The KUHN History

The story begins in 1828 when Joseph KUHN, a blacksmith, began manufacturing weighing equipment. The first agricultural machinery was produced in 1864. The first sales outside France began in the late 1940s. The first acquisitions were made in the late 1980s.

Since then, the KUHN Group has continued to grow on different continents. Building on strong roots and retaining the assets that have made it strong throughout its development: a broad range of expertise that makes the brand unique, innovative and recognized products and services, a global presence but a great proximity to its customers, actions that focus on the
long term...

Unique experience that strengthens the KUHN brand and prepares the way to meet the farming challenges of tomorrow.

1828 
Joseph KUHN, a small blacksmith from a neighbouring village of Saverne, begins to manufacture weighing equipment.

1864
Assisted by his brothers, Joseph KUHN diversifies into the production of agricultural machinery. Buildings are constructed on the site where the factory still stands today, alongside the STRASBOURG-PARIS railway line.

1921
Special workshops are built to accommodate an assembly line for threshing machines. Their quality established Kuhn’s excellent reputation.

1928
KUHN celebrates its 100th anniversary and produces on average 1,000 threshing machines per year. The production of mowers, tedders and tedder-rake combinations steadily increases.

1945
The factory re-starts production after interruption during the Second-World War.

1946
KUHN joins an important Swiss company (BUCHER-GUYER), also specialized in the manufacture of agricultural machinery.

1965
In one night, a huge fire destroys the machining tools and assembly workshops. The workforce takes on the reconstruction in a wave of solidarity.

1970
Delivery of the 1 000 000th machine to a farmer in the Orne region of France.

1972
Construction of a new Spare Parts Warehouse.

1978
KUHN S.A. celebrates its 150th anniversary.

1980
Inauguration of a new storage and despatch area, covering an area of 13,000 m2 (140,000 sq ft).

1982
Creation of a new Research and Development centre.

1983
All factory data becomes available on-screen, through a centralised computer network. KUHN’s international branches are also connected.

1985
Establishment of a network of KUHN Authorized Dealer sales representatives.

1986
Launch of a MINITEL service (information database operated by France Telecom), for French KUHN Authorized Dealer sales representatives.

1987
HUARD, one of Europe’s leading plough manufacturers, becomes part of the KUHN group. The Research & Development department is equipped with CAD (Computeraided design). 

1988
Installation of fibre optic cables for the computer network throughout the whole site.

1990
MATELEST DIFFUSION, specialized in park and gar den equipment becomes part of the KUHN group (today called PUISSANCE VERTE). KUHN is Gold medal winner at SIMA exhibition for the Rotary Plough.

1991
The factory expands and a brand new fully-automated raw material storage warehouse with storage capacity of approx. 6,000 tons is built.

1992
KUHN s Gold medal winner at SIMA for the ALTERNA 500, a 5 m (16’5”) mower conditioner.

1993
AUDUREAU S.A., specialized in the manufacture of mixer feeder wagons, straw distributors and silage cutters, becomes part of the KUHN group. Silver medal winner at SIMA for the VENTA pneumatic seeder.

1994
Increase in stock capacity, through the purchase of 4 ha (10 acres) of land and a 3,000 m2 (32,000 sq ft) building near Saverne.

1996
Newly created subsidiary KUHN-NODET S.A. becomes part of the KUHN group. Seed drills and sprayers expand KUHN’s product range. Inauguration of the new electrical paint coating unit (building surface area 6,200 m2/ 67,000 sq ft.). KUHN FARM MACHINERY, the U.K. subsidiary of KUHN S.A., celebrates its 25th anniversary. The foundry is certified ISO 9002.

1997
KUHN ITALIA, the Italian subsidiary, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

1998
Creation of a new warehouse in Columbia Tennesee (USA). Opening ceremony of the new German subsidiary in Schopsdorf near Berlin. Creation of a Polish subsidiary.

1999
Extension of our U.K. branch facilities in Telford. KUHN group websites go on-line. Inauguration of the new KUHN-HUARD factory in Châteaubriant. Launching of the first embankment shredder in the “Landscape Pro” range intended for landscape and roadside maintenance professionals.

