AGCO
Encyclopedia
AGCO is an agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

 equipment manufacturer based in Duluth, Georgia
Duluth, Georgia
Duluth is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia and an increasingly more affluent and developed suburb of Atlanta. Unincorporated portions of Forsyth County also have Duluth as a mailing address, though this area is outside city limits...

, USA. As a leading global manufacturer of agricultural equipment, AGCO offers a full line of tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage and tillage equipment, which are distributed through more than 2,700 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries worldwide.

History

With roots firmly established in the farm equipment industry, AGCO has a brand heritage reaching back to the mid-19th century. AGCO was established in 1990 when executives at Deutz-Allis bought out Deutz-Allis North American operations from the parent corporation KHD, (Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz), a German company that owned the Deutz-Fahr
Deutz-Fahr
Deutz-Fahr German tractor now a part of SAME Deutz-Fahr, traces its roots to 1894 when Deutz was founded. Deutz merged with Fahr, founded in 1870 by Johann Georg Fahr, in 1961 to become Deutz-Fahr...

 brand of agriculture equipment. KHD had purchased portions of the Allis-Chalmers agricultural equipment business five years earlier. Since that time, AGCO has become a worldwide farm machinery company through market growth, strategic acquisitions and cutting edge agricultural solutions.

The company was first called Gleaner-Allis Corporation, then rearranged to be Allis-Gleaner Corporation, or AGCO. The design for these tractors and combines were originally designed by Allis-Chalmers
Allis-Chalmers
The Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. of West Allis, Wisconsin, is an American company known for its past as a manufacturer with diverse interests, perhaps most famous for their bright Persian Orange farm tractors...

 Corp. prior to the sellout to Deutz Allis. The Deutz-Allis
Deutz-Allis
Deutz-Allis was formed when Deutz-Fahr of Germany, part of KHD, purchased the agricultural assets of the Allis-Chalmers corporation in 1985.Deutz-Allis was eventually sold to the Allis-Gleaner Corporation, or AGCO), in 1990...

 line of tractors were renamed AGCO-Allis, and Gleaner
Gleaner Manufacturing Company
Gleaner Manufacturing Company was the name of a company which made the first self-propelled combine harvesters. They are best known for their production while part of Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. Gleaners were silver in color, unlike the Allis-Chalmers field tractors, which were unique...

 became a brand of its own for combines. The Deutz-Allis brand continued in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

 until 2001, when they were renamed AGCO-Allis. They continue in the lime-green livery. In 2001, AGCO Allis was renamed AGCO in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

.

In 1991, AGCO purchased the Hesston Corporation, gaining hay and forage equipment. Hesston had a 50 percent joint venture with Case International
Case IH
Case IH is an American mechanical company, one of the world’s largest brands of agricultural equipment. With headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, it has a network of more than 4,000 dealers and distributors that operates in more than 160 countries...

, now a part of CNH Global
CNH Global
CNH Global N.V. is a global, full line company operating in both the agricultural and construction equipment industries. CNH's scope includes integrated engineering, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of equipment on five continents...

. AGCO purchased the White Tractor line from the Allied Corporation's White-New Idea company. In 1993, AGCO purchased the remainder of White-New Idea
White Farm Equipment
White Farm Equipment is a brand of agricultural machinery, now discontinued except for planter, and owned by AGCO.-History:In 1960, the White Motor Company entered the agriculture market with the purchase of the Oliver Farm Equipment Company. In 1962, White acquired the Cockshutt Farm Equipment...

, gaining New Idea hay equipment and manure spreaders, and White planters. White New Idea had a large manufacturing plant which operated in Coldwater, Ohio
Coldwater, Ohio
Coldwater is a village in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,482 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coldwater is located at ....

, USA.

Also in 1993, AGCO purchased the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

n distribution rights to Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Canada before its purchase by AGCO. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was...

, a worldwide agricultural equipment company. In 1994, they purchased McConnell Tractors, manufacturer of the large articulated Massey Ferguson tractors. AGCO developed the Agcostar line of articulated tractors. Later in 1994, the Black Machine line of planters was purchased.

