Deere Buying Argentine Ag Manufacturer

By Mauro Belo Schneider

John Deere has signed an agreement to acquire Pla, a manufacturer of sprayers, planters and other agricultural machinery. Financial details were not disclosed.

Founded in 1975, Pla is considered to be the first company to produce self-propelled sprayers in Latin America. The company is headquartered in Las Rosas city, Argentina, and has a plant in Canoas city, Brazil. It currently has 450 employees and exports to four continents. 

“The Pla acquisition reinforces John Deere’s commitment with customers as long as we continue to supply innovative machinery with an effective cost-benefit, technology and services to improve productivity,” said John May, president of Agricultural Solutions and Information Technology at Deere.

Pla will continue to operate using its current name and trademarks, supported by Deere, which has been manufacturing in Argentina since 1958. Deere’s plant in Rosario, Argentina, has more than 800 employees and manufactures engines, tractors and combines. General administration, John Deere Financial, a parts distribution center and a training center are also maintained in Rosario.

Deere also has a large footprint in Brazil, with a combine and planter factory in Horizontina, a tractor factory in Montenegro, a cane harvester and sprayer factory in Catalão and two factories that build construction machines. Deere also maintains its Latin American administrative office and Forestry equipment marketing services in Indaiatuba.

A parts distribution center, training center and the Precision and Innovation Agriculture Center for South America are also in Campinas, Brazil. In all, Deere has more than 4000 employees in Brazil.