility in Jackson. Our automaker tour
and visitor center experience convinced us all that
we should step it up.”
Corporate marketing and
creative were called in and
the team set to work on
visitor center concepts. Location was a primary consideration, Sandison said.
“We considered visibility
from the interstate, whether
to construct an entirely new
building or tack it onto an
existing building, flow, cost
— the whole gamut of possibilities,” Sandison said.
In the end, location
hinged on the tour experience.
“We already had a really good tour experience,”
Sandison said. “When people came out of our factory
tours, they were always so
excited. So it was determined early on that our
factory tours were an important piece of all this. Accordingly, the decision was
made to integrate the visitor
center with our factory to
make both as harmonious
as possible.”
Sandison sketched out
a basic layout of a visitor
center on the north side of
the tractor assembly factory, and Intivity Center
was born.
Telling the story
Upon arriving at Intivity Center, visitors will be
ushered into the hospitality area.
“The first thing that hits
you is our overarching message: ‘Agriculture and innovation have a new hometown,’” Jones said. “That’s
Jackson.”
Visitors will head into a
60-seat auditorium, where
a video will be shown. In
addition to teasing the balance of the day, the video
will contain information
about all that goes on at
AGCO-Jackson Operations, the community itself
and a preview of the tour.
The video will be about
10 to 15 minutes in length,
Jones said. From there, the
tour begins.
One of 27 trained guides
will lead groups of up to 25
people at a time — all of
whom will be equipped with
safety glasses and headsets
— first along the east wall
of the tractor factory, then
into the main plant through
fabrication and weld and
back into the tractor factory
along the west wall and into
the kitting center.
“We want to keep groups
under 25 people to keep
it personal and so people will feel comfortable
enough to ask questions
along the way,” said Jay
Mulso, manager of visitor
services. “Our tour guides
are trained in 69 talking
points to keep the flow of
conversation going and are
encouraged to stress certain points such as quality,
history, safety and facts.”
The tour route will be peppered with story boards
bearing interesting facts.
Though those on the tour
will see tractors and application equipment actually
being built, massive robotic
welding arms and futuristic
— among other wonders
— the main purpose of the
tour is to showcase AGCOJackson’s greatest asset —
its people.
“It’s all about actual contact with what our people
do here,” Mulso said. “We
want to let people see what
we do.”
Jones agreed.
“The real story is the
people who work in the
factory,” he said. “Their history, their dedication. We
want those on the tour to
meet these workers, to see
them in action, to connect
with them and their shared
interests, to gain the confidence of seeing firsthand
how our implements are
built and the quality of the
parts that go into them.”
The tours — which can
extend up to two hours in
length, depending on the
audience — end back in
Intivity Center in the showroom and display area.
“This will be a wonderful
experience — a celebration of innovation past,
present and future,” Jones
said. “Here, through a series of exhibits, we will tell
rich stories of history, innovation and productivity.
Not innovation for innovation’s sake, but innovation
for the sake of profitable
growth. How AGCO came
together as a company, how
it’s positioned on a solid
foundation of venerable
brands and on solid footing
to position those brands
on the leading edge of
technology to improve the
lives of farmers and make
them more profitable.”
Jones said that story will be
told through museum-quality displays, photographs,
archival elements, interactive touch-screen media and
actual implements from the
past and present for tourgoers to explore.
“Through pictures and
words, we will tell wellcrafted stories that we hope
will help foster meaningful
relationships,” Jones said.
From there, visitors will
be allowed to stop by Intivity Center’s souvenir store,
which will be stocked with
gift items and scale model
toys.
“It all starts and ends
with Intivity Center,” Mulso
said. “The structure, the
design, the look, the flow
— every little detail — is
all geared toward the experience.”
Only the best for AGCO’s
new world-class facility.
“Jackson is one of the
flagships of our manufacturing network,” Jones said.
“Intivity Center, I believe, is
representative of that.”
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AGCO
Pioneer Hi-Bred
International, Inc.
Jackson Production Plant
636-12400-0246 4/12
(507) 847-5522
Industrial Parkway • Jackson, MN
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 7
Cutting-edge technology makes AGCO-Jackson a world-class operation
Recent technological advances at AGCO-Jackson
Operations have positioned
the industrial park facility
on the cutting edge of productivity and have helped
establish the plant as a
worldwide industry leader.
From automated delivery vehicles that serve the
recently expanded tractor
assembly line with robotic
precision to a state-of-theart robotic weld cell, and
from a new cab weld cell
capable of churning out a
half-dozen units per day to
a massive milling machine
resting upon a full halfmillion pounds of concrete,
AGCO’s commitment to
technology has made the
Jackson facility a worldclass manufacturing operation.
AGVs take center stage
The highest profile of the
new technological advances
at the Jackson plant are the
that serve the enlarged tractor assembly line. Directed
via inertial guidance along a
series of recalibration magnets embedded in the floor,
the AGVs — or automated
guided vehicles — transport
loaded parts carts from the
new 42,000-square-foot
kitting center to the proper
point on the line and tote
the empty cart back.
“Our people in the kitting center load the carts
according to a list specified
by the system on rugged
tablet computers, then hit
a button that alerts the
AGV that there is a cart to
be delivered,” said continuous improvement manager
Rick Reuter. “The AGV
will not deliver the cart until the line is ready. When
it is ready, the AGV will
pick up the full cart in the
kitting center, deliver it to
the assembly line, pick up
the empty cart and bring it
back to the kitting center.”
Reuter said a half-dozen
people work the kitting
center at a time. The line is
served by five AGVs.
The kitting center concept replaces a less-efficient
system of loading carts with
the aid of handheld scanners and then either manually tugging carts to the line
or utilizing forklifts to do so.
“The handheld scanners
could be slow and cumbersome and the non-automated delivery of carts to
the line often resulted in
certain areas getting ahead
while others would get behind,” Reuter said. “Our
new kitting center concept,
aided by the AGVs, results
in consistency of delivery
and a steady stream of work.
The AGV system seems to
function as a pacing mechanism. It’s helped the whole
line and really balanced our
staffing and production.”
AGCO’s AGVs utilize
the most advanced guidance technology available,
Reuter said — not optical
sensor, nor embedded wire,
nor laser triangulation, but
inertial guidance aided by
embedded recalibration
magnets.
“The AGVs follow a virtual path,” Reuter said. “We
tell them to get from Point
A to Point B and they go.”
The AGVs, which came
online in February of this
year, can pull up to 2,000
pounds, Reuter said. Heavier parts are moved to the
line by a motorized tugger.
“The efficiencies we’ve
gained as a result of the
kitting center concept and
AGV assistance are phenomenal,” Reuter said.
“We’re always striving for
continuous improvement in
every area.”
Three-arm robot
Consistency, quality and
productivity have been
boosted to levels never before seen at AGCO-Jackson
by the plant’s new coordinated motion robotic
welding cell. Continuous
improvement manager and
manufacturing engineer
Wade White said the cell
has two robotic welding
arms and one material handling arm that manipulate
fixtures holding the parts to
be welded.
