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The 20,000-square-foot building in Omaha is being used to help train service technicians.

Curt Arens, Editor, Nebraska Farmer

October 1, 2021

6 Slides

Completed last October, Claas formally opened an impressive 20,000-square-foot training facility with a ceremony at its headquarters and manufacturing plant in Omaha, Neb., in August.

The headquarters is home to both the Claas of America sales company and Claas Omaha Inc., the North American assembly plant for the company’s Lexion combine.

At the formal opening ceremonies of the facility, Leif Magnusson, Claas Americas region senior vice president, told those gathered that this facility signifies the next chapter of continued development and growth in North America for Claas.

“While we couldn’t be prouder of this facility, it is what we do inside of these walls that matters,” Magnusson said. He noted the company’s goal of helping its employees and service technicians be the best at what they do.  

The Claas Academy facility includes three classrooms that provide a focused learning environment and include advanced technology to host both on-site and virtual training. Felicia Nichelson, head of the academy at Claas, says the company has training academies in the U.K., France and Germany.

“Each time a new academy is designed, input from around the world is used to make sure the functionality continues to improve,” Nichelson says.

“Similarities between these academies include temperature-controlled equipment bays and training classrooms with technology to host on-site and virtual training,” she explains. “The academy in Omaha supports U.S. dealerships. A training location in Regina, Saskatchewan, is a key location for Canadian dealers.”

She says that the Omaha location has a unique automatic folding wall. “The 80-foot folding wall is one of the biggest in the Midwest and allows us to reconfigure the large equipment bay in minutes,” she adds.

For the dealer network

The Claas dealer network can use the training facility in Omaha as a place to come and learn about all types of Claas equipment.

“We can be in the classroom reviewing maintenance manuals, then quickly head down to the bays so technicians get practical, hands-on training with the largest Claas machines — including the Lexion combine, Jaguar forager and Axion tractor,” Nichelson says.

She notes that the service that backs up each piece of equipment is something special about Claas. “The academy is a tool for our dealers to utilize as they grow their Claas expertise,” she says. “Each dealer technician who attends training at the academy helps us live up to the vision of ‘enabling farmers to be the best in their field.’”

Apprenticeship programs

The academy in Omaha houses two apprenticeship programs, including the ICATT program, which is a three-year, German-based apprenticeship that focuses on mechatronics, providing college-based training and practical experience. The DOL program is an 18-month assembly apprenticeship that focuses on advanced technological development.

“In both programs, the apprentices are paid while they are in school, labs and in on-the-job training,” Nichelson says. “Plus, 100% of tuition and books are covered. The apprenticeship programs help Claas recruit and develop the workforce we need to grow in North America.”

The academy also helps younger students explore a career at Claas through the Nebraska Developing Youth Talent Initiative. “Claas, Metro Community College and Partnership 4 Kids collaborated on a grant that introduces kids at Omaha middle schools to careers in manufacturing,” Nichelson says. “We want students to learn about combines and how they are manufactured.”

The opening event included remarks from Claas officials from around the globe, as well as from Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. After the formal ceremonies, a tour of the academy was provided, including demonstrations by some of the employees enrolled in the Claas apprenticeship programs.

Learn more at claasofamerica.com.

About the Author(s)

Curt Arens

Editor, Nebraska Farmer

Curt Arens began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school. Before joining Farm Progress as a field editor in April 2010, he had worked as a freelance farm writer for 27 years, first for newspapers and then for farm magazines, including Nebraska Farmer.

His real full-time career, however, during that same period was farming his family’s fourth generation land in northeast Nebraska. He also operated his Christmas tree farm and grew black oil sunflowers for wild birdseed. Curt continues to raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa and runs a cow-calf herd.

Curt and his wife Donna have four children, Lauren, Taylor, Zachary and Benjamin. They are active in their church and St. Rose School in Crofton, where Donna teaches and their children attend classes.

Previously, the 1986 University of Nebraska animal science graduate wrote a weekly rural life column, developed a farm radio program and wrote books about farm direct marketing and farmers markets. He received media honors from the Nebraska Forest Service, Center for Rural Affairs and Northeast Nebraska Experimental Farm Association.

He wrote about the spiritual side of farming in his 2008 book, “Down to Earth: Celebrating a Blessed Life on the Land,” garnering a Catholic Press Association award.

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