The Case IH brand we know today is the result of a series of mergers and acquisitions between various agricultural equipment manufacturers over time. These brands eventually joined forces to create what is now known as Case IH, which is part of CNH Industrial. Case IH specializes in farm equipment such as tractors, harvesting machinery, loaders, attachments, tillage tools, planters, seeders, applicators, balers, mowers, windrowers, wheel rakes, forage harvesters, and more.
While Case IH focuses primarily on agricultural equipment, another related brand, Case Construction Equipment, caters specifically to the construction sector. The origins of Case IH trace back to 1842 when Jerome Increase Case established the Racine Threshing Machine Works in Racine, Wisconsin. At that time, farm machinery was still in its infancy, and Case was among the first to produce mechanized farming equipment with his innovative thresher that separated straw from grain.
Timeline Evolution of Case IH Since 1842:
- **1842:** Jerome Increase Case founded the Racine Threshing Machine Works in Racine, Wisconsin. He improved upon existing threshers, creating a machine capable of separating straw from grain.
- **1847:** Cyrus McCormick founded the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which later became part of International Harvester.
- **1869:** J.I. Case and Company produced the first steam engine tractor, which was wheel-mounted and pulled by horses. Its main purpose was to power other machines.
- **1876:** Case built the first self-propelled traction steam engine. Horses were used to steer the engine.
- **1886:** J.I. Case and Company became the world's largest producer of steam engines.
- **1892:** Case introduced its first gasoline-powered tractor. However, due to infrastructure challenges and the dominance of steam engines at the time, the idea was shelved for nearly two decades.
- **1902:** The merger of McCormick, Deering, Plano, Milwaukee, and Champion brands formed the International Harvester Company.
- **1911:** Gasoline-powered tractors re-entered the market, with the industry now ready for the transition from steam to gasoline power.
- **1915:** International Harvester introduced the Titan 10-20 and Titan 15-30, kerosene-powered tractors primarily used for traction and belt work.
- **1923:** Bert Benjamin developed the first Farmall, a revolutionary unified system for plowing, cultivating, and harvesting.
- **1935:** International Harvester launched the first production wheeled diesel tractor, the McCormick-Deering WD-40.
- **1985:** The legacies of J.I. Case and International Harvester were merged into one brand, Case IH. This new entity became the second-largest farm equipment manufacturer globally.
- **1986:** Steiger joined the Case IH lineup, with the first red 9100 series Case IH Steiger tractors produced in 1988. Green Steigers continued to be made until 1989.
- **1988:** Case IH unveiled the Magnum tractor, the first entirely new machine resulting from the combined engineering efforts of Case and International Harvester.
- **1999:** Fiat Group acquired Case Corporation and merged it with New Holland, forming CNH Global. This consolidation created one of the largest farm machinery and construction equipment companies worldwide.
- **2013:** CNH Global and Fiat Industrial merged into CNH Industrial.
- **2019:** CNH Industrial announced plans to separate its on-highway and off-highway businesses.
Steam-powered tractors were dominant in the late 19th century due to the abundance of coal and wood as fuel sources. These engines were used to power other machinery, and the first steam tractors required horses for steering. During this period, the oil industry was still nascent, with oil often sourced from whale blubber rather than petroleum. This led to volatile oil prices and inconsistent supply, limiting the adoption of engines using oil derivatives.
In 1892, Case built its first gasoline-powered tractor, but the market wasn't ready for the shift in power sources. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the market became receptive to gasoline engines.
Branding has evolved significantly since the formation of International Harvester in 1902. The original logo reflected the merger of multiple brands, and subsequent iterations updated the design to reflect modern branding strategies.
CNH Industrial, established in 2013, is a global corporation headquartered in Basildon, UK, with strong ties to the Italian Agnelli family through its parent company, Exor. The company operates across diverse sectors including agriculture, construction, trucks, buses, and military equipment. With over 11,500 dealers and distributors in more than 170 countries, CNH Industrial maintains a robust global presence.
Despite its extensive portfolio, CNH Industrial's brands operate largely independently, with minimal overlap in operations. Manufacturing facilities are typically separate, and not all dealerships carry every brand. Cost synergies have been achieved by standardizing certain components, such as engines, across brands.
Case IH operates manufacturing facilities in several regions, including North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Key production sites include Fargo, North Dakota, for high-horsepower tractors; Racine, Wisconsin, for Magnum series tractors; and Curitiba, Brazil, for Magnum and Maxxum series tractors. Axial Flow combines are manufactured in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Case IH offers a comprehensive range of tractors, from the powerful Steiger series to the versatile Magnum series, catering to various agricultural needs. Each series is designed to meet specific requirements, from heavy-duty operations to smaller-scale farming.
In summary, Case IH remains a leader in agricultural machinery, leveraging its rich history and innovative spirit to continue providing solutions for modern farming challenges.