Introduction text

75 years red impact

2023 marks our 75th anniversary. It all started with the introduction of our finger wheel rake in 1948. Thanks to our local farmers, Lely Centers, partners and employees we have reached this milestone. We're grateful and proud.

In this jubilee year, we look forward to share that pride. Innovations and milestones from the past, driven by our people, embraced by our farmers. Let's celebrate our history, experience the present and build towards the future.

In the spotlight

Lely Germany

When it all started with a dream of two brothers in Maassluis, no-one could have imagined that anno 2023, Lely is active in over 50 countries. We are truly inspired by the passion and commitment of our employees, farmers and our partners worldwide.

We would love to share this international vibe with you. Every month, we will give the stage to colleagues from a different region.

We focus on the story of Lely Germany which has been merged with the Lely activities in Austria, Switzerland and tiny Liechtenstein since 2019. More than 50 employees, of which around 15 also run their own farm, service the regional farmers every day. Starting with the installation of the first Lely Astronaut in the early 90s, 2023 not only marks the installation of the 1000th Lely Discovery Collector but also the launch of the very-first ‘Listen to Lely’-podcast.

First farmer
Center story
75 years red impact

Milestones

1948 - Acrobat

Acrobat - a ground-driven hay rake - marks the start of Lely. Patented on 2 June 1948, the large vertical rake wheels made a simple and cheap but robust machine for raking grass and turning crops.

1955 - Manure spreader

In 1955, we introduced the manure spreader. This machine marks another milestone in agricultural mechanisation. By adding a simple spreading plate behind the exit of the pressurised manure tank, the manure could be spread in a wide pattern over the land.

1957 - Fertiliser spreader

1957 marks the launch of our fertiliser spreader. The rotating disk with curved vanes for spreading fertiliser directly below the container resulted in a wide working width. The unique design has not been changed since then and the principle of rotating disks is still used in all modern fertiliser spreaders.

1967 - Lotus

Launched in 1967, the Lotus tedder was known for its durability and tedding result. The unique hook tines could pick up grass and hay using more of a drag movement. The rotors threw it backwards and a swather basket could gather the thrown material in a swath avoiding unnecessary losses.

1968 - Roterra

In 1968, Lely Roterra saw daylight. A power harrow with rotating tines for creating a seedbed after ploughing. Several sets of two tines rotated, individually, around a vertical axis resulting in a much finer tillage compared to traditional drawn harrows with fixed tines.

1970 - Hydro

The Lely Hydro (1970) was a hydraulically driven tractor. This technique allowed the vehicle to vary speed stepless, even at low speed.

1982 - Splendimo

In 1982, the Splendimo mower was launched. This disk mower had a unique gear design for powering the rotating disks with knives. Due to a central driving rod powering each mowing disk directly, it minimised loss of power.

1995 - Astronaut

1995 marked another milestone with the market introduction of our Astronaut milking robot. The Astronaut is seen as a groundbreaking innovation for dairy farms. Cows enjoy maximum freedom in the barn and on the field. Today, over 40,000 Astronauts milk cows 24/7 in almost 50 countries.

2005 - Discovery SSW

2005 is the year of the Lely Discovery. With this manure robot the daily routine of cleaning the barn belongs to the past. The Discovery ensures optimal hygiene in the barn 24/7, which improves cow health and decreases hoof problems.

2012 - Vector

In 2012, we stepped up in automatic and fresh feeding introducing the Lely Vector. The mixing & feeding robot mixes and feeds a fresh ration of nutrients to the cows. Also, the Vector pushes the feed, ensuring there’s always feed at the fence, 24/7.

2017 - Focus on dairy

As of 2017, we fully focus on the dairy farm. As 'farming innovators' we are supported by over 200 Lely Centers worldwide to serve dairy farmers worldwide to make their lives more enjoyable, sustainable and profitable.

2020 - Circular farming

In 2020 we made another step towards circular farming by intruding Lely Sphere and Lely Exos. Sphere reduces ammonia emissions and converts nitrogen into circular fertilizers. Exos harvests and feeds fresh grass to the cows and applies the fertilizer to the land.

Teaserfilm

Celebrate our history, experience the present, build towards the future

What does 75 years red impact mean to you?

Gregor Beckmann Cluster Manager Lely Germany
‘‘For me, 75 years Lely means being proud of working for a global company that has continuously proven to implement a clear vision on making farming more successful and enjoyable. We do this with an incredible passion and drive for innovation, enabling us to contribute significantly to the future of agriculture.’’

Matieu Demers Service Director
‘It is a great source of pride to work for a company that has been focused on innovation since its start 75 years ago. Although the company has expanded greatly, we all feel that as employees we are part of the solution that Lely offers farmers worldwide. For me, this is what making red impact means.’

Søren Vad Jensen Customer Solution Manager
‘For me, it is a celebration of a company which - in my time working for Lely - has been a joyful but also challenging journey. From being the “new” company on the market introducing a new technology in milking to being the leader in solutions for automation and animal welfare in the barn. The journey has been full of challenges which makes the success today even more satisfying – and the family feeling, and proudness is still strong. My motivation over the years has been our customers’ benefits and success from our solutions where animal welfare and smart management leads to healthy cows with high production and people working on the farm getting a better work-life balance.’

Siri Høystad UX Designer
‘For me, 75 years red impact is about looking back at the innovative history that Lely has. From the life altering finger wheel rake back then, to the groundbreaking robots today, and every milestone in between. But most importantly it's all about looking forward at the innovative journey still to come. I enjoy working with our products’ UIs, talking to users and shaping new features together, and being part of creating the robot of the future.’

Marcel Hendriks Area Sales Manager & Key Account Manager Dairy XL
‘75 years is a long time, especially when realising that I have experienced 23 years of that history myself. I remember my first Lely-days – near the Van der Lely’s family farm - very well. Looking at the current Lely Campus, we can be proud of what we have achieved since then! We are capable of doing many great things together; there are always new things to experience that get my Lely-red blood flowing! But above all, it’s our customers and Lely Centers that put trust in us. I am very proud of the solutions we offer for the most beautiful industry in the world: dairy farming. I am sure we will continue to improve both customer- and Lely Center-satisfaction even further in the years to come.’

André van Troost CEO
‘75 Years Lely means a moment to reflect on our history & to celebrate the numerous achievements, but most importantly to look forward on how we can continue to provide a sustainable, profitable and enjoyable future to our farmers who have a huge challenge to feed an ever-growing population.’

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Why Lely?

Farmers all over the world make choices about how they set up and run their farms. Every day, we help them make the best choices for themselves and their farms. We do this by providing advice and innovative solutions that contribute to efficient farm management. For sustainable milk and meat production. Present and future.

More about our company

Introduction text

75 years red impact

In the spotlight

First farmer

Center story

75 years red impact

Milestones

1948 - Acrobat

1955 - Manure spreader

1957 - Fertiliser spreader

1967 - Lotus

1968 - Roterra

1970 - Hydro

1982 - Splendimo

1995 - Astronaut

2005 - Discovery SSW

2012 - Vector

2017 - Focus on dairy

2020 - Circular farming

Teaserfilm

Celebrate our history, experience the present, build towards the future

What does 75 years red impact mean to you?

Other stories

Innovations we learned from

Holding the record for automatic milking systems

Combining eye for climate with animal welfare

Innovations we learned from

Innovations we learned from

In close cooperation since 1999

Passion for farming and innovation in Italy

Making history by doing something special

As long as I can keep on puzzling, tinkering, inventing and developing

Why Lely?