John Deere back in Europe

John Deere construction equipment will be available in Europe for the first time in many years with the US-based company introducing two G-Series motor graders to the European market via the Wirtgen Group distribution network in Germany and France.

The 622GP and 672GP will be available in these two countries from early this year.

Deere bought the Wirtgen Group – with the Wirtgen, Vögele, Hamm, Kleemann and Benninghoven brands covering milling, processing, mixing, paving, compaction and rehabilitation operations – in 2017.

David Thorne, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Worldwide Construction & Forestry, said, “We are excited to leverage our relationship with the Wirtgen Group to introduce John Deere construction equipment to a new market, further expanding our global footprint.”

The introduction is said to be a result of increased interest in John Deere earthmoving equipment following the Wirtgen Group acquisition.

Deere said that with motor graders used in road building applications, the synergies between the Deere models and the Wirtgen portfolio, as well as thriving French and German markets, were determining factors in bringing the machines to the continent.

The European rollout focuses on the six-wheel drive 622GP and 672GP models that are said to feature fuel efficient Tier 4 Final John Deere diesel engines – 6.8 litre for the 622GP producing 169kW, and 9.0 litre for the 672GP providing 190kW.

Six-wheel drive with automatic differential lock is said to allow the machines to power through the toughest cuts, and to give operators increased traction in poor ground conditions or when working on ditches or side hills.

The 622GP with 3.66m mouldboard operates at a weight of 19,078kg, while the 672GP with 4.27m mouldboard weighs in at 19,976kg.

The two models will be on display at Bauma 2019, in April, in Munich, Germany.