“We also promised that the best is yet to come. And at SIMA we are honouring that commitment. Our impressive display proves that, yet again, Massey Ferguson continues to lead from the front with pioneering developments to improve efficiency and productivity for every farming sector – from the largest agribusiness to the smallest and most specialised operations.” The latest in a host of recent awards now includes the prestigious Gold Medal at the SIMA show for the MF 8600 Series OptiRide Plus cab suspension system. “This important award follows similar accolades from all over Europe and is independent confirmation that Massey Ferguson is designing and building state-of-the-art technology,” adds Mr Hayden.

As well as winning Tractor of the Year 2009 and the Golden Tractor design awards at the EIMA Show in Bologna and the SIMA Gold Medal, the MF 8690 has also took recently taken the top ‘Grand Prize for Innovation’ at Agro+Mash Expo in Budapest – Hungary’s premier farm machinery event. On top of these awards, the MF 7280 Centora combine harvester won a prestigious Silver Medal at the first AgroSalon exhibition in Russia.

“For Massey Ferguson the MF 8600 is obviously the outstanding product of the year,” says Gary Collar, AGCO Senior Vice President and General Manager Europe, Africa, Middle East/Australia & New Zealand. “Now following investment from AGCO, which is focused solely on agriculture, Massey Ferguson is full of confidence and fulfilling its expectations.

“We now see the value of that investment in a huge number of new products from the MF 8600 at the top end, through to new MF 3600 Series, designed specifically for a wide range of applications,” says Mr Collar.

“Investment in the Beauvais factory has expanded its operations and is now making 100 tractors per day. In the future you will see a lot more of these types of investments and innovations as we build on the strength of Massey Ferguson and it gains an even better global presence. It now makes exactly the right products, with the right technology, not just for Europe but also Africa and the emerging central and eastern European countries.”

MF 8600 Series sets the standard
With a host of awards already under its belt, the new MF 8600 Series tractors, from 270hp to 370hp, makes its entrance to the SIMA show and is set to be a crowd puller. It is also the first of the tractors to come in the new red and grey livery, which is now being used across the whole Massey Ferguson range.

The SIMA Gold Medal citation for the MF 8600 Series’ OptiRide Plus dynamic cab suspension says this system: “represents a significant step forward in terms of driver comfort.”

The automatic, but fully adjustable, system’s control unit, noted the judges, is linked to the tractor’s CAN-Bus system and uses this electronic information to automatically adjust the settings to control bounce, rolling and pitching. Operators can also set the system to suit the conditions and their individual requirements and this provides up to 25% improvement in comfort, compared with the standard system.

SIMA visitors will also have the opportunity to meet the engineers from Massey Ferguson’s Beauvais factory and discuss how they developed the stunning innovations on the MF 8600 Series. Customers will not only be able to discuss in detail how the developments work and can benefit their businesses, but also see the advanced Virtual Reality design software in action.

The Massey Ferguson engineers at SIMA will also present the background to MF 8600 Series tractors’ ground-breaking ‘e³ engine technology’. They will also be able to explain how, by employing this advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction (SRC) system, users are able to cut fuel use by at least 5% and produce the cleanest exhaust emmisions.

font color="red"> Latest MF 5400 models on show
One of the highlights on Massey Ferguson’s SIMA stand are the latest MF 5400 Series tractors, says Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson General Sales Engineering and Brand Development Manager. “These power, comfort ease-of-operation and versatility of the MF 5400 Series mean they must be high on the shopping list of every farmer looking for a tractor in the 82hp to 135hp bracket.”

All are now powered by the latest Tier 3 engines, that provide more power and torque than before, as well as now offering ‘Power Boost’ right down to the 95p (100hp max) MF 5445. At the top of the range there is a choice of two 135hp tractors – the six cylinder MF 5475 and four cylinder MF 5480 (145hp max ISO) power.

