A new EUR18m Lemken factory integrating hoeing technology, a promising field for the future, benefiting from the global shift towards mechanical, camera-controlled weed control approach, is scheduled to open its doors at the end of 2023 and will employ at least 30 additional members of staff.

The plant will be built in Dinteloord (North Brabant), the Netherlands, not far from the current facility. This new factory will also be connected to the Nieuw Prinsenland Agro Food Cluster as an additional benefit.

“The world around us is changing fast. That’s why everybody involved in the production chain needs to work together to ensure sustainability in food production. Primary agriculture, in particular, plays a pioneering role here. New technologies open up a wide range of possibilities. For example, by switching to smart mechanical weed control we can apply crop care products more precisely and gradually reduce their use. That’s why we have been going full steam ahead with the development, production, and sales of Steketee machines since 2018. We want to invest significantly more in product development to build on Steketee’s position as an innovator, for example with the use of artificial intelligence,” Anthony van der Ley, managing director of Lemken said.

In 2018, agricultural technology specialist Steketee added hoeing technology to its product range for professional arable farming. Since then, Steketee, the Dutch machine factory that Lemken acquired for this purpose, has grown rapidly, benefiting from the global shift towards mechanical, camera-controlled weed control.

“Just three years after our takeover of Steketee, we are now taking a big step forward. I’m very proud that Lemken trusts the Steketee brand and our team of young talents and experienced employees. We place great value on new technologies in both our factory and our end products. We want to create not only a state-of-the-art production facility but also a development center and an AgroForum as a source of inspiration and knowledge for our national and international customers,” Iljan Schouten, managing director of Steketee, concluded.