February 08, 2006 - John Deere and its dealer network have enjoyed exceptional growth over the past few years. To continue this growth and support its customers into the future John Deere recently completed an expansion of its Melbourne Distribution Centre. Having doubled in size, the 21,000 square metre warehouse on seven (7) hectares of land stores an extensive range of agricultural and grounds care equipment, and replacement parts ready for immediate dispatch to its Australian and New Zealand dealer network.

“We are now the largest retailer of John Deere Lawn Care equipment outside of North America,” said Rod McDonald, Division Manager, Commercial & Consumer Equipment Division. “In the last three years we have doubled our grounds care business, we’ve gone from having a strong reputation in rural areas to now enjoying excellent brand recognition in the metropolitan areas.”

Since being commissioned in 2001, the John Deere Distribution Centre is now a landmark on the western Melbourne landscape often being referenced in local traffic reports. Taking advantage of the available infrastructure has allowed John Deere to relocate all of its grounds care equipment distribution to this site. The facility is able to store 32,000 square metres of new Agricultural and Grounds Care equipment, carrying adequate equipment to handle the seasonality of the marketplace.

“To support the exceptional growth in grounds care equipment and our sustained growth in the agricultural sector we have built the service levels around our dealers’ and customers’ expectations,” said Tony Paltridge, Parts and Logistics Manager. “We use any freight appropriate to get the job done. We fly parts in directly from America and Europe so if a dealer orders a machine-down part Monday afternoon, they’ll get it by lunchtime Friday, and no one else in our industry can consistently do that!”

Focused on improving cycle times, costs, and fill rates, the Distribution Centre utilises the latest in warehousing management systems to streamline operations. Recently the Radio Frequency (RF) scanning system was upgraded to accommodate for the increased amount of new products being stored at the facilities. The RF system expedites shipment in addition to ensuring accurate invoicing and accurate warranty registration. The recent expansion also encompasses a 1,700 square metre mezzanine level and an additional 150 metres of state-of-the-art conveyor belts to collect and disseminate small to medium sized parts within the warehouse. A total length of 400 metres, the conveyor system services an area with more than 95,000 part locations.

“John Deere has an ever-increasing commitment in Australia and New Zealand and expansion of this Melbourne facility will ensure the focus is maintained on this essential market,” explains Paltridge.

John Deere is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural equipment and a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care. Additionally, John Deere manufactures engines used in heavy equipment and provides financial services and other related activities that support the core businesses. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has established a heritage of quality products and services providing performance that endures to customers worldwide.

For more information on John Deere products, call into your local John Deere Dealer, FREECALL 1800 800 981 in Australia and 0800 303 100 in New Zealand, or visit our Web site at www.deere.com.au.

High Resolution Image - ANZDC Holding Yard (large file)
High Resolution Image - Parts Distribution System (large file)
High Resolution Image - Grounds Care Storage (large file)

Specifications subject to change. Please contact your local dealer for more detailed information.