Tractor plant St. Valentin reached production record in 2001

The St. Valentin tractor plant of the CNH Österreich GmbH reached a new production standard: 34 percent more tractors than in the previous year - rolled off the assembly lines in 2001. The number of employees in the production was increased by 20 percent in the past year.

Hans-Jochen Keßler, the director responsible for the production at the plant is pleased: "We have produced more tractors in St. Valentin during last year than ever before". Compared with the lowest level in the year 1994 production figures have almost tripled.

Roughly half of the tractor production is due to the traditional Austrian brand of STEYR. The export quota is around 60 percent. The most important foreign markets are Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg. The Scandinavian countries, Great Britain and the East European states are increasing in importance as new markets. 15 different STEYR tractor types are produced in St. Valentin altogether.

The location St. Valentin is the development centre for tractors between 40 and 170 HP in Europe for demand worldwide. St. Valentin is also the centre for national distribution and marketing as well as product training for the German-speaking markets.

Quality proves to be the success strategy

Tractors for the so-called premium segment, amounting to roughly 20% of the market in Europe, are built at this location which has a long tradition. STEYR focuses on quality. High-tech in the areas of transmission, comfort and application electronics, equipment variety and individual production are the main points with regard to market positioning.

The CVT series with electronic tractor management and infinitely variable transmission, which STEYR drew much acclaim internationally and was awarded numerous prices, is typical of this. The tractors have been produced in series since the middle of last year and are in big demand.

During the past two years, the Company has invested about 6,9 million Euro in St. Valentin. Development expenditure has also increased steeply in the past years. In 2001 it reached an amount of almost 7,3 million Euro.

"These figures impressively confirm the importance of St. Valentin as a development and production location ", explains Hans-Jochen Keßler.

Record production also produces new jobs

The production expansion had a very positive effect also on the employment level. Keßler: "In the production we have increased the number of employees by roughly 20 percent".

STEYR agricultural machines are produced in St. Valentin /Austria and are marketed by CNH Global N.V., a worldwide leading company in the fields of agricultural machinery, construction machinery and financial services. CNH sells its products in 160 markets by way of a network of more than 10,000 dealers and importers. CNH agricultural machines are sold under several powerful brands worldwide.
 

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St.Valentin, January 2002