CNH (Case New Holland) was formed in 1999 through the merger of two world-renowned brands: New Holland NV and Case Corporation. CNH is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of agricultural equipment (tractors, combine harvesters, and grape harvesters) and is among the leaders in construction equipment (excavators, wheel loaders, loader backhoes and backhoes).
In order to satisfy more effectively the various needs of its customers and dealers, CNH operates through six distinct brands. Four of these are global brands - New Holland Agriculture, Case IH, New Holland Construction, Case Construction - and two are regional brands - Steyr for agricultural machinery and Kobelco for construction equipment.
In recent years, CNH has continued to renew and upgrade its product line. Bolstered by the launches of the CR and CSX combine harvesters, the New Holland Agriculture brand confirmed its leadership position in the European combines market. In 2007, at Agritechnica, the Hanover exhibition for agricultural machinery, the T7000 tractor was named “Tractor of the Year” and received the “Golden Tractor for Design” award, while the FR9000 forage harvester won the “Machine of the Year” award.
In the agricultural equipment segment, Case IH launched a number of four-wheel drive products equipped with Tier 3 engines: six new models with engines up to 530 HP, and four new models of the Magnum series with engines up to 305 HP. For the latter models, the Company was awarded the “Good Design Award” by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design for its new styling. The Case IH Axial Flow 2388 combine and its edible bean kit, were the runaway gold medal winners of Brazil’s “Gerdau Melhores de Terra” award.
New Holland Construction launched pilot controls on skid steer loaders and compact track loaders in North America to enhance ease of operation and manoeuvrability. New Holland Construction’s new Tier 3 wheel loaders, launched in North America and Europe, offer new cabs with greater upper visibility during loading operations. New Holland’s E 215-ME excavator and its entire backhoe product line are featured in Construction Equipment Magazine’s top ten products for 2006.
In the construction equipment segment, Case Construction launched new Tier 3 wheel loaders and dozers. Its Series E wheel loaders and 420CT/440CT compact track loaders were included in Construction Equipment Magazine’s top products for 2006. Aggregates Manager, a North American publication, recognized Case Construction with its “Top Rollout” award for the new E Series wheel loaders and the CX700 excavators. In November 2007, Case won the “Earth Moving on Wheel Machines” award in Spain for its 921E wheel loader.
CNH won strong acclaim from industry observers when it announced to the “National Biodiesel Board” its full approval of the use of 20% biodiesel (B20) on all agricultural machinery currently produced, as well as use of EN14214-compliant 100% pure biodiesel (B100) on most of its machinery equipped with mechanical fuel injection diesel engines, and on certain models with electronic injection engines.
As far as services are concerned, in 2007 CNH launched a number of customer care initiatives, such as Top Service (New Holland Agriculture) and Max Service (Case IH), as well as Best Service for New Holland and Case Construction.