The fixtures are transported to the robotic welding arms on carts, White
said, and are selected by
the material handling arm
through a vision system
that reads a tag on the end
of each fixture, telling the
system what part it is and
triggering the proper weld
program. Once the part
is welded, the fixture is
returned to the cart from
which it was taken and the
next cart is processed.
The coordinated motion robotic weld cell primarily handles RoGator
rear wheel legs, torque arm
mounts, front wheel legs
and 6X6 steerable components. Installed in March,
One of five automated delivery vehicles that serve the enlarged tractor assembly line
at AGCO-Jackson Operations rounds a corner on its way back to the kitting center
to be reloaded.
tractor cab manufacture to
Jackson. White said the cab
weld cell at AGCO-Jackson
is an example of world-class
manual welding, employing
the skill of some of the best
welders in the nation.
The area is outfitted with
state-of-the-art equipment
that collects data and provides feedback to the operators on weld quality, which
ensures a consistent and
quality product.
“The computerized weld
program tells the welder
what to do and gives immediate feedback on work just
done,” White said. “Basically, it tells the welder what
the next weld is and then
tells the welder how he or
she did. It’s great for quality
control and consistency.”
World-class cab welding
The long-range cab cell
With the launch of the
high-horsepower tractor hit full production in April,
line came the in-sourcing of White said, while the shortthe cell is gradually being
ramped up to full production.
“This is a result of a continuous improvement team
recommendation based
on an evaluation of the
row crop chassis value
stream in the weld department,” White said. “When
we looked at current and
future product lines, we
quickly came to the conclusion there was not enough
capacity given current processes techniques. An automated method was needed
and was found in the form
of this coordinated motion
robotic welding cell. We’re
very excited to have this
here.”
Photo courtesy of Livewire Printing Co.
The new cab weld cell at AGCO-Jackson Operations is
outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment that collects data
and provides feedback to the operators on weld quality,
which ensures a consistent and quality product every time.
Congratulations,
AGCO!
Massive milling machine
The newest technological
addition to AGCO-Jackson
— a milling machine —
arrived in grand style on
several massive pallets in
early May. The machine
— a 21-foot-by-32-foot behemoth that will rest on
a half-million pounds of
5-foot-thick concrete when
assembled — will be used
to mill axle threads and
face surfaces, processes currently outsourced.
“It will be nice to get that
back in-house,” White said.
White said the milling
machine should be fully
functional by the first part
of August.
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range cab fixture is onsite,
with full production expected to be attained sometime
this summer.
AS CLOS
BUT IT’S
THE 2012
Thank you, AGCO,
for selecting the
Kawasaki Mule
for your use!
Jackson Cycle
44107 Okabena Road, Lakefield, MN
507-662-5442
Springfield Parkway, Jackson, MN • 507-847-3939
Larry and Sandy
www.jacksoncycle.com
New Jackson-built tractors stake out claim as industry leaders
The high-horsepower
wheeled row-crop tractors
now being produced at AGCO-Jackson Operations are
some of the most powerful,
efficient and environmentally sound machines on the
market today.
T h e M a s s e y Fe r g u son 8600 and Challenger
MT600D series machines
combine a powerful engine and the latest in transmission technology with
dynamic aesthetics and a
rugged frame to guarantee
the highest productivity and
optimum performance. The
tractors boast e3™ Selective Catalytic Reduction
technology that provides
operators with superb fuel
economy and cleaner emissions. And special care has
been taken to ensure an
operator environment that
is second to none.
The Massey Ferguson
7600 Series and Challenger
MT500D Series machines
combine well-proven,
award-winning technology
with the latest fuel-efficient
engines along with additional operator comfort and
control.
“When we’re talking top
features of these machines,
we’re talking Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT); Tier 4i-compliant,
clean-air engines; and cabs
that deliver the ultimate in
operator comfort,” said Travis Van Genderen, project
manager with AGCO-Jackson. “These are top-of-theline machines we are proud
to manufacture in Jackson.”
C
at maximum efficiency and
economy while maintaining a smoother drive quality and a noticeable reduction in fuel consumption.
The spacious “Panorama”
cab features a purposeful
layout, with intuitive DynaVT controls, levers and
switches grouped on the
new armrest to the right of
the operator. The cab boasts
four pillars rather than six
for unrestricted visibility.
The Datatronic 4-Control Center Display has
a 7-inch color monitor
mounted on the armrest.
It is fully adjustable to allow optimum viewing of
all the tractor’s functions.
The instrument panel is
clear and concise, with two
main digital displays as well
as an analog rev counter.
All main tractor warning
functions can be viewed
from here so the operator
is always in total control.
MT600D Series (205-290
PTO HP)
The Challenger MT600D
Series is purpose-built for
agribusiness professionals
looking for a big-time productivity edge. This tractor
is the high-capacity, highpower choice for unrivaled
performance day after day,
season after season, year
after year.
The Tier 4i-compliant
AGCO POWER engine
delivers unmatched power.
And, coupled with the innovative e3 SCR technology,
operators get the unbeatable combination of perfor-
L
U
ATIO
T
A
R
G
AGCO
All Massey Ferguson 8600 Series tractors are equipped with AGCO POWERTM engines,
which guarantee precise power and high performance.
mance and unprecedented
air quality control.
TruTrak™ Steering lets
the operator easily adjust
the steering ratio to require
more or less turns of the
steering wheel for the same
angle of turn of the front
wheels. With this adjustment flexibility, operators
enjoy quicker turns with
less effort.
The engine and the step-
less TechStar™ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) technology work
together to find the most
efficient operating mode.
Operators end up saving
fuel, reducing engine noise
and extending service life.
Inside the cab, the intuitive and ergonomic design
of the tractor management
center display puts all key
functions at the operator’s
fingertips, increasing overall productivity and comfort.
The cab suspension system uses a hydraulic damper and accumulator on each
corner of the cab to provide
unrivaled ride comfort. And
the four-post Pinnacle View
cab design provides more
interior space and fewer
obstructions for exceptional
See TRACTORS on Page 9
N
S,
ON
8600 Series (205-290 PTO
HP)
All Massey Ferguson 8600
Series tractors are equipped
with AGCO POWER™
engines, which guarantee
precise power and high performance. These engines
feature Electronic Engine
Management, which makes
continual fine adjustments
to fuel injection, resulting in
lower emissions, more power and superb fuel economy.
The AGCO POWER’s
e3™ Selective Catalytic
Reduction system for engine management and exhaust-gas treatment helps
to reduce exhaust pollutants and fuel consumption,
without compromising performance. Used in conjunction with AGCO POWER
engines, SCR means an end
to damaging emissions and
high fuel costs.
To give operators the
highest possible power and
productivity, the 8600 Series machines use an industry exclusive transmission system. Dyna-VT™ is
designed to ensure maximum productivity, reduce
physical strain on the operator and deliver optimum
fuel efficiency at all times.
