With thousands of suppliers worldwide, John Deere developed the international award as part of its Achieving Excellence programme, which has been designed to recognise world class supplier relationships and to rate the performance of a supplier. GKN Wheels Telford achieved Partner Status after exceeding all John Deere’s performance standards, and was presented with the award in America by John Deere’s Vice President of Global Purchasing.

Plant General Manager at GKN Wheels in Telford, comments:

“We are delighted to achieve Partner Status with John Deere in what was a team effort involving all levels across the business. The fact that GKN is the only wheel supplier to hold Partner Status with John Deere is testament to our commitment to forge strong and lasting partnerships with our customers and is key to our continuing growth. GKN Wheels in Telford has grown consistently over recent years and now employs 200 people. This award will prove invaluable in giving GKN Wheels the competitive advantage necessary to continue manufacturing the best equipment in the world.”

GKN Wheels produces 350,000 wheels for the off-highway market per year out of its Telford plant for the global market, with 60% being exported into Europe. With a relationship that spans twelve years, John Deere is GKN Telford’s biggest customer and is supplied with 85,000 wheels a year, which are delivered to its Manheim plant in Germany.

Karsten Paaris, Supply Base Manager at John Deere’s Manheim plant in Germany, comments: “This is an outstanding achievement for GKN Wheels. The company’s operational performance is the best in the market place and is now considered as a benchmark to measure future suppliers against.”

Karsten Paaris continues: “We consider our relationship with GKN Wheels as a true partnership between our two companies and we are proud to honour them as a partner supplier. I have experienced GKN as a reliable, capable and supportive supplier, and look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship in the future.”