LEMKEN has been active in the French market since 1990. Our sales in France, Europe's foremost agricultural producer, have been very successful since, and with a 14% share in our overall sales, France is the largest international buyer of our German agricultural machinery. This was reason enough for establishing our own sales representation, which LEMKEN is currently building at our Boigny-sur-Bionne location near Orleans.
Having completed the shell of the new building, we celebrated its inauguration, even though this is a little-known tradition in France. Nicola Lemken welcomed our guests, including various public figures, representatives of the regional press and the construction companies involved, and gave an overview of the project. Buildings with more than 4,000 m² floor space, including about 700 m² office space, will be constructed on the four-hectare site. The generous AgroForum, which will serve as an appropriate background for showcasing the LEMKEN product range over an area of 1,400 m², is among the outstanding features of our new French headquarters, plus training rooms including a hall of almost 400 m². Managing Director Jean-Christophe Regnier's team will also enjoy excellent after-sales facilities, with a 1,000 m² warehousing area and a large service workshop.
The investment, worth EUR4.5 million, lays the foundations for LEMKEN's continued expansion of its position on the French market. Our 43 employees will move into their new premises in October.