To keep the operator in constant control and comfort,
the machines now offer Dynamic Tractor Management
(DTM), which works in conjunction with Dyna-VT. This
electronic management system automatically controls
the engine and transmission
when activated. Dyna-VT
and DTM work consistently
Junction of I-90 and Hwy. 71
Jackson, MN 56143
507-847-2444 • 800-634-3444
www.americinn.com
The Challenger MT600D Series is purpose-built for agribusiness professionals looking
for a big-time productivity edge.
Great Job, AGCO!
We appreciate the positive impact
you have had on our area.
You are a valued customer. . .
Thank You!
Sasker’s 507-847-0992 or
213 W. Ashley St. • Jackson, MN
Auto Glass & Repair
507-840-0992
PHONE/FAX: 507-847-5244
snicksign@hotmail.com
960 Hwy. 71 N., Jackson, MN
Troy and Laura Schneekloth
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 9
Tractors: New lineup of Jackson-built wheeled row-crop tractors stake out claim as true industry leaders
With more power, increased efficiency, greater capacity and unprecedented ergonomic
control, the Challenger MT500D Series machines are designed to give operators exactly
what they need and redefines expectations of what a tractor should be — in the field
and in the cab.
or Dyna-VT Continuously
Variable Transmissions allows operators to select the
most appropriate driveline
for their applications.
The machines boast the
latest-technology AGCO
POWER e3 engines with
Generation 2 Selective Catalytic Reduction, which reduces fuel consumption and
exhaust gas emissions. Power Management on Dyna-6
Employed from:
models boosts engine power
Aug. 13, 1990
by up to 25 horsepower for
field and transport operaFamily:
tions.
I have been married for 23 years
Operator comfort is maxto the love of my life, Michelle.
imized through enhanced
We have one child together and
cab comfort and visibility
she is newly married and workfrom a new windshield, slim
ing at AGCO in the row-crop area.
hood design and compact
cooling package; new multiHometown/education:
function Command Control
I’m from Estherville, Iowa, and graduate from Estherville Armrest; and options of
High School. I went two years at the tech college in new multi-pad joystick and
Jackson where I studied auto mechanics.
multi-function joystick.
visibility.
7600 series tractors are
highly efficient and versa7600 Series (140-180 PTO tile, ideal for all applications. The choice of either
HP)
The Massey Ferguson Dyna-6™ semi-powershift
Profile
Curt Gonnerman
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
First job/job now:
MT500D Series (140-180
My first job was working as a fab operator, second shift. PTO HP)
Now, I’m the day-shift team lead for the tractor line.
With more power, increased efficiency, greater
Most significant changes since beginning employ- capacity and unprecedentment:
ed ergonomic control, the
The expansions done here, especially the recent expan- Challenger MT500D series
sion of the tractor facility.
machines are designed to
give operators exactly what
they need and redefines exFishing, camping and motorcycle riding.
pectations of what a tractor
should be — in the field and
Work-related accomplishments of which you are in the cab.
most proud:
The tractors feature
For me, going from being a fab operator to a group electronically fuel-injected
lead and now to a team lead.
AGCO POWER 6.6-liter
and 7.4-liter engines leg-
The Massey Ferguson 7600 Series tractors are lightweight and versatile, ideal for all
applications
endary for strength, reliability and efficiency, as
well as innovative, secondgeneration e3 SCR, Tier
4i emission technology for
brawny performance, enhanced fuel economy and
industry-leading air quality
control.
The maintenance-free
Diesel Oxidation Catalyst
is designed to be in service
for the life of the machine.
Real-time emissions and
DEF monitoring ensure
exceptional total fluid efficiency and compliance, not
to mention a better bottom
line.
Operators have the
choice of three high-performance, award-winning
transmission options and
the multi-function joystick
customizes common functions to increase efficiency
and provide a new benchmark for control when the
tractor is equipped with
a front loader. The new
multi-pad control, with easy
fingertip functionality, provides enhanced operational
performance.
u
l
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a
a
t
r
i
g
o
n
ns!
o
C
AGCO
!
G
N
I
R
I
H
W
O
N
For more information call or apply online!
507-847-7076
www.dohertystaffing.com
EOE
Drug free employer
Choose Jackson as your nearest branch
N. Hwy. 71 • Jackson, MN
(507) 847-4662
AGCO-Jackson expansion: Teamwork got it done
Lots of effort by
many individuals
It was a team effort of
citywide, countywide, statewide — even nationwide
— proportions that led
to the recently completed
expansion of manufacturing operations at AGCO in
Jackson.
From members of the
Jackson Economic Development Corp. to the commissioner of the Minnesota
Department of Employment and Economic Development, from the Jackson
City Council to Minnesota’s
governor and representatives in Congress, and from
the line workers at AGCOJackson Operations to the
company CEO, the decision
to move the manufacturing
and assembly of several
models of tractors to Jackson was the result of months
of hard work and dedication
from countless groups and
individuals — with Jackson
as the starting point.
“So many people were
involved in the process,”
said Sue Pirsig, Jackson’s
economic development coordinator and coordinator
of the JEDC. “And much
of the work and effort was
done on a volunteer basis
— local people working
hard for the benefit of this
community. I say Jackson’s
doing something right.”
AGCO officials certainly
thought so, rewarding all
that hard work by so many
with a 75,000-square-foot
addition to its tractor assembly facility that extended the
assembly line by 180 feet
and allowed for construction of a 17,000-square-foot
state-of-the-art visitor center, featuring a showroom
and theater.
More than 100 permanent jobs have been created
as AGCO-Jackson Operations works to establish itself as the “North American
home of the best, the most
fuel-efficient, high-horsepower row-crop tractor
in the industry,” said Eric
Fisher, director of AGCOJackson Operations. In addition to production of the
Challenger track tractor,
AGCO-Jackson is now the
home of the Massey Ferguson 8600 series, Challenger
MT600C series, Massey
Ferguson 7600 series and
Challenger MT500 series of
wheeled row-crop tractors.
But, as Fisher said, “The
real story is not the what; it’s
the why — why Jackson?”
Gov. Mark Dayton, who
was in Jackson for the expansion announcement in
January of last year, had
an answer. Dayton said
AGCO’s decision to expand
operations in Jackson, as
opposed to other suitable
options, was a testament
to the people of this part
of the state — both those
who worked together to
assemble a desirable economic development package and those who make
up a nationally renowned
workforce.
“I want to give credit
to my predecessor, Gov.
Pawlenty, and his administration, the Department of
Employment and Economic
Development … city officials, the county — everyone who pulled together
and worked so hard to put
together an economic development package that
will keep jobs and add jobs
for the benefit of this part
of the state and for all of
Minnesota,” he said. “AGCO’s decision to expand in
Minnesota is encouraging
news for the state and for
the region.”
