Claas Expanded Omaha Headquarters Campus
The agricultural manufacturer added a new research and development center and a customer experience center.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Agriculture
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Claas has expanded its Omaha headquarters by opening a new customer experience center and a research and development facility. This move strengthens the company's footprint in the American Corn Belt.
Why it matters
The expansion leverages the region's geographical advantages and Nebraska's agricultural workforce to improve local manufacturing and technical training. It reinforces Omaha as a critical hub for the company's North American operations.
The Omaha facility employs 100 manufacturing workers and 60 corporate staff members. Claas also supports local operations through five dealerships serving Nebraska farmers.
The players
Claas
Claas is a global agricultural machinery manufacturer that maintains a significant North American headquarters and combine production plant in Omaha.
Metro Community College
Metro Community College is a local educational institution that provides an apprenticeship program for Claas workers.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar is an equipment manufacturer that originally partnered with Claas to establish the Omaha combine factory.
The details
The expanded campus hosts dealer meetings and customer events, including a recent gathering that drew 300 attendees. Claas has maintained a manufacturing presence in Omaha since building its original combine factory in the early 2000s in partnership with Caterpillar.
Timeline
The original combine factory was built in the early 2000s.
The company hosted two events at the experience center in July.
The research and development center will be unveiled on Oct. 8.
Market Landscape
This expansion represents a shift from the historical industrial partnership model between Claas and Caterpillar to an independent, vertically integrated hub. It positions the company to better compete for market share against other global equipment manufacturers operating within the Corn Belt.
Local farmers and customers gain access to expanded dealer events and improved service technician training held directly at the Omaha campus. The ongoing apprenticeship program also offers continued workforce opportunities for students and residents seeking careers in agriculture.
The takeaway
The investment underscores the strategic importance of keeping technical development and manufacturing near the end-user base in the Midwest. Companies looking to optimize their supply chains often favor such centralized regional hubs to ensure faster service delivery.
What happens next
The new research and development center is scheduled to be officially unveiled to the public on Oct. 8.
Further reading
Learn more about local industry trends in our Omaha Agriculture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Farm Progress.
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