Deere Motor Graders Headed For Europe

When John Deere acquired the Wirtgen Group in Germany in 2017, one of the synergies it mentioned at the time of the acquisition was the opportunity to use the Wirtgen distribution network for some of its own products.

The first of those moves has now been announced, as Deere said it is introducing two of its G-Series motor graders to the European market via the Wirtgen Group distribution network in Germany and France. The 622GP (pictured) and 672GP will be available in these two countries beginning in early 2019.

“We are excited to leverage our relationship with the Wirtgen Group to introduce John Deere construction equipment to a new market, further expanding our global footprint,” said David Thorne, senior vice president, sales & marketing, Worldwide Construction & Forestry.

Understanding motor graders are heavily used in road building applications, the synergies between the Deere models and the Wirtgen portfolio, as well as the thriving French and German markets were determining factors in bringing the machines to the continent, Deere said.

The European rollout focuses on the six-wheel drive 622GP and 672GP models that feature Tier 4 final John Deere diesel engines (6.8L and 9.0L), boasting 227 (169kW) and 255 (190kW) hp respectively. The engines power a six-wheel drive with automatic differential lock.

The 622GP with 12-foot (3.66-meter) moldboard operates at a weight of 42,060 lbs. (19,078 kg), while the 672GP with 14-foot (4.27-meter) moldboard weighs in at 44,040 lbs. (19,976 kg).