That winning economic development package,
which former JEDC President Rich Koch said laid
the groundwork for the
January 2011 announcement, involved support —
ranging from verbal and
in-kind backing to financial
incentives — from several
individuals, agencies and
organizations from across
the city, county, state and
region. Though complicated slightly by the transition
of government following
the November 2010 elections, local project advocates persevered and, in
Koch’s words, were able to
prove to AGCO “why Jackson, as opposed to the rest
of the country, and rest of
the world.”
“I think it’s important
to note that this didn’t just
happen overnight,” said
Koch. “This is big for the
city of Jackson, the county,
the state — this is big for
North America.”
Fisher said the AGCOJackson expansion is a
“great example of how business, government and local
leadership can work together to accomplish something that is in everyone’s
interest.
“I am really proud to be
part of this community and
this expansion here,” he
said. “I couldn’t be more
thrilled with the support
from everybody to make
this happen.”
Ag-Chem founder McQuinn offers high praise for AGCO, community of Jackson
With a state-of-the-art facility and room to grow, an
employee base unmatched
in skill and work ethic and
a community eager to assist the march of progress,
it comes as no surprise
to Ag-Chem founder Al
McQuinn that AGCO has
named Jackson the new
North American home of
high-horsepower wheeled
row-crop tractors.
“There was a lot of hard
work by a lot of people that
got things to where they
are today,” McQuinn said
recently.
When AGCO Corp. purchased Jackson-based AgChem in 2001, McQuinn
hoped the new ownership
would someday take full
advantage of what Jackson
had to offer. Today, he said,
it is clear exactly that has
happened.
“I always thought that if
I built a plant good enough
and substantive enough, that
was one thing I could leave
to Jackson — something
that was too valuable for a
buyer to walk away from,”
McQuinn said. “That has
certainly proved to be true.”
The company to which McQuinn’s Ag-Chem was sold
definitely played a part in
that, as well.
“When AGCO bought
Ag-Chem, it received a
piece of valuable land on
which it could expand and
facilities that were state-ofthe-art and first-class,” he
said. “AGCO realized that
and has put it to good use.”
McQuinn said the reason
Ag-Chem grew and prospered in Jackson during
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Contact:
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www.lakefieldmn.com
his tenure had everything
to do with the quality of
the workforce. He said he
is glad AGCO has realized
the value of the local employee base.
“I can’t say enough about
the work ethic of the people
from Jackson County and
the surrounding territory,”
he said. “AGCO has seen
and appreciated the work
ethic of the people of that
area and has grown programs for its employees
in the interest of keeping talented and premium
workers.”
In the early days of AgChem, most of McQuinn’s
employees were seasonal
farmers — folks who would
farm spring through fall
and then spend the winter
manufacturing the application equipment that made
Ag-Chem famous.
“They were talented, they
knew how to repair equipment and put equipment
together, they could weld,
they were mechanical and
knew machining-type processes,” he said.
Al McQuinn
See McQUINN on Page 11
u
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l
a
a
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t
i
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o
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Agco
On your expansion!
BULL MARKET REALTY
REALTY
803 Third Street, Jackson, MN
(507) 847-BULL • 877-727-BULL(2855)
Scott Bahr, Broker
Cell: 840-3442
Don Wachal, Agent
Cell: 841-1827
Angie Rogotzke, Agent
Cell: 841-0125
scott@bullmarketrealty.net
don@bullmarketrealty.net
angie@bullmarketrealty.net
WWW.BULLMARKETREALTY.NET
.
.
.
u
o
Y
k
n
a
h
T
for continuing to expand your product line,
facilities and work force in Jackson.
We look forward to serving
AGCO employees in years
to come!
507 2nd St.
Jackson, MN
847-9901
WOW
Supplement to the
McQuinn: Ag-Chem founder praises AGCO and Jackson
The skill and work ethic
of those seasonal employees
of the past is still evident in
today’s full-time AGCOJackson employees.
“In Jackson, Jackson
County and beyond, AGCO
has an employee base of
intelligent people with skill
and drive,” McQuinn said.
In the community of
Jackson, AGCO also has
a proactive partner ready
and willing to step forward
to assist the march of progress. It was a coordinated
effort of local, state and
national proportions that
Profile
Danny Williams
I
Employed from:
Aug. 15, 1978
I
Family:
Wife of 12 years, Tammy.
I
Hometown/education:
I’m a Welcome native and attended school there.
I
First job/job now:
I was hired as a sub-assembler in the systems area.
Today I am group lead in the manufacturing engineering department.
I
Just the size and number of products offered and how
big we’ve gotten. The machines have also become a
lot more advanced.
I
Hunting and fishing; retired firefighter and EMT.
I
most proud:
Working my way up and getting promoted to group
lead — using the experience gained here to advance.
It’s been a good place to work, I’ve never been treated
unfairly and they’re always willing to work with you.
We’ve come a long ways in the 34 years I’ve been here.
helped convince AGCO
to expand manufacturing
operations in Jackson and
stake the community as the
home of its high-horsepower wheeled row-crop series
of Massey Ferguson and
Challenger tractors.
That fact came as no
surprise to the Ag-Chem
founder, who credits city
and county leaders, as well
as the Jackson Development Corp. — the forerunner of today’s Jackson Economic Development Corp.
— for helping his company
to grow into what it became.
“I’ll always be grateful
to the community for helping me get started,” he
said. “Without the cooperation and participation of
the Jackson Development
Corp. and without the support of local banks and community leaders, we would
never have gotten started.”
McQuinn said he couldn’t
be happier for AGCO or
the community of Jackson
and congratulated both on
their successes.
“I certainly wish AGCO
all the best — they have
made some great strides,”
he said. “And I am really
happy for the community
of Jackson that AGCO has
become a growing part of
the community. I love that
community for all it did to
help. It was always there
and always tried so hard
and it was meaningful. I
congratulate all the people
of Jackson for their past
successes and wish them all
the best for the future.”
CONGRATULATIONS,
AG
CO
!
Whatever the occasion, call us to help plan your special event!
Silverback’s Café and Catering
Lakefield 507-662-6220
Mon.–Wed. 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Thurs. and Fri. 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.,
with delivery; Sunday 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 11
We have been very happy to serve and be part of AGCO’s growth since the
beginning. We are proud of the fact that many of our friends and neighbors
helped build the company into what it is today.
Jackson, MN • 507-847-3200 • 800-539-1663
Serving Jackson County Since 1935
We’re Proud
of your continued growth and
expansion, AGCO!
Thank you, for calling Jackson home.
west
®
West Asset Management
147 Industrial Parkway
Jackson, MN 56143
877.264.9989
Congratulations,
AGCO!
You are
a valued
Customer!
BKC
WICHITA • SPRINGFIELD • OMAHA • DALLAS • LITTLE ROCK
1-800-666-6072
www.sprayequipment.com
We design, install, and maintain the largest
and most complex finishing systems
in the industry. Spray booths. Ovens. Washers.
Conveyers. Robotics. Applications equipment.
Solvent recovery. We can integrate
your entire finishing system.
