OMAHA, Neb. -- (Jan. 26, 2026) – Construction continues to advance on the new CLAAS Research and Development Center in Omaha, marking a significant milestone in the company’s long-term investment in North American agriculture.
Following the official groundbreaking in August 2025, CLAAS has made substantial progress on the southwest Omaha campus corner where the building will be erected. The site has been fully leveled, storm drainage infrastructure installed and a water retention pond established to support sustainable site development. Crews are currently pouring concrete footings ahead of vertical construction, which is scheduled to begin in February.
These early construction milestones keep the project on track for completion by the end of 2026.
The new 44,800-square-foot Research and Development Center will serve as the hub for all CLAAS North American testing and analysis activities, supporting the development of next-generation harvesting and agricultural technologies tailored to the demands of U.S. and Canadian farmers.
“The progress we’re seeing on this project is incredibly exciting for our entire engineering team,” said Markus Koch, Head of Engineering for CLAAS Omaha. “Establishing a dedicated R&D Center here in the United States allows us to work closer to the farmers, crops and conditions that define North American agriculture. This facility strengthens our ability to develop, test and refine innovative solutions that directly support our customers in the field.”
Once completed, the facility will provide expanded office and workshop space, enhanced logistics and instrumentation areas, and improved security measures to protect critical intellectual property. While testing will continue across farms throughout North America under real-world conditions, the Omaha R&D Center will be where engineers analyze data, evaluate performance and advance machine development for future CLAAS equipment.
Located on the growing CLAAS Omaha campus—home to the company’s North American headquarters, LEXION combine assembly plant and CLAAS Training Academy—the new R&D Center reinforces CLAAS’ decades-long commitment to the region. The campus employs more than 250 people and plays a critical role in serving farmers across the U.S. and Canada.
Construction updates will continue as the project progresses toward completion in late 2026.
About CLAAS of America Inc.:
CLAAS of America Inc. offers a wide variety of technologically innovative tractors, combines, forage harvesters, balers and hay tools to provide growers with optimum performance in the field. These premium equipment lines are designed by a dedicated engineering staff located at numerous factories worldwide and focused on research and production. The design, performance and reliability of this equipment have made CLAAS an international market leader. For more information, visit www.claas.com.