Deere & Co. announces reshored $70 million US factory, new distribution center

Deere & Co. announced January that the company would open two new sites in the U.S., one for production and one for distribution. Each plant, Deere says, will employ about 150 people and start production sometime next year.

The John Deere-tractor manufacturer said its new $70 million excavator factory would reshore production from an existing location in Japan and set it up in Kernersville, North Carolina, making what Deere & Co. says will be the only “the only excavator designed, developed and manufactured in the United States.”

The agricultural equipment giant also noted it had recently broken ground on a new distribution center near Hebron, Indiana. In a statement, Denver Caldwell, Deere’s VP of Aftermarket and Customer Support, said the new location would be “an investment” in the company’s product support by improving parts availability for its U.S. customers, noting Indiana’s central location.

What people are saying

“Our investment in these new facilities underscores John Deere's dedication to strengthening the backbone of American industry and supporting local economies,” said John May, John Deere CEO. “We believe in building America, and these projects represent our intent to continue driving innovation and job creation in the United States. These investments further demonstrate our commitment to invest $20B in U.S. manufacturing over the next 10 years. It is a testament to our confidence in the future of U.S. manufacturing and our unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and economic growth.”

“This new facility is an investment in customer expectations around world class product support through parts availability for our US based ag, turf, construction, forestry, mining and turf customers,” said Denver Caldwell, Deere’s VP of Aftermarket and Customer Support. “Indiana's strong workforce and central location make it an ideal choice for expansion.”

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