Construction Inc
CONCRETE CONTRACTOR
BRETT CURRY
PRESIDENT
605 COUNTY ROAD 55 • ST. JAMES, MN 56081
OFFICE AND FAX: 507-375-4724
CELL: 507-920-8133
lympic Fire
Protection Corp.
Owatonna, MN 55060
507/455-1150
www.olyfire.com
24-hour Service
Design
Installation
Service
Inspections
of
Fire Protection Systems
Top lawmakers see AGCO-Jackson as
example of what can be accomplished
Since word of the expansion of manufacturing operations at AGCO-Jackson
first broke back in January
2011, the industrial-park
plant has played host to
some of the highest-ranking
government officials in the
state.
Gov. Mark Dayton rode
to the public announcement of the expansion Jan.
27, 2011, on a brand new
Massey Ferguson tractor. At
the time, he praised AGCO
for deciding to expand in
Jackson and the people of
this part of the state — both
those who worked together
to assemble a desirable economic development package and those who make
up a nationally renowned
workforce — for helping
to jumpstart the state’s
economy.
“AGCO’s decision to expand in Minnesota is encouraging news for the state
and for the region,” the
governor said at the time.
“The most important thing
we can do right now is to get
Minnesota working again,
and this project will benefit southwest Minnesota
by providing construction
and manufacturing jobs.
More jobs, more economic
stability, more promise of
the extended wellbeing of
our state.”
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited in May 2011.
Following a tour of the
plant led by Eric Fisher,
director of operations, the
state’s senior senator commended AGCO officials for
their sound management
of the plant and called the
march toward 1,000 — or
more — employees in the
wake of the expansion of
manufacturing operations
“unbelievable.” Klobuchar
termed her tour of AGCO
“really impressive” and
encouraged Fisher and
AGCO management to
“just keep adding people.”
“Thank you for picking our
state, thank you for staying
in our state and thank you
for expanding in our state,”
See OFFICIALS on Page 13
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar gets a bird’s-eye view of the main manufacturing center at
AGCO-Jackson Operations during a visit last May, one stop on a tour of the industrial
park facility led by Eric Fisher, director of operations.
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 13
Supplement to the
Officials: AGCO-Jackson example of what can be done
PRODUCTS
said. “We have a great story
to tell and, when they’ve
been here to visit, we’ve
made sure to tell it.”
It’s the story, Fisher said,
of how government and
business can work together for the common good.
It’s the story of bringing
manufacturing jobs back
to America. It’s the story
of American-made goods
competing on a global stage.
“It’s been great to visit
with these individuals and
be seen by them as an example of what we can all
accomplish when we work
together,” Fisher said.
See OFFICIALS on Page 16
WIRE ROPE
ALLOY CHAIN SLINGS
WIRE ROPE SLINGS
SYNTHETIC SLINGS
FALL PROTECTION
HYDRAULIC PUMPS
& CYLINDERS
OVERHEAD CRANE
& HOIST SALES
RENTALS
CELEBRATING
OUR 60TH YEAR
IN BUSINESS
Lifting P
60
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1952
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2012
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finished tractor factory addition that morning, Franken
called AGCO’s new Jackson expansion an “unbelievable manufacturing facility
that’s doing great things.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz got
Fisher’s grand tour just days
later, on April 5. Walz said
he was excited to be able
to not only talk about, but
also see firsthand what he
called “made-in-America”
manufacturing.
Fisher said he has been
overwhelmed by the interest Minnesota’s government leaders have shown
in AGCO-Jackson Operations.
“It’s been incredible to
have them visit here,” he
Sharro
she said. “This is all good
news.”
Klobuchar’s colleague in
the U.S. Senate, Al Franken, has paid two visits to
AGCO in Jackson over the
past few months. He was in
town the evening of Sept.
16, 2011, to personally inspect the expansion. He said
he came away impressed.
“This is great,” Franken
told a group of top AGCO
officials and community
leaders after his tour, which
was guided by Fisher. “This
is exactly what Jackson
needs and exactly what
Minnesota needs.”
The junior senator returned to the Jackson plant
on April 2. After touring the
ive rs
EMPLOYEE OWNED
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz (left) listens to Eric Fisher, director of AGCO-Jackson Operations,
at one end of the newly expanded tractor production line during a tour this past April.
Congratulations, AGCO!
As you celebrate the completion of your plant expansion
project and the Intivity Center, we would like to say
“THANK YOU” for allowing us to serve your catering needs.
301 County Rd E2 W
New Brighton, MN 55112
(651) 489-1341
(800) 565-8821
3404 15th Ave E, Suite 1
Hibbing, MN 55746
(218) 440-1002
(218) 440-1020 Fax
www.ccsharrow.com
SERVICES
OSHA Mandated
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Hwy. 71 • Jackson
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847-5555
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TRAINING
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Qualified Signal Person
Overhead Crane Operator
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Lift Operator
Fall Protection
Underhung Hoist
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OSHA 10 hour
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 15
EXPERIENCE INTIVITY CENTER.
THIS SATURDAY.
AGCO invites the entire community, including employees and their families, to experience Intivity Center and the
expanded tractor assembly line at the AGCO Open House this Saturday, June 9th from 9am – 11:30am.
Agriculture and innovation have a new hometown.
jackson.agcocorp.com
INTIVITY CENTER is a service mark of AGCO Corporation.
CM12N001AG
Officials: Top lawmakers see AGCO-Jackson Operations as shining example of what can be accomplished
Photo courtesy of AGCO Corp./Broadhead Co.
Eric Fisher, director of AGCO-Jackson Operations (right), talks with U.S. Sen. Al
Minnesota
Gov.
Mark
Dayton
arrives
at
the
Jan.
27, 2011, public announcement of
Franken about the recently finished factory expansion and production of high-horsepower wheeled row-crop tractors as he leads the lawmaker on a tour of the new space the expansion of manufacturing operations at AGCO-Jackson on a brand new Massey
Ferguson 8660, one in a series of tractors now being manufactured in Jackson.
earlier this spring.
Congratulations,
AGCO!
Sales And Service
301 N. Hwy. 86 • Lakefield, MN
Hi-Lo Restaurant & Catering . . .
would like to congratulate AGCO on their
new Intivity Center and their expansion
of manufacturing operations.
“Food At Its
Finest Since 1946”
Hwy. 86, Lakefield, MN • www.hiloclub.com
507-662-5992 • 1-888-TRY-HILO
Congratulations,
AGCO,
on the completion of the
Intivity Center
— from Galaxy Associates
and DuBois Chemicals
www.duboischemicals.com
www.galaxy-associates.com
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 17
AGCO’s Jackson facility one of many around the globe
From Europe to
South America,
Mexico to China,
AGCO is global
AGCO manufactures
products in locations intended to optimize capacity,
technology or local costs.
Furthermore, AGCO continues to balance its manufacturing resources with
externally-sourced machinery, components and replacement parts to enable
it to better control inventory
and supply of components.
AGCO believes its manufacturing facilities are sufficient to meet needs for the
foreseeable future.
