American made tractors?

[MessickFarmEqu]

I would like to know what is actually "manufactured" there.

I can speak on this since I've been to KMA (Kubota Manufacturing of America). There are 3 manufacturing facilities in GA, a 4th just opened. For machines like the RTV's, BX's, ZD's, ZG's, etc they bring in engines and trans from Japan and do everything else in house. IE, metal plate comes in one end, robots cut out the parts, guys weld the frames and stuff on jigs, runs down the paint line, goes on an assembly line where its mated with the engine, trans, seat, tires, sheet metal, etc. Then tested, crated and shipped to us.

Across the street is the facility that builds the loaders, backhoes, mowers, etc.

Down the road is where the M-series machines are done. That is as you said... Basicly tires bolted onto an existing tractor. Also things like rear remote kits, weight blocks, and dealer ordered customizations.

I've not been to KIE (Kubota Industrial Equipment) not sure what all they do there.

We get stock shipments from here, but regular orders are usually filled out of 1 of 4 division warehouses spread around the country.


I just did the factory tour at New Holland as well. Thats a great tour for people into that stuff. Its open to the public. Its an 'old school' tour where you are really walking though whats happening, not like some where you stare though a glass window.

My 5425 "utility" tractor was. Maybe more accurately, SCUTs and CUTs aren't.

I believe (I could be wrong) that you've got the smallest of the tractors thats mostly built here. Had you bought one of the 03-series it would be an Indian tractor. 6000's and above are domestic. You'll find basicly the same split with CNH.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I believe (I could be wrong) that you've got the smallest of the tractors thats mostly built here. Had you bought one of the 03-series it would be an Indian tractor. 6000's and above are domestic.

Yes, I believe that is true.
The 6030 Series are built in Mannheim Germany and the new 6D (value priced) are built in Mexico.

 

[WilliamBos]

Are you allowed to take pics at the NH plant?? What else do they build there, besides balers??

I can speak on this since I've been to KMA (Kubota Manufacturing of America). There are 3 manufacturing facilities in GA, a 4th just opened. For machines like the RTV's, BX's, ZD's, ZG's, etc they bring in engines and trans from Japan and do everything else in house. IE, metal plate comes in one end, robots cut out the parts, guys weld the frames and stuff on jigs, runs down the paint line, goes on an assembly line where its mated with the engine, trans, seat, tires, sheet metal, etc. Then tested, crated and shipped to us.

Across the street is the facility that builds the loaders, backhoes, mowers, etc.

Down the road is where the M-series machines are done. That is as you said... Basicly tires bolted onto an existing tractor. Also things like rear remote kits, weight blocks, and dealer ordered customizations.

I've not been to KIE (Kubota Industrial Equipment) not sure what all they do there.

We get stock shipments from here, but regular orders are usually filled out of 1 of 4 division warehouses spread around the country.


I just did the factory tour at New Holland as well. Thats a great tour for people into that stuff. Its open to the public. Its an 'old school' tour where you are really walking though whats happening, not like some where you stare though a glass window.



I believe (I could be wrong) that you've got the smallest of the tractors thats mostly built here. Had you bought one of the 03-series it would be an Indian tractor. 6000's and above are domestic. You'll find basicly the same split with CNH.

 

[mboulais]

I've got one concern if GM tanks... many someone can answer this for me. What happens to all those pensions? Do all those people loose their retirement... or are the tax payers on the hook for that too? Neither are good, both are expensive and in my mind would warrent some amout of government assistance. At least I can understand that more than AIG.

I left GM 2 years ago, I am taking the lump sum option on my pension and rolling it into an IRA now, I am not sure what will happen to others. My father has been retired from GM for about 15 yrs now. I don't want to see him suffer, but I also have a hard time swallowing the Idea of a buyout to save mismanaged private companies.

My understanding of the pension issue is that if someone were able to put up the cash to buy the company during the bankruptcy process, life would go on nearly as it was, If not the goverment (taxpayers) become that new owner. I also remember someone saying when some of the airlines went through bankruptcy, only part of the pension was covered.

Wow, this has gone a long way from the original question.

Since I am sure I haven't read all the posts since my last one I will risk repeating someone and say...
I think the JD 5000 series compacts are mostly US made.

 

[foggy1111]

^ VERY old thread......but I was just thinking. What if a company like Harley Davidson were to build a tractor and develop a cult following like they did on motorcycles? What say you.....could they do it?

 

[Tractorable]

I can’t see Harley Davidson being able to afford the R&D, tooling, production lines, distribution, dealerships and advertising to develop diesel powered tractors at a price that would compete with current Asian imports.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Well, considering HD is building more and more OUT of the US, I can already guess what would happen!

SR

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

^ VERY old thread......but I was just thinking. What if a company like Harley Davidson were to build a tractor and develop a cult following like they did on motorcycles? What say you.....could they do it?

There's such a thing as "diluting your brand." E.g., if Kubota were to come out with a washing machine, the tractor people would probably be appalled, while most washing machine buyers probably never heard of Kubota. So they might fail to capture much washing machine market share, but damage their image in the tractor world.

IMO doubtful that the Harley name would have much glamour on a tractor, and it could actually damage their bike reputation. (Cabelas)

OTOH if it SOUNDED like a Harley, maybe there's a small market for that.

 

[ericm979]

Harley sells a lot of clothing including t-shirts and ladies underwear. They've been branded on special edition trucks. They spread their brand around quite a bit. But they are careful to brand stuff that their core market will buy. While there's some intersection between the HD market and tractor buyers, I think most of the HD market is not rural enough to also be in the tractor market.

Then again Porsche and Lamborghini both made tractors.

 

[kenmac]

I'm willing to bet there are many washing machine buyers that have heard of Kubota.