Case IH
An agricultural machinery brand specializing in tractors, combines, planting systems, crop-production equipment, and related support services.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Case IH is an American agricultural machinery brand operated by CNH Industrial. Its equipment is sold through dealers and distributors to farmers, agricultural contractors, and commercial crop producers in markets around the world. The portfolio covers tractors, combine harvesters, hay and forage equipment, tillage implements, planters and seeders, sprayers and applicators, sugarcane machinery, precision-farming systems, replacement parts, and service support. The modern Case IH identity emerged from the combination of J.I. Case's agricultural machinery business with selected agricultural assets acquired from International Harvester. Tenneco took control of International Harvester's agricultural division in the mid-1980s and combined it with J.I. Case. The resulting business was initially associated with the Case International name before adopting the abbreviated Case IH identity. The transaction brought together Case's industrial and agricultural heritage with International Harvester's tractor, combine, and implement technologies during a severe downturn in the farm economy. The brand's deeper history reaches back to Jerome Case, who founded the Racine Threshing Machine Works in 1842. The company developed threshing machinery, later expanded into steam engines and tractors, and became known as J.I. Case. International Harvester, meanwhile, inherited the McCormick and Deering agricultural traditions and became one of the world's largest tractor and farm-equipment manufacturers. Case IH uses the red-and-black IH emblem to connect the newer brand with that International Harvester heritage. After its formation, Case IH expanded its product range through acquisitions and engineering programs. The purchase of Steiger in 1986 strengthened its position in large four-wheel-drive tractors. The Magnum series, introduced in 1987, became a major example of Case and International Harvester engineering being developed under one brand. Other important lines included Maxxum, Farmall, Steiger, Quadtrac, Puma, Optum, and Axial-Flow combines. The Axial-Flow name is particularly associated with rotary combine technology and high-capacity harvesting. Case IH became part of the CNH group in 1999 when Case Corporation combined with New Holland's agricultural operations. CNH later became CNH Industrial, the corporate group that continues to own and operate the brand. Manufacturing and engineering activities supporting Case IH products have been distributed across facilities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and other regions. Product availability and model naming vary by market. The brand also developed precision-agriculture capabilities, including satellite-positioning and site-specific farming tools, to help operators manage guidance, planting, application, data collection, and machine performance. Case IH has promoted autonomous-machine concepts and compatibility with approved biodiesel fuels as part of its technology and sustainability messaging. In the 2020s, its product development continued to emphasize high-horsepower tractors, tracked platforms, automation, and higher-capacity harvesting, including the AF-series Axial-Flow combines and updated Quadtrac equipment. Case IH is positioned as a full-line, productivity-oriented agricultural equipment brand. Its commercial proposition combines machine performance with dealer support, financing availability through the wider CNH organization, precision-farming technologies, parts, and after-sales service. The brand competes in a global agricultural machinery market alongside manufacturers such as John Deere, AGCO, CLAAS, Kubota, and CNH's sister brand New Holland Agriculture.