2000
KUHN parts with its subsidiary PUISSANCE VERTE, specialist in park and garden equipment. KUHN purchases 12 ha (29.7 acres) of land near Saverne, destined to become our new logistics platform for Spare Parts.

2001
Creation of a new spare parts distribution centre: KUHN PARTS in Monswiller. The KUHN group presents its first ever self-propelled machine at the SIMA exhibition; the mixer feeder wagon (SP 14). Extension of the assembly hall and installation of a hedge and grass cutter testing site at KUHN-AUDUREAU. First ever French victory in the World Ploughing Championships, won by Mr. Freddy BOHR, a farmer from the Alsace region, with a KUHN MULTIMASTER 120 plough.

2002
The company project CAP 10 is launched. KUHN acquires the American company, KNIGHT Manufacturing Corporation, world leader in TMR mixer feeder wagons and manure spreaders.

2003
Representative office is opened in Beijing, China. Creation of a subsidiary in Spain (KUHN Iberica) and in Australia. The KUHN Group internet sites are revamped (first on-line in 1999). KUHN celebrates its 175th anniversary. New machine display hall, “prototypes” building and training centre at KUHN-AUDUREAU. KUHN wins the French Ploughing Championship with a competitor from Normandy. The HR + VENTA seeding combination is elected “Machine of the year” in Germany by a panel of professional journalists.

2004
Completion of the extension of the KUHN-KNIGHT factory in Brodhead (Wisconsin USA). KUHN-KNIGHT launches a new vertical auger mixer feeder wagon range as well as a hydraulic push manure spreader on the North American market. KUHN wins the French Ploughing Championship with a competitor from Alsace. The KUHN Group receives the regional Export 2004 trophy for its performance on the North American market.

2005
KUHN acquires the agricultural division of the Brazilian company METASA S/A specialized in the design and manufacturing of direct precision drilling machines for crops such as soya, cotton and maize. Creation of a subsidiary in Ukraine. A new “powder” paint facility is put into service on the site of La Copechagnière.
Extension of the parts logistics platform KUHN PARTS in Monswiller (additional 1560 m2 / 16,791 sq.ft of storage area).

KUHN Team history

2006
New showroom and training centre at KUHN KNIGHT in Brodhead. CAP 10 becomes ONE, the company project for all KUHN Group production sites. Transfer of the Montereau site activities to the factories in Saverne and Châteaubriant. KUHN receives the regional Export trophy for its French International Internship programme (VIE).

2007
Launching of the SPV self-propelled silage cutter and mixer wagon with vertical auger. Major extension works («Test» department in Saverne, production buildings for precision seed drills in Châteaubriant and in the Brodhead facility). Launching of KUHNiTech, on-line technical support tool and KUHN Protect+, machine warranty extension. Building of the new «large machine» assembly facility (KUHN MGM) in Monswiller.

2008
KUHN NORTH AMERICA is born (merging of the activities of all North American locations under a unique entity) and extension of the Brodhead factory. Management of spare parts on the KUHN PARTS platform with computer terminals “zero paper”. 1st machine assembled on the KUHN MGM site comes out of production on 22 may (INTEGRA seed drill). Construction of a new logistics building in La Copechagnière Creation of a subsidiary in Russia. The French manufacturer of crop protection sprayers BLANCHARD (Chéméré - 44) becomes part of the KUHN Group, adding a complete product range for agriculture, specialized cultivations and green spaces. The KUHN Group completes its offer in hay and silage making equipment by adding balers, wrappers, drum mowers and maize choppers through the acquisition of the Kverneland Group Geldrop factory.
The KUHN Group wins the 2008 Swedish Steel Price for its innovative design that uses high tensile steel on the PROLONGER hedge and grass cutter.

2009
The KUHN Group receives the regional Export trophy for its investment policy abroad and in particular for its establishment in Russia, with the creation of a distribution subsidiary. KUHN creates, with 5 other agricultural machinery manufacturers, the association CCI (Competence Centre Isobus) and launches a new Isobus terminal (Gold medal at the Agritechnica 2009). Construction of a new receiving and shipping area on the site of Châteaubriant (Loire-Atlantique - France).

