CLAAS expands baler assembly capacity in Metz-Woippy

One year after opening a new prototype workshop, CLAAS yesterday inaugurated two new assembly lines at its Metz-Woippy baler site. This investment is essential for the production of new baler series, such as the CEREX round baler and the next-generation square baler CUBIX, Innovation Award winner in Gold at Agritechnica 2025. It sets up the manufacturing site for future growth in balers.

Strategic investment underlines long-term commitment to France and the Grand Est region
The €3.3 million investment reflects a shared long-term ambition for the future development of the site. Furthermore, it underlines the connection with the region and represents another milestone in the 65-year history of the site.

On the occasion of the opening Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairwoman of the Shareholders’ Committee and Thomas Spiering, Chief Operating Officer CLAAS Group welcomedrepresentatives of the state as well as local and regional authorities. “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. This is an invest on our future and reflects our commitment to the Metz region and to France as a whole. I am particularly proud of what our teams in Metz have achieved. I sincerely thank our institutional partners, especially France Relance 2030 and the Mercy Endowment Fund, for their support”, said Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairwoman of the Shareholders' Committee, at the inauguration.

Strong legacy meets future-proof innovations
Balers are at the core of CLAAS’ business and represent one of the key competencies of the company, keeping with a more than 100 years lasting legacy giving birth to milestones such as the knotter billhook, VARIANT round balers, ROLLATEX net wrapping and QUADRANT square balers. With new generations of variable round and square balers built in a state-of-the-art factory, CLAAS sets the stage for future growth.

“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. Over recent years, we have systematically invested in R&D, our protoshop, infrastructure and production at the Metz-Woippy site to drive innovation and operational excellence. Last year, our teams successfully delivered the launch of a broad new baler product portfolio, which is now going into production on state-of-the-art production lines for customers all over the world”, says Thomas Spiering, COO.

Comprehensive modernization of final assembly
The Metz-Woippy site combines long-standing industrial heritage with a broad range of expertise, including laser cutting, bending, robotic and manual welding, painting, and the assembly of round and square balers.

Cédric Zimoch, Site Manager CLAAS Metz-Woippy, concluded: “We are proud to have marked this important milestone together with representatives of the CLAAS Group management, our partners and our employees. This project 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.”

After the inauguration of a new prototype workshop in early 2025 the current investment focuses specifically on modernising final assembly and includes:

• freeing up 1,800 m² of space previously occupied by a logistics warehouse by outsourcing the storage of slow-moving parts and reorganising on-site storage,

• reorganisation of U-shaped assembly lines, with pre-assembly areas arranged in a herringbone pattern to optimise production flows,

• expansion and modernisation of the square baler assembly line,

• construction of new test cabins dedicated to test larger machines, which are more ergonomic and soundproofed,

• renovation of heating systems and improvement of lighting,

• renovation of assembly floors,

• painting of ceilings, metal structures and overhead cranes in accordance with CLAAS standards,

• installation of intuitive ergonomic manipulators,

• widening of logistics aisles to secure flows and thus enable future automation.

The investments were supported by the FRANCE 2030 program.

State-of-the-art assembly lines for the start of series production of the new CEREX 700
The introduction of the new CEREX 780 and CEREX 760 variable chamber round balers marks a new milestone in CLAAS baler history and sets new standards for performance and efficiency in this product segment. Developed to meet the highest demands of farmers and contractors, a total of four models, with and without a cutting unit and with maximum bale diameters of 1.83 m and 1.60 m respectively, complement the range of variable chamber round balers and are positioned above the VARIANT 500 series. The new models combine maximum throughput with impressive bale density and low power requirements, thus offering unparalleled efficiency and versatility when baling silage, straw, and hay.