History
Case IH combines two major American agricultural-equipment traditions. Jerome Case established the Racine Threshing Machine Works in 1842, building the business around threshing machinery. The company later expanded into steam engines and tractors and became known as J.I. Case. Its early innovations helped establish the company as an important manufacturer of farm machinery in the United States. International Harvester developed from the consolidation of agricultural machinery businesses associated with McCormick and Deering. It became a major producer of tractors, combines, trucks, and implements. By the second half of the twentieth century, International Harvester had a substantial agricultural product line, but financial difficulties during the farm recession and broader economic pressures led to a restructuring of its operations. Tenneco acquired J.I. Case in 1967. It later purchased control of International Harvester's agricultural division in the mid-1980s and combined selected International Harvester agricultural assets with the Case business. The new organization initially used the Case International name and subsequently adopted Case IH. International Harvester's remaining truck and engine operations continued separately and became associated with Navistar. The 1985 formation gave Case IH a broader range of tractors and harvesting products. In 1986, the company acquired Steiger Tractor, adding a strong large-tractor platform. The 1987 Magnum launch was a major milestone because it represented a new tractor family developed for the combined organization. Maxxum tractors followed, while the Steiger name continued in high-horsepower four-wheel-drive machines. Case IH also built on International Harvester's Axial-Flow rotary combine technology. The Axial-Flow line became one of the brand's best-known harvesting families. Other significant products included Farmall utility and row-crop tractors, Puma and Optum tractors, planters, tillage tools, sprayers, hay equipment, and sugarcane harvesting machinery. The Quadtrac platform introduced a distinctive four-track configuration for high-traction field work. During the 1990s, Case IH expanded through additional acquisitions and product programs, including the purchase of Steyr in Austria and Austoft in Australia. The company also developed precision-agriculture tools, and it has attributed an early advanced farming system using global-positioning technology to the mid-1990s. In 1999, Case IH was combined with New Holland Agriculture to form CNH Global. The corporate group was later reorganized as CNH Industrial, under which Case IH remains an agricultural equipment brand. Manufacturing and engineering for Case IH products have been distributed among facilities in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, Türkiye, India, Mexico, and other locations. Production assignments change over time and differ by product. The brand's modern portfolio is supported by dealers, distributors, parts operations, service networks, and agricultural technology systems. In the twenty-first century, Case IH continued to develop high-horsepower tractors, tracked machines, rotary combines, planting equipment, and digital farming tools. It has shown autonomous-machine concepts and promoted fuel compatibility, including approved biodiesel use for applicable products. The 2020s brought further updates to Quadtrac tractors and Axial-Flow harvesting equipment, including the AF-series combine family. Case IH remains positioned as a global full-line agricultural machinery brand within CNH Industrial.
- 2024
New Quadtrac and Axial-Flow models reported
[2]Reported product activity included the 715 Quadtrac and AF10 and AF11 Axial-Flow combine models.
- 2016
Autonomous concept revealed
[1]The company demonstrated a driverless agricultural vehicle concept focused on automated field operations.
- 2015
Magnum Rowtrac and Optum introduced
[1]Case IH expanded its tracked tractor and high-performance tractor offerings with the Magnum Rowtrac and Optum families.
- 2005
Quadtrac sets a reported plowing record
[1]A STX500 Steiger Quadtrac was reported to have plowed 792 acres in 24 hours.
- 1999
Case IH becomes part of CNH
[1]Case IH was merged with New Holland Agriculture into CNH, the corporate predecessor of CNH Industrial.
- 1997
Quadtrac launched
[1]The Quadtrac 9370 introduced a four-track configuration designed to provide traction while reducing some limitations associated with conventional wheels.
- 1995
Advanced Farming Systems introduced
[1]Case IH entered an early phase of precision agriculture by offering advanced farming tools using satellite-positioning technology.
- 1987
Magnum tractor introduced
[1]The Magnum 7100 range became a defining early product under the Case IH name.
- 1986
Steiger acquired
[1]Case IH acquired Steiger Tractor, strengthening its large four-wheel-drive tractor range.
- 1985
Case IH identity appears
[1]Tenneco combined J.I. Case with selected International Harvester agricultural assets and established the Case International, later Case IH, identity.
Products and positioning
A full-line, professional agricultural machinery brand focused on productivity, high-capacity field operations, precision farming, dealer support, and equipment durability.
Tractors · 1987
Magnum
The Magnum is a major Case IH row-crop and high-power tractor family. First introduced in 1987, it became an important symbol of the combined Case and International Harvester engineering heritage. The range has evolved through successive generations and includes configurations intended for demanding tillage, planting, transport, and other large-farm operations.
High-horsepower tractors · 1986
Steiger
Steiger is Case IH's high-horsepower four-wheel-drive tractor family. The name entered the Case IH portfolio after the 1986 acquisition of Steiger Tractor. These machines are intended for large-scale field work requiring substantial drawbar power, traction, and implement capacity.
Tracked tractors · 1997
Quadtrac
Quadtrac tractors use four independently driven rubber track units rather than conventional front and rear axles. The configuration is designed to provide high traction and flotation for heavy field operations while limiting soil compaction relative to some comparable wheeled arrangements. The family includes high-powered agricultural tractors and remains one of Case IH's most distinctive platforms.
Tractors
Farmall
Farmall is a long-established tractor name associated with versatile agricultural work. Within Case IH, Farmall models serve a range of utility, livestock, mixed-farm, and row-crop requirements. Depending on market and configuration, the family spans compact and utility applications as well as more specialized farm operations.
