JOHN Deere is investing in the expansion of its forest machine factory and the addition of a new facility at Joensuu, Finland.

Deere & Company has invested more than €50 million in the Finnish forest machine business this decade. Its latest investment, to expand the factory and increase capacity, is the biggest single investment in the Joensuu factory in John Deere Forestry Oy’s history.

Implementation of the investment will begin in summer 2019 and it will be completed in 2021.

The investment will improve and expand the Joensuu factory’s assembly and test drive facilities as well as increase the component manufacturing capacity.

Factory manager Janne Haapasalo said: “This expansion will help us to better meet demand during strong economic cycles. The new space will also increase occupational safety and employee satisfaction.”

After the expansion, John Deere Forestry Oy’s production and logistics facilities will cover a total of 3.2 ha.

The total amount of the investment is about €15 million, but the company has also sold a plot east of the current GreenPark to the City of Joensuu.

Joensuun Yrityskiinteistöt Oy will use the plot to build a new facility that will be used by John Deere. The value of this investment is around €5 million.

The new facility will be completed in June 2020.

Haapasalo added: “Strong collaboration with the City of Joensuu and Joensuun Yrityskiinteistöt Oy, which manages GreenPark, as well as the shared desire to develop business in the region, is of primary importance to us.

“The critical subcontractors operating in the immediate vicinity of the factory have a proven record of boosting the efficiency of our operations.”