Where Are Massey Ferguson Tractors And Combines Made?

Sept. 22, 2021

Massey Ferguson has grown from a single factory in Ontario, Canada during the mid-19th century to a global brand with a large manufacturing footprint.

None — Massey Ferguson MF 8700 S Series Row Crop High Horsepower Tractor
Source: MasseyFerguson.com

Massey Ferguson, established in 1953 through the merger of farm equipment makers Massey-Harris of Canada and the Ferguson Company of the United Kingdom, is one of the top global tractor brands. Massey Ferguson is part of AGCO Corporation.

Today, Massey Ferguson sells its products worldwide and operates eight global manufacturing locations. Tractors manufactured at its Beauvais (France), Changzhou (China), Canoas (Brazil), and Mogi das Cruzes (Brazil) factories. Combine harvesters are manufactured at its Breganze (Italy) and Santa Rosa (Brazil) factories.

Massey Ferguson History

Company Origin

Massey Ferguson's roots trace back to 1847 when Daniel Massey founded Newcastle Foundry and Machine Manufactory in Clarington, Ontario (Canada). The company later rebranded to Massey Manufacturing Co, and it was best known for making some of the world's first mechanical threshers. The company grew as it expanded its sales throughout Canada and the world, and soon it became one of the largest local employers in the Toronto area.

Massey Manufacturing merged with A. Harris, Son and Company to form Massey-Harris Limited in 1891, making it one of the largest farm equipment manufacturers in the world. The company expanded its product offering to threshers and reapers, as well as safety bicycles. In 1910 Massey-Harris made its first international acquisition when it bought Johnston Harvester Company of Batavia, New York.

Farm Equipment Innovation

Massey-Harris began producing its first tractor, the 20 horsepower Massey-Harris GP 15/22, in 1930. As its tractor manufacturing experience matured, it introduced the Massey-Harris Pacemaker in 1936 (25 horsepower) and the Massey-Harris Model 101 (35 horsepower) in 1938. Later, Massey-Harris would be one of the first global tractor manufacturers to create a 4WD tractor.

1948 Massey-Harris Model 20 Antique Tractor

A standard-tread 1948 Massey-Harris Model 20
Source: Wikipedia.

Massey-Harris' engineer Tom Carroll is credited with inventing the first self-propelled combine in 1938, the Massey-Harris Number 20. Although the first self-propelled combine was too complicated and heavy for mass-manufacturing, the technology breakthrough set the stage for other mass-manufactured models, including the Massey Harris Number 21 developed in 1940.

Wartime Production

During World War II, Massey-Harris converted many of its factories to produce military vehicles and aid the Allies. Massey-Harris produced tanks, self-propelled artillery vehicles and tractors for the United States Armed Forces during wartime. Vehicles produced by Massey Harris included the M5 Stuart light tank, M24 Chaffee light tank, M41 Howitzer Motor Carriage self-propelled artillery, M44 self-propelled howitzer, M36 Jackson tank destroyer, M19 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage Self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery vehicle, and several military tractors.

After World War II Massey-Harris developed the triple series tractors, which featured new styling (updated hood design and chrome trim on the grill and hood), a renewed color scheme, power steering, live power take-off (PTO) and hydraulics.

AGCO Corporation

In 1997, Massey Ferguson was acquired by AGCO Corporation, a publicly-traded farm equipment manufacturer with sales of over $9 billion. AGCO is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, and it has operations around the world. AGCO products are sold through five core brands: Fendt, Challenger, GSI, Massey Ferguson and Valtra. AGCO products are made available globally through 3,150 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries worldwide.

View AGCO brand dealers:

Branding Over Time

The company changed its logo and branding completely when it became Massey Ferguson in 1958. Prior to that, the branding featured a red circle with MH for Massey-Harris.

Massey-Harris Logo

Current Massey Ferguson Logo

Massey Ferguson's Current Operations

Over the decades, Massey Ferguson has expanded its product lines to include high-horsepower tractors, improved combine harvesters, combine headers, square and round balers, windrowers, planters, loaders, grounds care mowers, and more.

AGCO has spent years integrating Massey Ferguson production and supply chain procurement with its other brands in order to improve manufacturing costs and synergies. Several factories share resources with other AGCO brands.

Today, Massey Ferguson operates eight global manufacturing facilities, including:

Hesston, Kansas, USA: Hesston is accredited with pioneering the big baler concept in the 1970s - since then, it has continued to produce balers, hay and forage equipment. Today the plant boasts 13 different production lines building a wide range of machines. About 1,100 employees work at the Hesston facility.
Beauvais, France: Beauvais is Massey Ferguson's most modern tractor facility. It exports 85% of its production to countries around the world. About 2,300 employees work at the Beauvais facility.
Breganze, Italy: The Gold Harvesting Competence Center in Breganze has manufactured Combine Harvesters for over 60 years. It shares a manufacturing footprint with Fendt combines and Laverda. About 700 employees work at the Breganze facility.
Changzhou, China: Opened in 2015, the Changzhou facility produces tractors for the Asia-Pacific region. About 1,000 employees work at the Changzhou facility.
Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil: Tractors, engines, generators, sugar cane harvester and sprayers are produced at Mogi das Cruzes facility. Massey Ferguson also has an Emissions Control Laboratory at this location. About 750 employees work at the Mogi das Cruzes facility.
Santa Rosa, Brazil: Opened in 1975, Santa Rosa produces combine harvesters for the broader Latin America region. About 400 employees work at the Santa Rosa facility.
Canoas, Brazil: The largest tractor factory in Latin America, Canoas produces over 50% of Brazil's total tractors. About 1,170 employees work at the Canoas facility.
Ibirubá, Brazil: The facility manufactures planters and implements. About 230 employees work at the Ibirubá facility.