AGCO Corporation

March 04, 2024

On June 20, 1990, AGCO came into existence when four executives from DeutzAllis—Robert J. Ratliff, John M. Shumejda, Edward R. Swingle, and James M. Seaver—orchestrated a buyout of DeutzAllis's North American operations. The seller was KlöcknerHumboldtDeutz AG (KHD), a German corporation and owner of the DeutzFahr agricultural brand, which had itself acquired parts of the AllisChalmers agricultural equipment business five years earlier. Following AGCO's formation, Robert Ratliff was appointed as its first chairman.

Initially named GleanerAllis Corporation, the company's name soon evolved to AllisGleaner Corporation, eventually becoming AGCO. This transition saw the DeutzAllis tractor line rebranded as AGCOAllis, while Gleaner was established as a standalone brand for combines. The DeutzAllis brand name continued to be used in South America until 2001, at which point it was changed to AGCOAllis. Concurrently, in 2001, the AGCO Allis name in North America was simplified to AGCO.

AGCO began its expansion early on. In March 1991, the company acquired Hesston Corporation, based in Hesston, Kansas. This acquisition brought hay and forage equipment into AGCO's portfolio, along with significant technologies like the grain auger, invented by Lyle Yost in 1947. At the time, Hesston was involved in a 50 percent joint venture with Case International (now part of CNH Global). AGCO also purchased the White Tractor line from Allied Corporation's WhiteNew Idea company. Further consolidation occurred in 1993 when AGCO acquired the remaining operations of WhiteNew Idea, a manufacturer of New Idea hay equipment, manure spreaders, and White planters, with a significant manufacturing facility in Coldwater, Ohio.