New Holland is marking the 120th anniversary of its Zedelgem Global Centre of Excellence for Harvesting Technology in Belgium, which develops and produces combines, forage harvesters and balers for markets around the world.

The site dates back to 1906, when Léon Claeys established an engineering business there and began producing threshing machines. In 1952, Claeys launched the MZ, described by New Holland as Europe’s first self-propelled combine harvester. The business was acquired by Sperry Rand, then owner of New Holland, in 1964.

Today, the 36-hectare facility employs around 3,000 people and exports machinery to approximately 130 countries. It produces CX conventional and CR Twin Rotor combines, FR Forage Cruiser self-propelled forage harvesters and the BigBaler range.

Zedelgem is also the global production site for New Holland’s CR10 and CR11 Twin Rotor combines.

The manufacturer says the site is currently benefiting from a €150 million, five-year investment programme covering research and development and production capabilities. This has included a redesigned assembly line and logistics area for CR10 and CR11 production, alongside the introduction of automated guided vehicles to increase manufacturing flexibility.

The facility also uses virtual engineering technology to assess new machine concepts and allow customers to provide feedback during the development process.

New Holland says the plant processes around 157,000 tonnes of steel each year.