LEMKEN integrates crop care business

Five years ago, the agricultural machinery specialist LEMKEN acquired the Dutch company Machinefabriek Steketee B.V., expanding its crop care product portfolio with implements for mechanical weed control and future-oriented camera-assisted machine guidance. The full integration of the crop care business will now be completed by November 2023: Steketee will become LEMKEN, and Steketee machines will be delivered in LEMKEN blue instead of Steketee red. This strategic decision marks a milestone in the development of both companies and offers promising opportunities for future growth and innovation.

in 2018, the common goal was to expand the site in Stad aan't Haringvliet in the Netherlands and to increase production capacity. This was done by building on Steketee's existing skilled and experienced local workforce of 50 employees. Since the acquisition of Steketee, LEMKEN has worked hard to maximise the synergies between the two organisations. The integration of teams, processes and technologies has been extremely successful and has already resulted in increased innovation and a broader range of services offered. This is particularly evident in Sales, Agrotraining (training) and After Sales.

Next step, next speed

The full integration of Steketee into the LEMKEN family is an important step that strengthens the company's position in the industry and lays the foundation for future growth. In 2024, the focus will be on developing new markets in Europe and overseas. “We are proud to combine our resources to serve farmers' needs even better. Steketee's customers will benefit greatly from this integration, as they will have access to an expanded range of solutions based on the extensive expertise and experience of both companies,” explains Yves Desjardins, Head of Sales/CSO.

Another forward-looking step is the expansion of production capacity. Production in Dinteloord, some 30 kilometres from the current site, will start in November to meet growing demand as sales have tripled in recent years. The current team of 60 employees is expected to be doubled in the coming years, and Dinteloord will become the LEMKEN CropCare Competence Centre. As part of this process, the product portfolio of machines for mechanical weed control and chemical crop protection will be continuously adapted and expanded. IC-Light+ camera control, SprayHub and SprayKit for band spraying in chemical crop protection and the LEMKEN Thulit harrow for mechanical weed control are two innovations that Steketee and LEMKEN have already presented in 2023.

But this is not the end of the strategic planning. LEMKEN wants to support farmers and contractors as their “Partner for Next Level Farming” and as a recognised player in modern and innovative crop care in arable farming, horticulture and special crops.