Massey Ferguson celebrates its 50th anniversary with its biggest, best and most comprehensive range of equipment ever.
But, as it marks this latest landmark in the company’s 167 year history Massey Ferguson is not just celebrating the pioneering tractor and harvesting innovations of its founding fathers – Daniel Massey, Alanson Harris and Harry Ferguson. Indeed, it is also not looking forward to future developments and prosperity.
“Massey Ferguson is celebrating what we are today,” says Richard Markwell, Managing Director of Massey Ferguson Europe Africa Middle East and Président Directeur Général of AGCO SA.
“In particular the achievements of the past five years – a period that has seen the renaissance of the Massey Ferguson brand. A revitalisation and new strength, which as has set us on the path to new growth. Unquestionably, we now have the widest and best range of equipment that Massey Ferguson has ever had. And if that were not enough, we are now faced globally with the highest growth in demand for farm machinery that we have seen for more than 30 years.”
For Massey Ferguson the time is now…
While acknowledging the spirit of innovation of the founding fathers, today the company is moving forward faster than at any other time in its illustrious history. It is currently increasing sales in every product sector - from tractors to combines, balers and implements – and in every region of the world.
Representing around 40% of total worldwide sales, Massey Ferguson is AGCO’s largest brand. “As AGCO’s global brand, Massey Ferguson has played a major role in enabling us to become one of the world’s leading farm machinery manufacturers,” says Martin Richenhagen, AGCO’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The famous Triple Triangle brand identity and all the values it represents are crucial to our success.”
“Massey Ferguson continues to move forward with a vigour and vitality that resonates throughout the entire company, and would make its founders proud. Our ongoing investments reflect AGCO’s commitment to ensuring Massey Ferguson maintains its leading edge as a producer of high calibre, innovative engineering in keeping with its heritage.”
AGCO’s motto is Always Growing. This sums up the challenge for the world. Massey Ferguson also summarises its aim in eight key words - vision; innovation; leadership; quality; reliability; support; pride and commitment.
The world is facing significant challenges now – not in the next five years or more – but now. Farming has never been more important and the need for effective and efficient farm machinery to help agriculture meet these demands has never been greater.
Martin Richenhagen puts the challenges like this: “The world’s farmers need to produce food and fuel at an unprecedented rate. We have an obligation to provide them with the technology to ensure they meet that challenge.”
The world’s current population is expected to grow from 6.5 billion to 9.1 billion by 2050 and the need for more, high quality and low cost food has never been higher – and demand is rising every day.
At the same time farmers are now being asked to not only feed an ever increasing population, but to also fuel the world, too. All producers - from market gardeners to large agribusinesses – face pressures to increase efficiency to meet this increasing demand, while working in harmony with the environment.
Massey Ferguson designers and engineers know that efficient farm machinery plays a key role in helping producers increase efficiency, cut costs, improve profits while meeting these tough challenges.
“The quality, performance and reliability of MF machines are truly representative of the global brand,” adds Richard Markwell, Vice-President and Managing Director Massey Ferguson – Europe, Africa and Middle East.
“Backed by AGCO’s multi-million dollar investments in research and development and manufacturing, MF’s product range is constantly advancing and developing. In the past few years, our new product introduction programme has been relentless. We have launched new tractor models in every power sector – each time adding new technological features that further enhance productivity, efficiency and farm profitability - helping farmers do what they do, even better!”
“Our harvesting machinery programme is also well advanced with new combines and balers unveiled for this coming season and more developments in the pipeline.”
“At AGCO’s Massey Ferguson manufacturing facility in Beauvais, France, tractor volume here has virtually doubled in the last four years and we have made major strides in productivity,” he says. “Similar successes are being achieved at our plants in Brazil, the United States, Denmark, Finland and Italy.”
“There’s no doubt that our new product developments have created our best product range ever. No other brand has won more international farm machinery awards in recent years. But, we are constantly keeping up the pace and moving forward. We are in permanent launch mode….. and I can reveal that there is plenty more to come!”
“Massey Ferguson is set to begin its next 50 years with the same philosophy as when it began half a century ago – leading from the front with pioneering developments to improve farm efficiency across the globe.”
But the best is yet to come. With further introductions planned for the near future, Massey Ferguson is set to begin its next century in the same position as when it began fifty years ago: Leading from the front with pioneering developments to improve farming efficiency across the globe.
ENDS
About AGCO
Founded in 1990, AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AG) (www.agcocorp.com) is a global manufacturer of agricultural equipment and related replacement parts. AGCO offers a full product line including tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage, tillage equipment and implements, which are distributed through more than 3,000 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries worldwide. AGCO products include the following well-known brands: AGCO®, Challenger®, Fendt®, Gleaner®, Hesston®, Massey Ferguson®, RoGator®, Spra-Coupe®, Sunflower®, Terra-Gator®, Valtra®, and White™ Planters. AGCO provides retail financing through AGCO Finance. The company is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, and in 2007 had net sales of $6.8 billion.
CONTACT:
Paul Lay
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
Tel: +44 (0)2476 851209