North America
AGCO’s manufacturing
operations in North America are located in Jackson;
Beloit, Kan.; Hesston, Kan.;
and Queretaro, Mexico;
and produce products for
a majority of AGCO brand
names in North America, as
well as for export outside of
North America.
The Jackson facility produces 270- to 585-horsepower track tractors and
four-wheeled drive articulated tractors, as well as
self-propelled sprayers.
Earlier this year, the Jackson facility began production of high-horsepower
wheeled row-crop tractors
marketed under the Massey
Ferguson and Challenger
brand names.
The Beloit facility produces tillage and seeding
equipment. The Hesston
facility produces hay and
forage equipment, rotary
combines and planters. In
Queretaro, AGCO crews
assemble tractors for distribution in the Mexican market. In addition, AGCO also
has three tractor light assembly operations throughout the United States for
the final assembly of imported tractors sold in the
North American market.
AGCO’s main manufacturing operations for
grain storage and protein
production systems are located in Taylorville, Newton, Flora and Paris, Ill.;
and Bremen, Ala. AGCO
also has a 50 percent interest in AGCO-Amity JV
LLC (“AGCO-Amity JV”)
located in North Dakota,
which is a joint venture that
manufactures air-seeding
and tillage equipment.
berdorf facility produces 50to 390-horsepower tractors
marketed under the Fendt
brand name.
AGCO crews also assemble forklifts in the Kempten,
Germany, facility for sale to
third parties and assemble
cabs for Fendt tractors in
Baumenheim, Germany.
AGCO has a diesel engine
manufacturing facility in
Linnavuori, Finland, and
a joint venture with Claas
Tractors SAS for the manufacture of driveline assemblies for tractors produced
in the facility in Beauvais.
AGCO’s harvesting machinery manufacturing
operations in Europe are
located in Breganze, Italy; Feucht, Germany; and
Hohenmoelsen, Germany.
The Breganze facility produces straw walker and
hybrid combine harvesters
from 176 to 500 horsepower
under the Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Laverda and
Challenger brand names.
The Breganze facility also
manufactures free flow and
power flow headers. The
Hohenmoelsen facility produces self-propelled forage
harvesters up to 650 horsepower for the Fendt brand
name. The Feucht facility
produces hay tools such as
mowers, tedders and rakes
under the Fella, Massey
Ferguson and Challenger
brand names.
Europe
AGCO’s tractor manufacturing operations in Europe are located in Suolahti,
Finland; Beauvais, France;
and Marktoberdorf, Germany. The Suolahti facility
produces 75- to 220-horsepower tractors marketed
under the Valtra and Massey
Ferguson brand names. The
Beauvais facility produces
70- to 370-horsepower tractors marketed under the
Massey Ferguson, Chal- South America
AGCO’s manufacturing
lenger, Valtra and AGCO
brand names. The Markto- operations in South Amer-
ica are located in Brazil.
In Canoas, Rio Grande do
Sul, Brazil, AGCO crews
manufacture and assemble
tractors ranging from 50
to 220 horsepower, industrial loader-backhoes and
self-propelled application
equipment. The tractors
are sold primarily under
the Massey Ferguson brand
name. The self-propelled
application equipment is
sold under the Massey Ferguson and Valtra brand
names. In Mogi das Cruzes,
Brazil, AGCO crews manufacture and assemble tractors ranging from 50 to 210
horsepower marketed primarily under the Valtra and
Challenger brand names.
AGCO also manufactures
diesel engines in the Mogi
das Cruzes facility.
AGCO manufactures
combines marketed under
the Massey Ferguson, Valtra and Challenger brand
names in Santa Rosa, Rio
Grande do Sul, Brazil. In
Ibirub, Rio Grande do Sul,
Brazil, AGCO manufactures and distributes a line
of farm implements, including drills, planters, corn
headers and front loaders.
AGCO also manufactures
protein production systems
in Marau, Rio Grande do
Sul, Brazil.
Rest of the world
AGCO’s tractor and harvesting manufacturing facilities in China are located in Daqing, Changzhou
and Yanzhou. The Daqing
facility produces 190- to
210-horsepower tractors
marketed under the Valtra brand name and the
Changzhou facility produces 80- to 120-horsepower
tractors marketed under
the Massey Ferguson brand
name. The Yanzhou Dafeng
facility produces harvesting
equipment including selfpropelled and mounted
combines under the Massey
Ferguson and Dafeng brand
names.
Complete
Crane Ser vice
Locally Owned and
Operated Since 1965
Members of AGC
and SC&RA
CONSTRUCTION CO
CO
CONSTRUCTION
24-hour Service
Machinery Movers, Rigging, Steel Erection,
Pile Driving, Pre-Cast Erection
2808 W. 6th St.
Sioux Falls
www.jerkeconstruction.com
605-336-9010
Congratulations,
AGCO
Come experience
The Farmer’s Dream
Premiering
Intivity Center
Jackson, MN
June 2012
on your latest expansion!
Mueske Electric, Inc. is
PROUD to have been
part of the expansion.
It is a pleasure
working with you!
MUESK
E
ELECTRIC
INC.
COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • RESIDENTIAL
Craig Miller Productions
We tell your story in video.
404-264-0427
P.O. Box 286
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Office: 712-336-1986
Fax: 712-336-1913
Hartzburg has seen plenty of changes in his 43 years on the job
Co
Of all the changes Tony
Hartzburg has seen in his 43
years with the company that
today is AGCO-Jackson
Operations — automation,
computers, robotics — the
biggest and best in his mind
concerns the employees.
“There is a lot more employee involvement today
that you just didn’t see
when I started with Willmar
in 1969,” said Hartzburg,
director of manufacturing
at AGCO-Jackson, and
the operation’s longesttenured employee. “Employees are involved with
continuous improvement
teams and are empowered
to help management make
informed decisions. As a
result, management benefits from the insights of
n
“The opportunity for together. But we’ve done it
It’s a far cry from the
way things worked when continued growth is impres- in the past, are doing it at
Hartzburg took an after- sive,” he said. “The chal- present and will continue
school second-shift job with lenge is getting the people to do it in the years ahead.”
Willmar the year man first
walked on the moon.
“I started in the warehouse, then moved to assembly,” Hartzburg said.
He studied management
at the junior college level
and was promoted to pro- I Employed from:
duction supervisor. He was
Dec. 1, 1987
serving as unit manager for
fabrication and weld in 2001 I Family:
when AGCO announced
Wife, Deb; two daughters, two
plans to move the newly
twin boys and one grandchild.
acquired Willmar division
from its namesake city to I Hometown/education:
Jackson.
I am a Jackson native, attended
“I hadn’t planned to
Jackson High School and then
transfer to Jackson,” Hartzwent to Florida State University before transferring to
burg admitted. “I was thinka Florida tech school to study motorcycle and marine
ing maybe it was time to
mechanics management.
switch gears. But when I
visited Jackson and saw I First job/job now:
this impressive facility and
I was hired in resale parts. Today I work in new prodthe people here and what
uct launch on the application side and also do floor
I could see was real opporsupport and tooling for our row-crop spreaders and
tunity for growth, I decided
tenders.
those were reasons enough
for me to come here.”
