Horicon
– April 24 -- In a factory that made horse-drawn farming equipment in the
1800s, John Deere Corp. has a modern assembly line that employs more than 1,000
people making riding lawn mowers and utility vehicles.
The
latter, especially, have grown in popularity as outdoor enthusiasts want
something that can carry more passengers and cargo than three-wheel all-terrain
vehicles.
In
a year when much of the lawn-and-garden industry is hurting from a slow start
to spring and a sputtering global economy, John Deere is glad to build the
popular utility vehicles, which have bench seats, fully enclosed cabs, a
heater, and work equipment such as a snowplow.
Originally
used for farm work, the John Deere Gators are used for hunting and general
recreation. For thrill seekers, some of the little machines can reach speeds
topping 40 mph.
About
40% of the Horicon factory's production is now for Gators, compared with none
before 2009 when the factory focused on lawn-and-garden equipment.
Deere
closed a plant in Canada and moved the Gator production to Wisconsin and
Mexico.
The
Horicon plant is Dodge County's largest manufacturer, with 1,100 hourly and 300
salaried employees, according to county officials.
"We
would probably have a little higher employment level if lawn-and-garden tractor
sales weren't so sluggish" this spring, said Steve Johnson, John Deere
Horicon Works manager.
"The
utility vehicle business is more year-round and has higher sales in the fall
for hunting. It helps us level out our workforce and have employees
concentrating on lawn equipment in the spring. It's a very good mix for the
factory," he added.
The
U.S. military ordered Gators for use in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where
the small vehicles were dropped out of helicopters to reach remote areas.
The
six-wheeled military utility vehicles, called M-Gators, have been used to haul
supplies and transport injured soldiers. The military has experimented with a
robotic version that can send video, sounds and sensor readings from hostile
areas without putting soldiers at risk.
"There's
also a pure recreational market for utility vehicles that's starting to mature.
They're faster, high-performance machines," Johnson said.
John
Deere has spent millions of dollars upgrading its Horicon factory that produced
the company's first lawn-and-garden tractor in 1963 and has undergone a
high-tech makeover that's helped save jobs.
The
credit goes to the plant's employees, Johnson said.
"They
give us great suggestions on how to improve quality levels, and how to move out
of their way so they can be more efficient and productive. When we do that, we
ultimately reduce our costs. It allows us to stay competitive with Mexico and
China," he added.
For
decades, the plant manufactured farm equipment. Then it morphed into riding
lawn tractors, new types of riding mowers, and utility vehicles.
The
latest John Deere lawn tractor, the X700 series, has a mowing deck that can be
attached and removed while the operator remains in the seat.
Product
research and development and testing are done in Horicon.
"Over
the years, this plant has reinvented itself multiple times in order to remain a
viable business," Johnson said.
Employees
commute from about a 50-mile radius, including Milwaukee County, and shop
employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers.
The
plant has a beneficial effect on smaller companies that supply parts and
services.
"John
Deere has quite a reach in this area. I have dealt with many firms that do
support work for them," said Trent Campbell, executive director of the
Beaver Dam Area Development Corp.
"They
are a large entity. I couldn't imagine Horicon without that plant
thriving," Campbell said.
Rick Barrett www.jsonline.com
