Claas has strengthened its baler production capacity with a £2.8 million (€3.3m) investment at its Metz-Woippy site in France, marking another step in the company’s long-term commitment to the region and future growth in the baler sector.
The firm has inaugurated two new assembly lines at the site, one year after opening a new prototype workshop, as it prepares for the production of new baler ranges including the Cerex round baler and the next-generation Cubix square baler, which won a Gold Innovation Award at Agritechnica 2025.
The investment is designed to support the start of series production and ensure the factory is equipped to meet increasing demand from farmers and contractors worldwide.
Senior figures from Claas management, alongside political representatives and employees, attended the opening. Chairwoman of the shareholders’ committee, Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser said balers had been part of the company’s identity for more than a century.
“As a family business, balers have been part of our DNA for more than 100 years. Metz is our home for baler production, and France is one of Claas’ core markets,” she said, thanking institutional partners including the France Relance 2030 programme and the Mercy Endowment Fund for their support.
Balers remain a cornerstone of the Claas product range, with a heritage spanning more than 100 years and innovations such as the knotter billhook, Variant round balers, Rollatex net wrapping and Quadrant square balers. The latest expansion aims to combine new product development with modernised production facilities to support future growth.
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Chief operating officer of the Claas Group, Thomas Spiering said the company has invested heavily in research and development, infrastructure and production at Metz-Woippy in recent years.
“By combining innovative products with future-proof production facilities, we are strengthening the industrial and technological foundations for the continued success of our baler business,” he said.
The modernisation project has focused on final assembly and includes reorganising production lines to improve workflow, expanding and upgrading the square baler assembly line and constructing new soundproofed test cabins for larger machines.
Storage areas have also been restructured, with 1800sq/m of space freed up by outsourcing slow-moving parts, while heating, lighting and flooring have been refurbished. Logistics aisles have been widened to improve safety and enable future automation, and ergonomic equipment has been installed to support staff.
Cédric Zimoch, site manager at Claas Metz-Woippy, said the project marked an important milestone for the factory.
“This reflects our shared commitment to shaping the future of agricultural technology and to further strengthening the Metz-Woippy site as a key pillar of the Claas industrial network,” he said.
The investment supports the introduction of the Cerex 700 series of variable chamber round balers, first launched in 2025. The range includes four models, with and without cutting units, and maximum bale diameters of 1.83m and 1.60m. Positioned above the Variant 500 series, the new balers are designed to deliver higher throughput, improved bale density and reduced power requirements across silage, straw and hay applications.
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