Press releases

Higher capacity, better quality, greater flexibility and even more ecofriendly – these are the four main attributes of the new paint installation at the CLAAS plant in Metz, the foundation for which was laid at the end of February in the presence of Helmut and Reinhold Claas.

The foundation for the new paint installation at Usines CLAAS France in Metz has been laid. Pictured from left to right: Francois Grosdidier, the Mayor of Woippy; Hervé Bauduin, Managing Director of UCF; Fabrice Causero, Technical Director of UCF; Jean-Luc Bohl, President of the Metz Métropole local authority; Helmut Claas and Reinhold Claas.

"The laying of the foundation for the new paintshop officially marks the last and biggest investment in the modernisation process at Usines CLAAS France (UCF). We will be installing here the very latest in coating technology, as used today in automobile production. It will not only add a touch of elegance to the modern design of our CLAAS balers but will also provide longer life and even better corrosion protection", said Reinhold Claas. The CLAAS plant in Metz was founded and managed by Reinhold Claas in 1958. At the time, UCF was the first German company to establish itself in Metz. Today, the plant is managed by Hervé Bauduin, employs approximately 380 employees and produces a complete range of CLAAS round and square balers.

The modernisation programme at UCF included the acquisition of modern production equipment, such as laser machines, welding robots and numerically controlled bending machines, as well as a systematic reorganisation of the production and logistics departments, which today allows UCF to produce a mix of products on an everyday basis. The replacement of the existing paint installation with a new, modern and flexible cathodic dip coating installation is the final step in this major modernisation phase and part of a paint installation investment programme initiated several years ago by the CLAAS Group.

The new technology is a cathodic dip primer-coating process which prepares surfaces for subsequent finish coating by the application of high solid paints. This new surface treatment process greatly improves both quality and flexibility. A thermal post-incineration process will also be added to make the complete installation ecofriendly. An existing building will be expanded to an area of 2,200 square metres in order to accommodate the new paint technology. The new plant will begin operation in February 2013 and the space which becomes available will be used to expand and redesign the existing production facility.