Lely, a leading manufacturer in robotic milking systems, celebrated the expansion of their company by opening the doors to their first North American facility in Pella, Iowa, March 28-30. The event featured a broad range of activities for producers and media including guest speakers Alexander van der Lely, CEO of Lely Group; Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad; Mary Andringa, CEO of the Vermeer Corporation; and Peter Longebeeke, president of Lely USA. Click here or on the image at right to see the "In Focus" image from the May 1, 2012 issue of Progressive Dairyman magazine.
The three-day event featured breakout sessions and educational workshops for more than 400 dairy producers from across the globe, including a dramatic unveiling and guided tour of the new facility with presentations from factory staff on robotic manufacturing output, Lely USA company objectives and projections about the future of the U.S. dairy industry.
View the video below to watch an interview with Lely USA CEO Alexander Van Der Lely. Story continues below video.
The celebration showcased Lelyâs first production facility built outside the corporationâs home facilities in Massluis and Rotterdam, Holland. With the opening of the Pella factory, executives say they hope to dramatically increase production activity in the North American market and remain at the forefront of the technological revolution for dairy producers worldwide. PD
Play the photo slideshow below to see addtional images from the facility and the grand opening. Video and photos by Matt Tindall.