1995 saw the purchase of the AgEquipment Group, which manufactured tillage equipment and loaders under the Glenco, Tye and Farmhand brands. In 1996, acquisitions went international with the purchase of Iochpe-Maxion
Iochpe-Maxion
Iochpe-Maxion is a the largest global wheel maker company with twomain divisions in the auto parts and railwayequipment industries, which together accountfor nearly 14.0 thousand direct job positions at 23...

 in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. This was the Brazilian company that had rights to the Massey Ferguson brand and manufacturing in the region, as well as the Maxion brand of industrial equipment. This was also the year that AGCO purchased Deutz Argentina, the number one leader of tractors in Argentina. Also in 1996, AGCO purchased Western Combine Corporation and Portage Manufacturing in Canada. Western Combine had previously purchased the assets of the Massey Combine Corporation's combine operation, which had been spun off by Massey-Ferguson.
1997 was the year of the major purchase of Fendt
Fendt
Fendt is a German manufacturer of agricultural tractors and machines, manufacturing and marketing a full line of tractors, combine harvesters and balers. It is part of the AGCO Corporation...

 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, the leading German tractor company. Fendt is well known for its advanced technology. AGCO also acquired Dronningborg Industries in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

, the manufacturer of European Massey-Ferguson combines, and former manufacturer of Dronningborg combines.

In 1998, AGCO made a joint venture with Deutz AG to produce engines in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

, and purchased the Spra-Coupe and Willmar companies. Spra-Coupe and Willmar are leading sprayer
Sprayer
A sprayer is a device used to spray a liquid.In agriculture, a sprayer is a piece of equipment that spray nozzles to apply herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers to agricultural crops...

 companies in North America.

For the year 2000, AGCO bought out its partner Case International
Case IH
Case IH is an American mechanical company, one of the world’s largest brands of agricultural equipment. With headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, it has a network of more than 4,000 dealers and distributors that operates in more than 160 countries...

 in the Hay and Forage Industries joint venture. In 2001, AGCO purchased Ag-Chem Equipment, expanding its application equipment business. That year, the Agco-Allis and White tractor lines were merged in North America to become simply AGCO, continuing in the orange color.

2002 was the year that AGCO purchased rights to the Challenger name and the tracked tractors from the Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...

 Corporation, giving AGCO a well-known brand name and high-power tracked tractors. AGCO further developed the Challenger line into: wheeled tractors, using tractors manufactured by Iseki
Iseki
, based in Tokyo, Japan, manufactures a variety of machinery, components, and engines.It was founded in 1926 as in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. It was incorporated in 1936 as Iseki & Co....

, Agritalia, the Massey Ferguson factory and the Brazilian Valtra factory; combines, rebranding some Massey Ferguson/Gleaner -built combines; and hay equipment, using Hesston-built hay equipment. AGCO also purchased the Sunflower Manufacturing Company, which manufactures tillage, seeding and specialty harvesting equipment.

2004 brought about the purchase of the Valtra tractor company from the Kone
KONE
Kone Oyj , founded in 1910 and headquartered in Espoo, Finland, is an international engineering and service company employing some 32,500 personnel worldwide. The firm is the fourth largest manufacturer of elevators worldwide, a leading manufacturer of escalators, and also provides maintenance...

 Group, in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

. Valtra
Valtra
Valtra is a Finnish based manufacturer of tractors owned by the AGCO Corporation.-History:Valtra traces its origin to Valmet, Bolinder, Munktell and Volvo. Bolinder-Munktell merged with Volvo in 1950 to form BM Volvo. In 1979, BM Volvo/Volvo BM and Valmet formed a joint venture for tractor...

 has some licensing agreements with the Eicher
Eicher Motors
Eicher Group is a conglomerate of the firms Eicher Goodearth Ltd., Eicher Ltd., Eicher Motors Ltd., Eicher International Ltd., and ECS Ltd., based in New Delhi, India. The Eicher company has around 2500 employees located in four manufacturing facilities and 49 marketing and area offices around...

 company in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 for tractor production, and also with the HEMA group in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

. The purchase of Valtra also includes SISU POWER engines.

