CLAAS Opens New Research & Development Center in Omaha

CLAAS today officially opened its new Research & Development Center in Omaha, Nebraska, marking another significant investment in the company’s long-term commitment to farmers across the United States and Canada. The new facility expands CLAAS’ ability to develop, test and refine agricultural technology specifically for North American farming conditions.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen joined CLAAS employees, community leaders, and other guests for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This ribbon cutting underscores CLAAS’s confidence in Omaha as a hub for innovation serving North American agriculture, said Jan-Hendrik Mohr, CEO CLAAS Group. “The new R&D Center brings together local expertise, customer insights and CLAAS engineering capabilities, enabling us to develop agricultural machinery tailored specifically to North American farming. It is a key element of our multi-year, $100 million investment and growth strategy for North America. By combining these strengths in Omaha, we will develop the next generation of high-performance agricultural technology.”

Located on the growing CLAAS Omaha campus – home to the company’s North American headquarters, LEXION combine assembly plant and CLAAS Training Academy, where dealers, employees and future agricultural professionals are trained and developed – the new R&D Center reinforces CLAAS’ long-standing commitment to the region.

“We are delighted that CLAAS continues to invest in its Omaha campus and in Nebraska,” said Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CLAAS R&D Center. “For more than 25 years, CLAAS has been an important employer in our region. This investment strengthens our economy, creates high-quality opportunities for skilled workers and reinforces Nebraska’s strong connection to agriculture.”

CLAAS has been part of the Omaha community for more than 25 years, and the company’s continued investment demonstrates the important role Nebraska plays in CLAAS’ North American operations.

The campus employs more than 250 people and plays a critical role in serving farmers across the U.S. and Canada. The Omaha operation brings together manufacturing, engineering, training and customer support — creating a North American base from which CLAAS can respond to the needs of farmers and agricultural businesses across the continent.

“CLAAS’ commitment goes well beyond manufacturing,” Governor Pillen added. “The company is investing in research and innovation, customer experience, quality jobs and vocational training. By helping develop the skilled workforce Nebraska needs, CLAAS is creating lasting value for our agricultural community and for the future of our state.”

“We appreciate the partnership and support of Governor Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development,” said Mohr. “Nebraska is an ideal location for this investment because of its deep agricultural roots, skilled workforce and connection to farmers across North America.”

Investing in Nebraska and North American agriculture

The new R&D Center represents another major investment in Omaha, strengthening CLAAS’ role in Nebraska’s agricultural, manufacturing and technology economy. The 44,800-square-foot facility – including approximately 12,000 square feet of enclosed space – provides 25% more capacity than the previous off-site R&D location and supports high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs across the region.

Designed to support the full development process, the center features two levels of office space, expanded instrumentation, logistics and equipment areas, a heated indoor wash bay, and enhanced physical and electronic security. These capabilities enable CLAAS teams to collect field data, analyze results and refine machine performance more efficiently.

“This facility strengthens our ability to develop, test and refine innovative solutions that directly support our customers in the field. By tailoring our machinery to the local conditions, crops and operating demands of North American agriculture, we can deliver technology that performs where it matters most – on the farm,” said Claudius Knierbein, Head of Engineering for CLAAS Omaha.

Testing for North American farming conditions

The new CLAAS Research and Development Center will be the hub for all North American testing activities. While much of the testing will take place on farms throughout the country under various soil, weather and crop conditions, the analysis of those tests will be interpreted by engineers working in the new facility.

That connection between the field and the engineering team is central to the Omaha R&D operation. Testing in real-world North American conditions allows CLAAS engineers to evaluate machine performance across the wide range of crops, soils, weather and farming practices found throughout the United States and Canada.

“Our customers farm in some of the most diverse agricultural conditions in the world,” said Knierbein. “The ability to test machines in those conditions, bring the data back to Omaha and work directly with our engineering teams helps us develop solutions that are relevant to North American farmers.”

A long-term North American commitment

The new R&D Center builds on CLAAS’ established presence in Omaha, which includes the company’s North American headquarters, LEXION combine assembly operation and CLAAS Training Academy. Together, these operations make Omaha an increasingly important center for CLAAS’ North American activities.

Download photos here.

CLAAS Group, Group Communications
Inquiries to pr@claass.sbs