LS TRACTOR: BRINGING COMPACT TRACTORS TO THE WORLD
When it comes to our tractors it’s easy to think big. But great things also come in ‘compact’ packages.
The recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and technical cooperation agreement with LS Tractor - the agricultural tractor division of the original manufacturer LT Mitron - confirmed our commitment to expanding our compact tractor offering to capture a wider global market.
The tractors will be built at our plant in Greater Noida, India and the LS Tractor manufacturing site in South Korea.
But our partnership with LS Tractor does more than galvanize our commitment to the product. It brings opportunities.
Opportunities for our people to learn, take part in overseas assignments, and experience new cultures to help us continue to put the Customer First.
Agricultural Business Development Manager, Michael Alfano, has been with us for almost two years and is based at Burr Ridge in North America. Here he tells of his experiences working alongside LS Tractors.
Michael Alfano
“Our relationship with LS has a global perspective, going back more than 40 years. Continuing to build the relationship offers an opportunity to grow and strengthen our product position in the key markets around the world. This is a huge milestone for the brands and demonstrates our commitment to our customers and dealers.
We were lucky enough be able to visit LS a few times in South Korea during the process. It was really important to learn more about them and their culture. For example, food is a defining part of their culture, bringing people together, and our partners consistently prioritized introducing us to their cuisine. From an authentic Korean barbecue to traditional fish markets, introducing us to locally sourced meats, vegetables and all sorts of seafood, as we learned, with the symbolic meaning of good luck, fertility and prosperity. Doing this together strengthened our bond in terms of personal and business relationships, a key element to our future success as partners”, said Michael.
LS Tractor is the existing commercial distributor for CNH’s New Holland brand in South Korea and has a long history of collaboration with our legacy brands.
Strategic alliances such as this further our ability to deliver greater choice and tailored solutions that meet our customers’ unique farming needs.
Daniel Valen, from New Holland Pennsylvania, USA, works in global product management for compact tractors and began his career with us in 1995. His association with LS Tractors dates back to 2007.
“I’m in charge of product definition and the product road map where I define future product needs by liaising closely with dealers and customers.
LS Tractors are open, honorable and keen for success. Working collaboratively, we can grow profitability and success.
Signing the recent MoU and technical cooperation agreement is one of the highlights of my career at CNH, culminating in a long project to invigorate this important product segment which is so important to the North American region and the New Holland brand. While signing the original product agreement in 2010 was fantastic as well, this agreement represents a strategically transformational initiative, positioning CNH for significant growth in the second largest tractor segment by volume globally,” said Daniel.
Daniel Valen
Lalit Bhardwaj
Manufacturing Engineering and CBS, Lalit Bhardwaj, has worked for CNH for 12 years and is based at our Pune Plant in India.
“I am responsible for reviewing and validating business cases with India management and finalizing the investments and costs.
Considering the importance and scale of this project, it was a challenging assignment to coordinate within India industrial functions at both Noida and Pune, to conclude the final requirements for this development.
My favorite experience has been getting to know the Korean teams and working with diverse cultural teams from the US, Korea, India and Europe,” added Lalit.
On a recent trip to Korea our team was honored with the gift of a Traditional Korean Fan (Original Korean name: Hapjukseon). The fan wards off bad luck and encourages business growth. The orchid picture drawn on the fan is one of the four gracious plants (four gentlemen) in Korean culture. It is known for thriving even in particularly barren soil and blooming unique flowers with wonderful fragrances. Kim Jeong-Cheol (pen name: Okdang) created the fan and is a famous craftsman and calligrapher from Korea, who won the Korea Culture and Arts Award in 2012.