2010
KUHN-METASA, the Brazilian unit of the Group becomes KUHN DO BRASIL. KUHN purchases a farm of 100 ha located close to Saverne in order to carry out intensive equipment testing during development.
Construction of a new powder paint facility on the site of Châteaubriant (Loire-Atlantique - France). Start-up of new sand plants in the Saverne (France) and Passo Fundo (Brazil) foundries.

2011
The KUHN Group acquires a minority interest in the RAUCH Landmaschinenfabrik company, German manufacturer of pneumatic seed drills, fertiliser and salt/sand spreaders and reinforces their partnership started in 1967. The KUHN Group acquires the KRAUSE Corporation, located in Kansas - USA, specialized in the manufacture of large-width tillage tools.
Construction of a new building of approximately 5,000 m2 to house the KUHN Group subsidiary in Australia.
KUHN PARTS, the KUHN Group’s spare parts logistics platform celebrates its 10th anniversary.

2012
Filing of building permits for the extension of KUHN PARTS (Monswiller), the construction of the training centre KUHN CENTER FOR PROGRESS (Monswiller) and the construction of the new center for the after-sales department KUHN PRODUCT SUPPORT (Monswiller).
6,200 m² (66,736 sq.ft) building extension in Hutchinson (Kansas - USA) for storing and cutting steel parts. Construction begins of a new 5,500 m² (59,201 sq.ft) building dedicated to mechanized welding on a new industrial site of 16 ha in La Copechagnière (Vendée, France). Construction of 2 new buildings (3,700 m²/39,826 sq.ft) to host cutting and welding work in Châteaubriant (Loire-Atlantique, France). 10th anniversary of the acquisition of KNIGHTin the United States. Special award presented to KUHN SA for its customer relationship (survey of the Journal des entreprises and the Human Consulting Group). The Geldrop facility (Netherlands) celebrates its 75th anniversary. For the first time in its history, the KUHN Group net sales exceed one billion Euros (1,014 billion Euros).

 

KUHN Foundry history

2013
Construction of a new 5,600 m² (60,277 sq.ft) storage and machining building in Passo Fundo (Brazil). Extension of the Geldrop factory - Phase 1 - with the construction of a new assembly hall of 16,500 m² (177,604 sq.ft). 3,700 m² (39,826 sq.ft) extension of the main production building in Brodhead (Wisconsin - USA). Construction of the KUHN CENTER FOR PROGRESS (5,700 m² /58,125 sq.ft), the KUHN PRODUCT SUPPORT (2,300 m² /24,757 sq.ft) buildings and an extension to KUHN PARTS (6,400 m² /68,889 sq.ft) in Monswiller (Bas-Rhin, France). Creation of a subsidiary in Tianjin, China.

2014
The very high density baler LSB 1290 iD is awarded the « Novedad Tecnica » prize at the FIMA in Saragossa (Spain) and the « Novità Tecnica » at the EIMA in Bologna (Italy). The KUHN Group acquires the company Montana Industria de Maquinas (Brazil), one of the main manufacturers of self-propelled sprayers.
More than 2,500 persons have already attended technical or sales trainings at the KUHN CENTER FOR PROGRESS since its start-up in November 2013. Extension of the machining and assembly facilities on the Geldrop site (Netherlands). Acquisition of 10ha of neighbouring terrain and a building of 15,000m2 (161,458 sq. ft) to allow future business development of the site in Brodhead (Wisconsin - USA). The La Copechagnière (Vendée - France) factory celebrates its 20 years within the KUHN Group and inaugurates its new industrial site of 5,500 m2 (59,201 sq.ft) dedicated to mechanized welding. In Brazil, KUHN is awarded the Rio Grande do Sul state Export Prize as well as the Gold Award of « Premio Gerdau Melhores da Terra » for application rate precision of its mechanical precision seed drills. 3,000 m2 (32,291 sq.ft) extension of the assembly building intended for soil preparation tool ranges, on the Châteaubriant (Loire Atlantique - France) site). Launch of ONE AMBITION 2020, new step in the KUHN Group company project.

