AGCO’s new agricultural equipment and technology learning center just opened in Duluth, GA. The new Global Learning Center will be home of the AGCO Academy and AGCO University, which are learning programs for dealers and employees.

The 19,500-sq.-ft. facility features state-of-the-art technology and equipment that is required for training people on increasingly more sophisticated technology.

“At our current pace, as much as 30% of the company’s product line is replaced with new production-enhancing technology every three to four years,” explains Tim Miller, manager, AGCO global learning. “As growers invest in new technology, they rely heavily upon their dealers for information and assistance. It’s our responsibility to ensure our employees and dealers fully understand these new products and their applications.”

Martin Richenhagen, chairman, president and CEO of AGCO, adds, “Continued education prepares our team to embrace the innovations we’re developing.”

The new learning center is next door to AGCO’s Global headquarters. The center includes three classrooms with the latest learning technologies for a complete educational experience. Instructors can operate all technologies and classroom amenities from a single desktop control system.

Three repair and service bays that are fully equipped will help dealers and employees apply what they learned in the classroom with hands-on experience. The biggest equipment bay will hold AGCO’s largest 4-wd tractors and combines. The center also includes conference rooms, office space and a break room with kitchen.

AGCO’s dealer training and education classes are offered through AGCO Academy, via seven schools that provide coursework on topics such as product training, technical service training, parts training, advanced technology solutions, dealer systems training, dealer management training and finance training. The Global Learning Center also fulfills the dealer network’s request for additional education through regional learning centers, providing an ideal location to serve the eastern United States and eastern Canada.

In-the-field training also is available at regional centers located in Boise, ID, Hesston, KS, and Jackson, MN. Four more regional training centers have been proposed throughout the United States and Canada.

AGCO University is the employee-focused education program designed to develop and strengthen professional skills in management, leadership, compliance and business functions.

AGCO employs a full gamut of learning initiatives and techniques designed to meet the needs of adult learners. Instructor-led lessons provide hands-on demonstration and allow students to interact with teachers. Online courses, training DVDs, webinars, podcasts and printed guides are portable resources that can be accessed from just about anywhere and allow students flexibility to progress through coursework based on their changing schedules. 3D CAD/ProE Animation is used to break complex machine parts down to easy-to-understand illustrations, showing how the pieces come together to form the part.

New eLearning courses designed for people who use equipment in the field are also available through www.AGCOAcademy.com. The first courses cover sprayer operation or loader and backhoe operation.

For more information, visit www.AGCOcorp.com.