Tractors · 2006
Puma
Puma tractors occupy a versatile mid-to-high-power position in the Case IH range. They are designed for general field work, transport, loader use, and mixed agricultural operations. The family has been produced for international markets and is associated with flexible specifications and modern cab and transmission options.
Combine harvesters · 1977
Axial-Flow
Axial-Flow is Case IH's principal rotary combine-harvester family. It descends from International Harvester's rotary harvesting development and is designed to separate grain through an axial rotor system. The line is used across major grain crops and is marketed around harvesting capacity, crop-handling performance, operator productivity, and reduced losses.
Combine harvesters · 2024
AF Series
The AF series is a newer high-capacity extension of the Axial-Flow combine family. The AF10 and AF11 models were reported in 2024 product material. The series represents Case IH's continuing focus on large-scale harvesting throughput, automation, and operator assistance.
Precision agriculture · 1995
Advanced Farming Systems
Advanced Farming Systems refers to Case IH technologies for guidance, positioning, machine monitoring, data management, and site-specific field operations. These tools are intended to improve accuracy and repeatability in planting, tillage, application, and harvesting while helping operators manage machine and field information.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Ferrari Panamerican 20,000
International
Case IH branding appeared on two Ferrari vehicles during the Ferrari Panamerican 20,000 expedition, an international driving journey across multiple countries. The activity connected the agricultural brand with endurance, engineering, and international mobility themes.
Outcome. Brand visibility initiative associated with Case IH's engineering heritage.
Brand decisions
2016
Demonstrate autonomous farming conceptStrategyBackground
Automation and reduced operator dependence were emerging priorities in agricultural technology.
Action taken
Case IH revealed an autonomous concept vehicle for field operations.
Aftermath
The concept reinforced the brand's focus on automation and future precision-agriculture systems.
1999
Merge with New Holland AgricultureM&ABackground
The agricultural equipment businesses of Case and New Holland were combined to create a larger global machinery group.
Action taken
Case IH became part of CNH, the corporate predecessor of CNH Industrial.
Aftermath
Case IH continued as a distinct agricultural brand within a broader international manufacturing and dealer organization.
1995
Adopt precision-agriculture technologyStrategyBackground
Agricultural machinery manufacturers were beginning to apply satellite positioning and digital control to field operations.
Action taken
Case IH introduced Advanced Farming Systems using global-positioning technology for more accurate agricultural work.
Aftermath
Precision farming became a continuing component of the Case IH product and technology strategy.
1987
Launch the Magnum tractorProduct launchBackground
Following the Case and International Harvester combination, the company needed a modern flagship tractor family representing the new organization.
Action taken
Case IH introduced the Magnum 7100 range.
Aftermath
Magnum became one of the brand's best-known tractor families and an enduring part of its high-performance portfolio.
1986
Acquire Steiger TractorM&ABackground
Case IH sought to strengthen its position in high-horsepower four-wheel-drive tractors.
Action taken
Case IH acquired Steiger Tractor and incorporated the Steiger platform into its agricultural machinery range.
Aftermath
Steiger became a core Case IH name for large tractors and later contributed to the development of the Quadtrac family.
1985
Combine Case and International Harvester agricultural operationsM&ABackground
International Harvester was experiencing financial difficulty during a prolonged farm-sector downturn, while Tenneco controlled J.I. Case. Tenneco acquired selected International Harvester agricultural assets and combined them with Case.
Action taken
The business initially used the Case International identity and subsequently adopted Case IH, creating a broader agricultural equipment portfolio.
Aftermath
The combination gave the new brand access to Case and International Harvester tractor, combine, and implement capabilities.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Case IH products receive two Machine of the Year 2020 awards[3]
Reported:
Case IH's LB436 HD baler won the Machine of the Year 2020 award in the Hay and Forage category, and its DataConnect connectivity solutions won in the Electronics category at Agritechnica in Hannover, Germany.
CNH Industrial announces agreement to acquire ATI[4]
Reported:
CNH Industrial announced an agreement to acquire ATI Inc., including ATI Track Systems' engineering and manufacturing plant in Mt. Vernon, Indiana.
Sources4 sources
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