I
Most significant changes since beginning employHartzburg lists his team
ment:
as his top professional acThe biggest change is when we went from Ag-Chem
complishment.
to AGCO in 2001. Another change is the way actual
“Developing a really
production is done, the way things are assembled. And,
good, strong team in manuof course, the advances in technology.
facturing is what I am most
proud of,” he said. “It’s I Hobbies, activities or community involvement:
exciting to see the team we
Farming, dirt-biking and chasing kids around.
have. When I have to be
away from the plant, they I Work-related accomplishments of which you are
don’t miss a beat. When
most proud:
they succeed, I succeed. It’s
Helping the row-crop line through various teams
all about the team and the
achieve better results. In hydraulic assembly, we’ve
team effort. Personal acmade some great strides forward and have gotten
complishments don’t mean
through some assembly issues. Great progress has
anything to me.”
been made on the manufacturing and engineering
Hartzburg said the future
side as well.
is bright for AGCO-Jackson
Operations.
Profile
Curt Ringgenberg
Tony Hartzburg, director of manufacturing at AGCOJackson, and the operation’s longest-tenured employee,
with a framed photograph of a Massey Ferguson 8650, one
in a series of wheeled tractors now being manufactured at
the recently expanded industrial park facility.
the most knowledgeable the employees take a little
people we have here and more ownership.”
ions,
t
a
l
u
t
a
r
Agco!
g
Proud to be a part of the
AGCO economic development engine
Jackson, MN
(507) 847-3520
www.federatedrea.coop
info@federatedrea.coop
Supplement to the
Call us for
all your . . .
• Commercial Cleaning
• Move In/Move Out Cleaning
• Residential/Commercial Carpet Cleaning
• Residential/Commercial Window
Cleaning
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 19
to the AGCO Corp.!
You have brought many great things into Jackson. Not only have
you created jobs for those that work directly for you but you have
given small businesses like ours the opportunity to grow and expand.
Thank you again for all the great things that you have done for
our community.
CHUCK DUNKER
Contact Scott at
507-841-0991
507-847-3532
Cell: 507-841-1632
512 S. Hwy. 71, Jackson, MN
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sat., 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Best Wishes, AGCO!
Congratulations AGCO on the expansion of the
Jackson, MN assembly line.
Engineering in Civil, Water, Wastewater,
Transportation, Water Resources,
Landscape Architecture and
Surveying Services
507-238-4738 | www.bolton-menk.com
Minnesota based firm with twelve offices
DESIGNING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
It’s a pleasure watching you grow!
You’re a great asset to our community.
“A Community Service Since 1892”
4
414 Second Street, Jackson, MN
(507) 847-4714
SAVINGS & LOAN
ASSOCIATION
www.jacksonfederalsl.com
Jackson’s Only Locally Owned and Operated Financial Institution!
CONGRATULATIONS
on your expansion. We’re grateful to have
you as part of our growing community.
8F%P5IF803,
4P:PV%POU)BWF5P
Farmers and Merchants
State Bank of Alpha
A Century Bank
F.W. Striemer, Founder · Helen Striemer Meium, President
507-847-3620
www.famstatebankofalpha.com
“Independent and locally owned for 101 years”
Residential & Commercial CLEANING
Residential & Commercial PAINTING
Window Washing
Power Washing
Interior Spray Booth
Custom Staining/Finish - Faux Finishing
Gutter Cleaning (STATE OF THE ART MACHINE!)
Property management
Carpet Cleaning
Tile/Grout Cleaning
New Construction Clean up
Spring Cleaning
FREE QUOTES! FULLY INSURED!
Check us out on Facebook!
Last Touch Painting and Cleaning
712-336-4475
www.lasttouchllc.com
Entire community invited to
open house Saturday, June 9
AGCO invites the entire community, including employees
and their families, to experience Intivity Center and the
expanded tractor assembly line at the AGCO-Jackson
Operations open house Saturday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 11:30
a.m.
See map for the planned tour route, indicated in red.
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 21
Intivity Center and Manufacturing Expansion
PROJECT MANAGER AND GENERAL CONTRACTOR
CHRISTENSEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Designers • Builders • Developers
Estherville, IA 51334
712-362-7755
Profile
Denny Hample
I
Employed from:
Feb. 2, 1970
I
Family:
Wife, Roxann; two children and
two grandchildren.
I
Hometown/education:
I’m from Jackson and graduated
from Jackson High School. After
high school, I served in the Air Force for four years.
I
First job/job now:
My first job was in the parts department. Now I’m in
technical parts service.
I
The biggest change was when we went into the computer age — from card files and notepads to computers. Electronic knowledge is just phenomenal. You can
get answers with the click of a mouse. Everything has
also become more complex.
I
Golf, motorcycling, hunting and shooting and lawn
work.
I
most proud:
In the Ag-Chem days, we worked hard to establish a listing of dealer networks to get that up and going. Also,
one April we hit over $1 million in parts and shortline
equipment. That was a major milestone. I also remember the year we were named parts center of the year.
That was a tribute to the people behind the scenes.
Built to last
Jackson-based manufacturing crews build each wheeled
tractor in the Challenger MT600D Series specifically
for agribusiness professionals looking for an edge in
productivity. The tractor is billed as “the high-capacity,
high-power choice for unrivaled performance day after
day, season after season, year after year.”
,
S
N
O
I
T
A
L
U
T
A
NGR
!
C AGCO
O
Thank you,
for your investment in Jackson
and the surrounding areas!
Jackson, MN • 1-866-800-8000
Custom Fabrication
• Precision Machining
• Flame/Plasma/Laser Cutting
• Forming
• Welding
• Surface Finishing
• Prototyping/Engineering
• Assembly/Stocking Programs
Manufactured Products
• Motorcycle Hitches
• Dual Dozer Laser Level
• Sand Piper Spreader
• Travis Seed Cart
• HitchDoc Snowblower
• HitchDoc Bucket
to
AGCO!
on,
Attenti
AGCO
employees!
131 County Road 34E
Jackson, MN 56143
1-800-446-8222
507-847-4049
www.hitchdoc.com
Show your Perks card and receive
15%
OFF
FURNITURE, MATTRESS SETS,
e
v
e
i
S rt’s
Regular-Price,
In-Stock
AND FLOORING
Furniture & Floors
Carpet • Bedding • And Much More!
306 2nd St. • Jackson, MN
507-847-3700
512 Central Ave. • Estherville, Iowa
712-362-2916
www.sievertsfurniture.com
Congratulations,
on going above and beyond. Building jobs, a
broad range of implements and furthering the
future of Jackson and the surrounding area!
AGCO, creating a corporate culture that is
valued and appreciated by all!
