Forestry Equipment To Leverage Powerful John Deere Brand
01/06/05

JÖNKÖPING, SWEDEN - At the world's largest forestry show on June 1, John Deere announced plans to leverage its powerful brand name and well known green and yellow color combination in its forestry equipment line.

At Sweden's Elmia Wood forestry equipment show, the company publicly introduced its initiative to extend to its forestry products the John Deere name and the green and yellow color combination already known worldwide in other equipment lines manufactured and marketed by John Deere.

Since the June 2000 acquisition of Timberjack - the world's leading forestry equipment manufacturer - the company had kept the Timberjack colors and trademark for forestry products. Although some equipment will continue to be built for that brand and color combination, the company said most of the equipment it manufactures in the future for work in forestry operations will carry the name John Deere and be painted the well known green and yellow of its world leading agricultural equipment line.

“The John Deere brand carries a 168-year heritage for good stewardship of the land and a reputation for quality, innovation, integrity and commitment", said Eric Hansotia, Vice President, John Deere Forestry Group. "This change contributes to our single global focus on the forestry business, placing our customers worldwide at the center of everything we do.”

Since John Deere acquired Timberjack in 2000, the synergy of the two organizations have ensured that best practices were shared in technology, business processes and distribution. Machines made under the Timberjack and John Deere brands already share key components, common suppliers, quality controls, and manufacturing processes.

By placing the John Deere brand on its forestry machines, Hansotia said, the company is providing an outward signal to customers of the internal improvements. He said customers can be assured that they will continue to receive the same high level of committed service from dealers and support programs.

After the Elmia show, production begins of forestry equipment painted in the John Deere brand and green and yellow colors and Timberjack facilities will now display John Deere Forestry signage. However, the company said, Timberjack machines will remain visible in forestry work for some time into the future since it has been the world leader.

John Deere (Deere & Company - NYSE:DE) is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment; a major manufacturer of construction equipment; and a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care. The company was founded in 1837. John Deere construction and forestry equipment is distributed through a network of more than 600 independent dealers worldwide.