By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

BRODHEAD, Wis. — Along with the new models of mowers and rakes being displayed by KUHN/Knight at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ky., next week, the company is displaying agricultural products new to its line.

Marketing Coordinator Scott Borgwardt said the firm added balers and bale wrappers within the past year. “We purchased a division of another company last winter, so this is our first season selling balers and bale wrappers,” he said.

“We believe these products fit very well with our offerings. The company has been on the lookout to add new products for some time. These are exciting additions for us.”

While a number of dealers attend the show to find new products, Borgwardt said KUHN/Knight displays primarily to connect with potential customers.

“I’m sure there is a fair number of dealers that walk around to see what’s new, but our main focus is to take the opportunity to talk with potential customers,” he explained.

He said the local company is a division of a French firm that markets products worldwide. Since 1828, the company has had 1,600 patents filed with 60,000 machines produced each year, and service ensured by more than 2,000 staffers worldwide.

The company’s website boasts, “180 years of experience in manufacturing farm machinery helps us offer products and services ensured to perform to our customers’ requirements. Ever since 1962, the slogan ‘Quality is tomorrow’s quantity’ has been displayed in the factory.

“As a leader in farm machinery, we want to offer farmers the best products, every day and right round the world. We want to satisfy increasing numbers of customers.”

Created in 1828 by Joseph Kuhn as a modest village forge, KUHN was an early specialist in the production of scales and weighing apparatus. A major change took place in 1864 when, taking full advantage of the opening of the new Paris-Strasbourg railway line and the exceptional period of prosperity in France at that time, he moved to Saverne to start a factory for producing agricultural machinery.

In 1946, weakened by the war, KUHN formed an association with the Swiss company BUCHER-GUYER. In 1949 a decisive step was taken: By converting to mechanical traction in that year, KUHN became one of France’s leading agricultural machinery manufacturers.

It was the start of a terrific period of development. With growing mechanization and modernization, KUHN multiplied its new machines. Now the leader in its French markets, KUHN is set to conquer the world.

To learn more about tillage, hay and forage and landscape tools offered by KUHN, visit with representatives at the show or go online to www.kuhnnorthamerica.com