Testing construction machines in site conditions

176 Case has officially opened its new €3 million Case Customer Centre Paris, France, which will allow customers from around the world to experience the full range of Case Construction Equipment in real job site working conditions.

The centre, north of the French capital, includes 1,900m² of showrooms, an auditorium, a restaurant and workshops, and is set in the heart of 16 hectares of specifically designed working zones. Customers will be able to try the full range of Case Construction Equipment in four working zones, dedicated to compact machinery, materials handling, mass excavation and quarrying.

Jim McCullough, CEO 1595 CNH Construction Equipment and Madame Perret, Secretaire General de la Sous Prefecture de Meaux, performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by some 80 people, mainly from the Case Construction Equipment dealer network and Case employees. Case intends to run two-day events, twice a week, for up to 20-25 customers and dealers at a time, and more than 2,000 visitors, from many countries, are expected to visit the centre in the first year.

"The customer will never leave this site with unanswered questions," says general manager Tony Walton. "It is very job site oriented. We will replicate a variety of market sectors here for our customers. This is an approach that will allow customers to determine the best solutions for their individual business needs." At the heart of the new centre is an 80-seat glass fronted auditorium that faces onto the main demonstration area that can be used no matter what the weather, and in addition the auditorium has three large screens above the windows that will be linked in to headcams worn by the machine operators, allowing customers to see directly inside the machines as the operators are working.

Any machine in the Case range can be taken inside the centre for closer inspection. In addition the centre contains a collection of heritage machines and a Case Shop, selling clothing, memorabilia and models.