CNH Industrial invests €150 million in Harvest Center of Excellence in Belgium

 CNH Industrial has announced investment of €150 million in its research and development and production facility in Zedelgem, Belgium. The focus is the development and production of the CR11 harvester, from the New Holland brand. The current phase includes the restructuring of the assembly line and logistics area.

According to the company, the CR11 harvester incorporates 7 thousand new parts. The production lines for the CX, CR and CR11 models will be unified. A new U-shaped assembly system and four integrated test stations will optimize the process. Automatically Guided Vehicles (AGVs) have replaced the traditional assembly line. They allow you to accommodate machines with different characteristics.

These improvements aim to increase CNH's flexibility and high-tech manufacturing level. Tom Verbaeten, director of supply chain at CNH, emphasizes the strategic importance of the harvesting equipment sector.

The project received support from the Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship Agency (VLAIO). Marc Andries, from VLAIO, highlighted the significant impact of CR11 on employment, investment and knowledge development in the region.

Hilde Crevits, vice-minister-president of the Government of Flanders, highlighted the importance of innovation for employment and competitiveness.

CR11 is a significant advance compared to CR10.90, points out CNH Industrial in a press release. The new machine allows for faster harvesting, which protects the quality of the grain.