2006 saw a re-focusing of the various brands, and the reduction of individual brands. AGCO announced plans to combine some, and make some only part of a larger brand, or co-branding. Examples include the Massey Ferguson 9635 Hesston self-propelled swather, and the AGCO 9365 Hesston self-propelled swather. Challenger has seen further expansion with the further consolidation of the AgChem brand into Challenger, and the introduction of Agritalia built tractors and an articulated Challenger tractor.

In 2007, AGCO bought 50% of Laverda S.p.A
Laverda (harvesters)
Laverda is a manufacturer of combine harvesters and hay equipment, based in Breganze, Italy. It was founded in 1873 by Pietro Laverda to produce farming implements in the Province of Vicenza. 1963 was the year the first self-propelled Laverda combine was manufactured, the M120. Laverda formed a...

 from ARGO, which included the Gallagnani and Fella-Werke
Fella-Werke
Fella-Werke GmbH is a German forage harvesting company based in Feucht, Germany; . It was established in 1918 as a harrow manufacturing company, but since then has been through a lot of changes....

 hay equipment brands.

In 2008/2009 AGCO, the Challenger, Valtra, and Massey Ferguson large row crop tractors were launched in Europe and North America respectively with AGCO's e3 Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emission reduction technology.

Late in 2009, AGCO announced that it would phase out the orange AGCO Tractors by 2011. In 2009, AGCO had sales of US$6.6 billion.

In late 2010, AGCO announced the plan to acquire the remaining 50% of Laverda, which included Fella-Werke
Fella-Werke
Fella-Werke GmbH is a German forage harvesting company based in Feucht, Germany; . It was established in 1918 as a harrow manufacturing company, but since then has been through a lot of changes....

 as well. The acquisition was finalized in March 2011.

AGCO plans to transfer its high-horsepower wheeled-tractor assembly of tractors sold in North America from Beauvais, France to Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...

, where it will expand the plant by 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²).

In 2011, AGCO said that it will invest $40 million in its Hesston
Hesston, Kansas
Hesston is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,709. Hesston is home of Hesston College, which has approximately 450 students.-19th century:...

 plant by building a new 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) painting and finishing building. Construction will start June 2011 and be completed by 2013.

Core Brands

AGCO products are sold through four core brands: Challenger, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra.
  • Challenger
    Challenger Tractor
    The Challenger Tractor was the world's first rubber tracked agriculture tractor, created by Caterpillar Inc. in 1987. The original model was a Challenger 65 featuring the Mobile-Trac System consisting of rubber tracks and a suspension system. The MTS combined the flotation and traction of steel...

    , tractors, combine harvesters, hay equipment available globally.
  • Fendt
    Fendt
    Fendt is a German manufacturer of agricultural tractors and machines, manufacturing and marketing a full line of tractors, combine harvesters and balers. It is part of the AGCO Corporation...

    , high tech tractors, combine harvesters in Europe
    Europe
    Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

    .
  • Massey Ferguson
    Massey Ferguson
    Massey Ferguson Limited was a major agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Canada before its purchase by AGCO. The company was formed by a merger between Massey Harris and the Ferguson tractor company in 1953, creating the company Massey Harris Ferguson. However in 1958 the name was...

    , full-line of tractors, combine harvesters, hay equipment available globally.
  • Valtra
    Valtra
    Valtra is a Finnish based manufacturer of tractors owned by the AGCO Corporation.-History:Valtra traces its origin to Valmet, Bolinder, Munktell and Volvo. Bolinder-Munktell merged with Volvo in 1950 to form BM Volvo. In 1979, BM Volvo/Volvo BM and Valmet formed a joint venture for tractor...

    , tractors.

More Brands

  • AGCO Allis, tractors distributed throughout South America
    South America
    South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

    .
  • AGCO Tractors, tractors distributed throughout North America
    North America
    North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

    .
  • AGCO Parts, replacement parts.
  • AGCO Advanced Technology Solutions.
  • AGCO SISU POWER Engines, high performance/low emission engines 50 - 400 HP.
  • AGCO SCR e3 Technology, engine technology.
  • Fella-Werke
    Fella-Werke
    Fella-Werke GmbH is a German forage harvesting company based in Feucht, Germany; . It was established in 1918 as a harrow manufacturing company, but since then has been through a lot of changes....

