Factory Facts
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John Deere Harvester Works is the largest, most modern combine manufacturing facility in the world. Located in East Moline, Illinois, it is approximately 90 acres under roof (that's nearly 4 million square feet) and has produced products since 1913.

How We Build Your Combine
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A majority of your combine components start as a roll of steel. Each roll weighs 10-to 20-tons, is 4-to 6-feet wide, and comes in thickness up to 1/4-inch. Steel is fed into a machine which cuts it to various lengths, then flattens it. The flat steel is sent to different stations to be made into smaller parts.

Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines, capable of holding 37 unique punches in a large wheel, are used to create various combinations of parts. Harvester Works also uses lasers that cut at rates of up to 400-inches per minute. Presses are used for larger sheet metal forming and can apply 400-to 1000-tons of pressure.

120,000 Square Feet of Paint Technology
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Parts at John Deere Harvester are immersed 10 times during the pre-paint process. Each of the 10 stages contains approximately 50,000 gallons of continuously circulated liquid that may reach temperatures of 150 degrees F.

After the pre-treatment process, a coat of paint (0.8-1.0-mil) is applied and baked for 68 minutes at 275 degrees F. The three-stage electrocoat process is capable of operating at 600 volts and 2000 degrees. At this stage of the paint process, four Fanuc P200 robots capable of painting 39-inches per second apply a final topcoat. Under normal conditions, a part is involved in the paint process for approximately 5 hours from start to finish.

Assembly of Your Combine
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14 miles of automated track comes together to form the main Harvester Works building. Here, the sub-assemblies of your combine include:

Body (separator cleaning shoe)
Engine
Feeder house
Grain tank

Purchased parts such as engines, radiators, and fuel tanks arrive Just In Time (JIT) at loading docks near their final point of use. Parts arrive from all over the United States and from sister factories all over the world. These major sub-assemblies come together on the "main line" to be assembled into your finished combine.

Delivery Process
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After the combine is completely assembled, it is pre-delivered by an independent company that inspects the combine from front to back for proper fluids, torques, and tensions in key areas. This same company helps provide customer support during the summer harvest.

In 1848, John Deere changed the course of local history in Moline Illinois by locating his first plow manufacturing plant on the banks of the Mississippi River. With this factory, John Deere's dream of producing a superior self-scouring plow for the western frontier became a reality. Across the country, farmers used his plow to till the land and they forever changed the shape of agriculture. The rest, as they say, is history: a history that is preserved at the John Deere Pavilion.

The John Deere Pavilion was created as a celebration of the past, present and future of agribusiness. It has attracted guests from all corners of the globe and is recognized as the world's most comprehensive agricultural exhibit.

Almost overnight, the John Deere Pavilion became the Quad Cities most popular tourist attraction and one of the top five attractions in the state of Illinois. When you visit downtown Moline and see the Pavilion for yourself, you'll understand why!

It's part of an entire experience that begins with the legend of John Deere. But beyond that, this revitalized urban area offers some of the most unique shopping opportunities, fine dining, entertainment and family fun that can't be beat. Not to mention, you'll be surrounded by some of the Midwest's friendliest folks!

Visit the New Holland North America plant in New Holland, PA and watch hay balers being made.