Massey Ferguson’s own outstanding Dyna-4, semi-powershift transmission is standard on all the MF 5400 Series. This provides 16F/16R speeds – with four powershift steps in four ranges. “This versatile transmission offers clutchless shuttling and buttons to change speeds and shift ranges without having to ever use the clutch after starting off. It is ideal for all types of work from loading to fast headland turns,” explains Mr Scott.

With the option of the 100 litre/min combined pump hydraulic system, plus the addition of sloping bonnet and ‘Visio Roof’, the MF 5400 builds into an uncompromising loader tractor.

Peak performance from new MF 6497 and MF 6499 flagships
Now in full production, the new MF 6497 (215hp) and MF 6499 (230hp) tractors are designed specifically to help users improve productivity and efficiency.

Powered by the latest 7.4 litre, AGCO SISU POWER common-rail engines with four-valves/cylinder they provide more power and torque than their predecessors and also come with standard ‘Power Boost’ for PTO and transport work.

“These modern, fuel efficient engines and the tractors’ superb power to weight ratios mean they are ideally suited to producing high outputs in a wide range of fieldwork from primary cultivations with ploughs or min-tillage equipment, through to drilling and other top work,” says Mr Scott. “They are fast, nimble and, with the new axle support, even more versatile and manoeuvrable.”

With the introduction of the new engines also comes a tilting bonnet in the modern MF family style along with the ILS (Integrated Front Linkage System). This new front axle support casting assists in mounting a new fully integrated front linkage and PTO option. The addition of the QuadLink suspension option not only allows high speeds to be achieved with great comfort and safety.

font color="red"> Massey Ferguson Combines Harvest Success
New Massey Ferguson rotary Fortia and conventional Centora combine harvesters make their SIMA debut. This follows a hugely successful year in which Massey Ferguson made big strides towards AGCO’s stated aim of becoming a world leader in harvesting.

“AGCO has invested heavily in new combines for Massey Ferguson and there is now a lot of confidence in the brand, following the introduction of these new products and quality improvement programmes,” says Gary Collar.

“Our Italian joint venture is a huge success. The Breganze factory, which builds the MF Activa and MF Beta ranges, has produced more combines in 2008 than it has for 15 years. There can be no better proof that this is a joint venture that is really working well for both owners,” he adds.

At SIMA visitors will be able to see the not only the new Fortia 9695, but also a sectioned display of its 800mm diameter, Advanced Technology Rotor – which, at 3.56m, is the longest in the industry. Equipped with the new 9m wide Powerflow table, the new rotary combine uses just 13 main drive belts and chains, which provide inherent reliability.

The Centora range, which comprises two machines, both available in full Auto Level versions, is represented at SIMA for the first time by the 413hp, MF 7282 model. These are the only combines available with renowned Powerflow header as standard and with eight straw-walkers, which have seven ‘action areas’ providing up to a third more separation capacity, with lower losses than six straw-walkers.

At SIMA the 330hp (gross) MF 7270AL Beta, represents the highly productive, mid-range straw-walker combines.

Low ‘GE’ tractors complete the MF 3600 Series
Four new extremely low ‘GE’ tractors in the MF 3600 Series from 69hp to 100hp (ISO) make their SIMA debut. Equipped specifically to provide the lowest operational height for specialist crops including table grapes, Kiwi fruit, apricots and peaches as well as work in all overhanging crops and low buildings.

The four GE models are all powered by AGCO SISU POWER, three cylinder engines offering powers of 69hp, 80hp, 92hp and 100hp. The compact engine and fully-waisted design also offers exceptionally tight turns from the SuperTurn front axle design.

The bonnet, at 1.24m, is the highest point on the new GE models, which also have reduced height fenders and steering wheel. On the new footstep version the fenders sit at 1.12m when the tractor is fitted with 380/70 R 20 rear tyres. Maximum height of 2.26m on the cab version equipped with 20in rear tyres and in widths from 1.15m to 1.50m.

The MF 3600 GE models all have an exclusive, electro-hydraulically-operated independent PTO and are available with a choice of transmissions to suit all kinds of work.