Half a century: Amazone in Forbach celebrates its 50th anniversary

Anyone who needs professional equipment for maintaining parks, sports facilities or golf courses will find exactly what they are looking for in the Amazone machine range. AMAZONE SA in Forbach, France, has been manufacturing equipment for mowing, collecting and scarifying as well as spreaders for winter road gritting for half a century. The latest new development from Forbach is our Profihopper PH 1500.

The plant had very humble beginnings. In 1970, Amazone decided to set up a new location in France, the largest market for agricultural machinery in Western Europe. An old factory in Forbach directly on the border across from Saarbrücken was the ideal solution and so Amazone purchased it from an Italian-born building contractor named Cellentano. Favourable conditions were the decisive factor here: The premises had their own rail connection and were conveniently located close to the motorway heading towards Metz and Paris. In addition, there was a great deal of industrial know-how in the Lorraine region due to the mining industry there. The location was right on the border and so made it easy to hire German and French-speaking staff and the plant soon began producing its own range of products. Amazone gradually transformed the old factory halls into a modern production plant with its own administration and sales department.

Starting with only two hectares of land and around 8,000 m² of production halls, the location steadily grew. In 1983, Amazone also purchased the adjacent premises to the east from a forwarding company, thereby acquiring additional warehouses and another 10,000 m² of hall space. Today, enough space still remains for further expansion, if required. In 1999, an additional prefabrication hall was constructed and in 2005, a modern paint shop with dip tank and kiln hardening facility was set up.

Meanwhile, the workforce has grown to more than 70 employees, all of whom have become committed, wholehearted members of the extended Amazone family. On-site Managing Director Patrice Franke is supervised by Management Board member Ludger Braunsmann from the headquarters in Gaste.