CLAAS UK has always placed great emphasis on customer operator training and dealer staff training to ensure that they can provide the highest levels of support for modern high output machinery.
To cope with the current increase in training courses and future training needs, CLAAS UK has opened a new dedicated training school at its Saxham headquarters. In addition CLAAS has introduced a new higher status service qualification, Master Technician.
The new CLAAS Academy at Saxham is a totally self-contained unit and has been equipped with the latest training aids. Central to the training facility is a large workshop area, big enough to house several combine or forage harvesters, plus a series of smaller training classrooms.
To manage this new training facility, CLAAS UK has appointed John Palmer as Head of Training Academy. John has a background in the tertiary education sector, having latterly been the Head of Land Based Engineering at the Duchy College in Cornwall.
Master Technician
The development of this new training facility coincides with the introduction of the new Master Technician qualification, which meets the requirement for more specialised technicians capable of keeping pace with the latest, highly advanced operating systems.
The new Master Technician qualification is open to all those who have held a CLAAS Master Mechanic qualification for at least three years.
To attain this higher qualification, in addition to an assessment from senior managers the candidate has to achieve a 70% pass in both a practical and theoretical test, each lasting half a day. Having gained this higher level of training, the candidate will then have to pass a similar test each year to re-qualify.
"It is important that we increase technicians skills in order to keep pace with technology," explains David McEwen-Smith, head of the CLAAS Technical Department. "Regular testing shows up the shortfalls in the system and training is increasingly important as customers rely on fewer, higher value machines, plus they want value for money if they are to accept that they have to pay more for service."