Claas to build new multi-million pound 'state-of-the-art' headquarters in Suffolk

The new state-of-the-art building uses solar passive design techniques, renewable energy and rain water harvesting to support the daily operations
The new state-of-the-art building uses solar passive design techniques, renewable energy and rain water harvesting to support the daily operations

The Claas Group has given approval for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art headquarters building for Claas UK on Saxham Business Park near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The next five years should see the multi-million pound project completely redevelop the existing Claas site.

Within this will be the construction of a new signature building that reflects both the importance of Claas within the UK agricultural industry and also the site’s prominent position alongside the A14.

“By giving go-ahead for this new building, both the Claas Group and the Claas family have shown their commitment to both Claas in the UK, and also to west Suffolk where we’re now one of the largest employers,” Claas UK chief executive Trevor Tyrrell said.

Founded more than 100 years ago and still privately owned by the Claas family, the Claas Group is one of the largest private agricultural machinery manufacturers in the world.

Based in Germany, the company operates 14 manufacturing plants around the globe and employs more than 11,300 people.

Today, Claas UK employs more than 400 people throughout the UK and Ireland.

“When the current building was constructed, they would never have imagined that 50 years later we would now have over 100 people working on site and that as the headquarters for Claas UK, it would be providing sales, service, parts and training support to dealerships throughout the UK and Ireland, in addition to receiving visitors from around the world,” Mr Tyrrell added. “The site is at maximum capacity.”

Designed by architects Barber Casanovas Ruffles of Cambridge, the new state-of-the-art building uses solar passive design techniques, renewable energy and rain water harvesting to support the daily operations.