Marsha Pohlman
Enchanted Flowers & Gifts
415 Second St., Jackson, MN
507-847-5174
THE SHED CHILL-N-GRILLE
Margarita and Taco
THURSDAYS!
Call
507-662-5133
Hwy. 86 N., Lakefield
Open at 11 a.m. for lunch, Mon.–Sat.
Congratulations
AGCO,
on the Building Expansion!
Thanks for letting
Tom’s Plumbing & Heating, LLC
take care of all your plumbing
and HVAC needs!
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 23
Supplement to the
AGCO . . . Congratulations !
•
•
•
•
•
Digital Signage Displays
Digital Sign AV Products
Web Site Development
Exhibit Display & Kiosk
Lighted Signs, Letters
We Help You Shine!
•
•
•
•
•
Truck Lettering & Fleets
Vehicle Graphic Decals
Vinyl Graphics & Signs
Vinyl Window Decals
Banner & Sign Printing
507-372-7200 www. lendesigns.com
BEST WISHES,
AGCO,
as you move forward in your expanded
facilities and new Intivity Center!
You are a valued customer and neighbor.
Southwest Tour and Travel
79602 550th Avenue • Jackson, MN
507-847-2380
1-800-533-6801
swtours@qwestoffice.net
www.swtourandtravel.com
We’re Proud,
that you’ve put our
community first! AGCO’s
incredible investment in its
Jackson plant reinforces what
we’ve known all along – This is
a great community in which to
live and work. Congratulations
to AGCO and its employees on
your beautiful new facility!
80 W. Ashley • Jackson, MN 56143
847-4410
www.cityofjacksonmn.com • Email: info@cityofjacksonmn.com
CONGRATULATIONS,
AGCO
We are pleased to have provided
quality building materials.
Jackson Building Center
A Division of Overson Lumber Company, Inc.
Lori Milbrath
I
Employed from:
Dec. 14, 1977
I
Family:
Husband, Steve, who is a 33-year employee of AGCO-Jackson;
two children; eight grandchildren.
I
Hometown/education:
I’m a Lakefield native, attended Lakefield High School and then
went to the tech college in Jackson.
I
First job/job now:
I was hired for data entry in engineering. Today I am a program planner.
I
When the new manufacturing center went up, that was a huge expansion and a huge
deal.
I
Family — spending time with the kids and grandkids. I also enjoy flower gardening
and reading books.
I
Work-related accomplishments of which you are most proud:
Taking on new challenges, especially our continual process improvements. We used
to do more manually, but we’ve taken data entry from handwritten to automated via
computer. It’s really allowed us to more easily manage the volume.
171 Industrial Parkway, Jackson, MN
507-847-4011
N
O
TULATI
A
R
G
on
O
N
C
S,
keeping a
strong foundation for
our agricultural community!
Striving to bring the best
technology over several years to
our customers, AGCO has made
Jackson a star on the map!
Profile
Quality counts
105 Sherman St. • Jackson
847-4595
A series of four quality gates are positioned along the newly expanded tractor-assembly
line at AGCO-Jackson Operations, ensuring testing and inspection at every point in
the process.
Congratulations, AGCO
CONGRATULATIONS,
AGCO!
Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily
Next to the South Stoplight
Jackson, MN
847-2180
Locally owned and operated since 1957!
atulatio
r
g
n
ns
o
C
asper
J
CONGRATULATIONS,
AGCO!
,
AGCO
From
Professional Snow
Relocation Services
Jackson, MN • 507-840-0237
(877) 655-7627
mysmbs.com
507-847-3867
chamber@jacksonmn.com
www.jacksonmn.com
Jackson • 847-5004
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 25
To help celebrate your new facility,
we're ready to paint the town red.
Whether it's a glossy topcoat on a Massey Furguson tractor or a durable primer on a
Challenger combine harvester, we're proud to protect the products of AGCO Corporation.
We've been partners for nearly 25 years, and we look forward to the next 25 years.
Congratulations to the AGCO Corporation and the Jackson community!
Hentzen Coatings Inc. 6937 West Mill Road, Milwaukee, WI 53218-1225
800-236-6589 | Hentzen.com
Leading CARC Provider | Ultra-Low VOC | HAPS-Free Primers and Top Coats | Chrome-Free Corrosion Protection
Photos courtesy of AGCO Corp.
Final touches
Crews from Christensen Construction Co., the project’s Intivity Center’s signature portico was one of the final pieces of the expansion at AGCO-Jackson Operations. Here,
manager and general contractor, set the portico frame the frame arrives on site.
atop the stone-finished columns at Intivity Center’s
entrance.
The front of the nearly completed Intivity Center and expanded tractor factory at AGCOJackson Operations faces Jackson’s Industrial Parkway and is visible from Interstate 90.
Columns
designed
to support
the portico
frame are
finished in
architectural
stone.
As roof panels are installed on Intivity Center’s portico, progress is made on landscaping work around the building’s front.
Congratulations!
Congratulations, AGCO
on your latest expansion! It is an investment in
the future of Jackson and the surrounding areas.
Just like AGCO, excellence is the goal we strive for daily!
Thank you for enriching our community.
It’s a pleasure watching you grow.
Svoboda
Excavating
FARM DRAINAGE • WATER/SEWER
EARTH WORK
315 Petersburg Dr., Jackson, MN • (507) 847-2050 • Fax (507) 847-4955
e-mail: svobex@qwestoffice.net
BEST WISHES,
AGCO
on your expansion and Intivity Center!
OIL COMPANY
AND
DISCOUNT
TIRE CENTER
Jackson
507.847.3010
509 Third Street
bankmidwest.com
Member FDIC
Supplement to the
• Sunday, June 3, 2012 • 27
Making its mark
Prior to the latest expansion at AGCO-Jackson Operations, all buildings on the Jackson campus encompassed 596,981 square feet, or 13.7 acres under roof. With the expansion, the total facility now encompasses 671,981 square feet, or 15.43 acres under roof.
PROUD TO PARTNER
IN YOUR SUCCESS
Marketing
• Print/online
advertising
• Direct mail
• Email
marketing
• Website
design
Publications
• Jackson
County Pilot
• Lakefield
Standard
• Livewire
• Southern
MN Peach
• Farm Markett
News
Congratulations
to AGCO on their
recent expansion!
Printing/Publishing
• Full-color
printing
• Books and
booklets
• Brochures
• Posters
• Banners
• Business
cards
Jackson • Lakefield
Phone 507-847-3771 • Toll Free 800-658-2393
Fax 507-847-5822
info@livewireprinting.com • livewireprinting.com
800-348-1955
www.dougbradleytrucking.com
Congratulations
and Best Wishes
Mary Jetland
In Memoriam
Charles McQuinn
The McQuinn family extends congratulations
and appreciation to AGCO, the community
and to the dedicated employees who helped us
build the company.
And we further extend our
congratulations and best wishes
to AGCO for designating the
Jackson facility as its new No. 1
world-class facility.
Al McQuinn
Mary Agnes McQuinn

AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATION HAVE A

Transcription

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