2015
The new min-till seed drill ESPRO is elected « Machine of the year » (category « seed drills ») by a jury composed of journalists from the specialized press of 11 European countries.
Setting up of a new moulding line and new green sand silo for the foundry in Saverne (Bas-Rhin - France). Construction of a new testing area (1 ha) with a circular track, an inside ring and banked bend for final sprayer control in Chéméré (Loire-Atlantique, France). The Chéméré (Loire-Atlantique, France) factory implements a specific factory control system as part of the mandatory sprayer control. Start-up of 2 new packing lines at KUHN PARTS. Building of a new paint facility and a new shipping hall on the Geldrop site (Netherlands). KUHN S.A. wins the award for circular economy for its waste sorting and recycling policy. Start-up of the first robotized feeding system KUHN TKS in France. The AXIS fertiliser spreader is awarded the AE50 award from the ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers). Start-up of a new paint facility of 6,300 m2 (67,812 sq.ft) on the Brodhead site (Wisconsin – USA).

2016
Launch of the construction work of the new Logistics Centre CLC for receipt, storage, preparation and distribution of components intended for assembly on the Saverne site (17 million Euro investment). The SW 4014 wrapper and FC 3160 TLR trailed mower conditioner are awarded the AE50 award from the ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers). KUHN and NOBILI celebrate 30 years of cooperation in the field of residue shredding. The KUHN KRAUSE factory in Hutchinson (Kansas – USA), part of the KUHN Group since 2011, celebrates its 100th anniversary.

2017
KUHN celebrates 50 years of innovations on GMD disc mowers, introduced to the market in 1967. The SPV self-propelled mixer, produced at La Copechagnière site in Vendée (France), is elected « machine of the year » by a panel of specialist European journalists. The beginning of the new 10,000 m² (107,639 sq.ft) CLC logistics centre in Saverne. Progressive country-by-country launch, of « MyKUHN », the personalised customer portal.

2016
The KUHN brand celebrates 190 years of excellence. The MERGE MAXX belt merger is awarded by the prestigious ASABE association (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) in the United States KUHN participates in the Centeol Challenge, which consists in implementing cultivation methods of the future, over a surface of 50 ha, by designing a range of tools associated with an autonomous and intelligent vehicle. ARTEC PULVERISATION, specialised in the manufacture of self-propelled sprayers for large farming operations, joins the KUHN Group. 20th anniversary of our subsidiary in Poland. Launch of the extension project of MGM in Monswiller. The new paint facility on the site of Passo Fundo in Brazil becomes operational.

2019
KUHN sets the first raking world record in Denmark with the 4-rotor gyrorake GA 15131 (188.9 ha raked in 8 hours). KUHN launches the first plough worldwide integrating Section Control (« Smart ploughing » system) and creates the first ploughed logo in France, on a surface of 18 ha. Start of building extension work on the MGM site in Monswiller, aiming to double the assembly capacity for largewidth machines. Launch of NEO, multi-annual KUHN Group transformation project, with the purpose to lay the foundations of a brand new information system. KUHN celebrates 10 years of collaboration and the sales of over 50,000 terminals, with the other CCI (Competence Center ISOBUS) founding members.

2020
KUHN receives a double reward from the American association ASABE for the MERGE MAXX 890 belt merger and the OPTIDISC ELITE cutter bar. Beginning of the construction work of the production site in Voronej (Russia). Creation of a distribution subsidiary in Hungary. Our distribution subsidiary in the United Kingdom celebrates its 50th anniversary. KUHN presents AURA, first fully independent self-propelled mixer.

2021
KUHN acquires the Brazilian company KHOR Industrial Ltda, specialized in the manufacture of trailers used for agriculture. The MGM2 extension is put into service. KUHN inaugurates its new site of Voronej in Russia, which groups together distribution, service, manufacturing and assembly of machines dedicated to the Russian market.