Anglemog visited the New Holland Tractor Plant in Basildon for a. guided tour.
A time ago Morgan’s engineering and suspension were often described as being agricultural; this analogy needs updating following Anglemog’s visit to the Tractor Plant at Basildon, Essex, arranged by Brian Horne.
We started with a presentation covering the history of the site from its first tractors coming off the line in 1964 when Ford owned the site and its subsequent ownership by CNH.
The current production comprises many models in two ranges – New Holland (blue) and Case (red).
They did dabble with hydrogen power but abandoned it and are now the only plant producing tractors powered by methane.
We then went on a tour of the assembly line – engines, gearboxes and structures whizzing along on automated platforms with no people anywhere in sight and the sub-assemblies then attached to an overhead monorail for the rest of the journey. I am afraid you will just have to imagine this as photography was not allowed.
Surprisingly, there are some similarities to Morgan – mostly exported (88%), 4 - 6 months from order to production and they claim that no two tractors are the same because there are so many variables - apparently the arm rest that has the joy stick, levers, buttons, lights, GPS, self-driving etc has over 1400 options.
The tour finished as we saw the finished products rolling off the line – about 80 a day. Then we went to the show room where we could sit in the tractors, play with the buttons and pretend we were Caleb.
We then went to The Greyhound pub for lunch where we were joined by some of other halves.
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