    , forage harvesting implements.
  • Gleaner
    Gleaner Manufacturing Company
    Gleaner Manufacturing Company was the name of a company which made the first self-propelled combine harvesters. They are best known for their production while part of Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company. Gleaners were silver in color, unlike the Allis-Chalmers field tractors, which were unique...

    , Official Website, since 2006, marketed as AGCO Gleaner (combine harvesters).
  • Hesston, since 2006, marketed as AGCO Hesston and Massey Ferguson Hesston (hay and forage equipment available in North America
    North America
    North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

    ).
  • Laverda
    Laverda (harvesters)
    Laverda is a manufacturer of combine harvesters and hay equipment, based in Breganze, Italy. It was founded in 1873 by Pietro Laverda to produce farming implements in the Province of Vicenza. 1963 was the year the first self-propelled Laverda combine was manufactured, the M120. Laverda formed a...

    , combine harvestors.
  • RoGator, high clearance self-propelled application equipment, distributed as Challenger in markets outside North America
    North America
    North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

     and Australia
    Australia
    Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

    .
  • SpraCoupe, sprayers.
  • Sunflower, tillage equipment.
  • TerraGator, self-propelled application equipment, distributed as Challenger in markets outside North America
    North America
    North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

     and Australia
    Australia
    Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

    .
  • White Planters
    White Farm Equipment
    White Farm Equipment is a brand of agricultural machinery, now discontinued except for planter, and owned by AGCO.-History:In 1960, the White Motor Company entered the agriculture market with the purchase of the Oliver Farm Equipment Company. In 1962, White acquired the Cockshutt Farm Equipment...

    , Official Website, planters
  • Willmar, application equipment.

Manufacturing locations

AGCO North America
  • Hesston, Kansas, USA
    Hesston, Kansas
    Hesston is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,709. Hesston is home of Hesston College, which has approximately 450 students.-19th century:...

    . Former Hesston Corporation site.
  • Beloit, Kansas, USA
    Beloit, Kansas
    Beloit is a city in and the county seat of Mitchell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,835.- History :...

  • Jackson, Minnesota, USA
    Jackson, Minnesota
    Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...

  • Querétaro, Bajío, Mexico
    Querétaro
    Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....



AGCO South America
  • Rosario, Argentina
  • Canoas, Brazil
    Canoas
    Canoas , which won city status in 1939, is the fourth largest city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population is over 300,000 people. The city is adjacent to the capital of the gaúcho state: Porto Alegre...

  • Ibiruba, Brazil
    Ibirubá
    Ibirubá is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...

  • Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil
    Mogi das Cruzes
    Mogi das Cruzes is a municipality in the state of São Paulo metropolitan region of the state capital. The population in 2010 according to the Census population is 387,241 inhabitants, resulting in a population density of 533.90 inhabitants per km ²....

  • Santa Rosa, Brazil


AGCO Europe
  • Linnavuori, Finland
  • Suolahti, Finland
    Suolahti
    Suolahti was a former town and municipality of Finland. It is located next to Lake Keitele in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region...

  • Beauvais, France
  • Marktoberdorf, Bavaria, Germany
    Marktoberdorf
    Marktoberdorf is the capital of the Bavarian district of Ostallgäu in the Regierungsbezirk of Swabia.Marktoberdorf is near Kempten, Füssen, known for the castle Neuschwanstein, Bad Wörishofen, and Schongau. The nearest larger city is Kaufbeuren, eleven kilometers away.Marktoberdorf plays host to a...

    . Former Fendt site.
  • Breganze, Italy
    Breganze
    Breganze is a town in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. It is northeast of Via Roma. During World War II, the Germans were on one side of the river and the Allies were on the other, and a firefight occurred across the river.-Breganze DOC:...


External links

  • AGCO (official website)
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