Increasing demand for Tucano combines in Russia and Kazakhstan has prompted Claas to further invest in its factory in the Russian city of Krasnodar.

Tucano production has quadrupled with the last five years, and more than 1,000 machines now leave the factory every year.

The latest round of investment at the plant will see the metal working area increase from 11,000m² to 16,000m², additional machine tooling, a 700m longer conveyor system in the paint shop, an additional powder coating booth and increased logistics space.

Costing around €12.6m, when finished it will increase the total production area to 53,000m², and by the end of this year the plant will provide work for more than 700 employees.

Tucano components such as the cab, straw chopper and tyres are manufactured in-house or externally by Russian suppliers. The facility also assembles Axion and Xerion tractors for local markets. In the future, the new Trion straw walker and hybrid combines will also roll off the Krasnodar production line.

Operational since 2005, Claas has invested almost €150m at the Russian production site.