Global Lighthouse Network companies play an influential role in the 4th Industrial Revolution, skilfully updating their production processes by using digital data analysis, autonomous systems or a particularly high level of agility.
"The AGCO brand Fendt is the only manufacturer of agricultural machinery to be accepted into this high-calibre network of global industrial firms," says Hans-Bernd Veltmaat, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer AGCO. "This accolade is testament to Fendt's development prowess as well as its leadership in tractor production; a true contender on the international stage. With state-of-the-art manufacturing and production plants as well as intelligent processes, Fendt and its sister brands within the AGCO Group achieve a highly variable and efficient mode of production."
To continue meeting the food and energy demands of a rapidly growing global population for future generations, farming machines and systems need to work efficiently and profitably as well as adapt to a variety of uses. As such, almost every Fendt tractor made is an individually custom-configured unit. Fendt tractors set themselves apart in a range of aspects; from the hydraulic plug design and different types of braking system, to the special equipment in the cab. The efficient production of these rich and varied components is only possible with "VarioTakt". This highly flexible assembly system means that all 9 tractor series – with all 38 of their models in every equipment variant – can be built to spec, but also that every different combination rolls off the exact same assembly line.
The end result is that Fendt tractor production can respond quickly and flexibly to current market requirements. The statement from the Global Lighthouse Network judging panel sums it up: "Fendt combines digital solutions with an intelligently designed assembly line. It gives Fendt the capability to use the same assembly line to produce 9 tractor series – from 72 to 517 hp – with a batch size of just one."
"Our aim is to build 20,000 tractors by the end of this year," says Ekkehart Gläser, Head of Production at AGCO/Fendt. "This figure is unprecedented in the entire tractor-producing history of Fendt, demanding unique production methods to be able to produce machines quickly, flexibly and individually to customer wishes. And all this at an outstanding level of quality," says the Fendt Head of Production. "But the best factory, the smartest logistics processes and the most modern machines are still only as good as the people who work for Fendt. It's the expertise, commitment, reliability and thoroughness of our 'Fendtlers' as well as the pride they show in our machines that make a tractor a Fendt!"
About the Global Lighthouse Network
The World Economic Forum convenes in Davos every year to discuss and promote economic and political developments around the world. These high-profile forums also gave rise to the Global Lighthouse Network, a project established as an exchange platform for industry. It is a community of 44 prominent companies from the production landscape. The purpose of the network is to discuss and scale up new technologies, innovations and methods of digitalisation and Industry 4.0.
