Orthman Manufacturing Inc. has opened a product assembly facility and warehouse in Kempton Park, South Africa.
The Lexington-based manufacturing company, which makes agricultural machinery and implements, announced the opening of the new plant today.
“Orthman’s objective to provide quality tools for the producer to be more efficient and productive applies not only in the U.S., but around the world,” Orthman President John McCoy said. “The facility in South Africa allows us to provide the right machinery and agronomic solutions for the land, ultimately helping the people of this region see greater success.”

The Kempton Park facility, a subsidiary of Orthman, provides products and support services to the Orthman and John Deere dealer network in that region. Products manufactured and assembled in the facility include the world-leading Orthman 1tRIPr strip-tillage machine and the newly released 1tRIPr XDR combo planter featuring John Deere MaxEmerge planter row units.
The 1tRIPr XDR combo planter is specifically configured to meet the requirements of South African and sub-Saharan practices and conditions. Combining the Orthman 1tRIPr precision tillage system with the performance of the John Deere MaxEmerge planter units will provide efficiency and precision, according to a press release.
“As an allied partner of John Deere, Orthman has a unique opportunity to provide advanced equipment and expertise to support the growth of agriculture on a global scale,” Rod Haarberg, senior vice president of marketing for Orthman, said.
In 2012, Orthman broke ground in Lexington for a 115,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will operate in tandem with Orthman’s existing northeast Lexington facility.