CNH Industrial acquires Australian implement company K-Line Ag

Acquisition expands Case IH tillage lineup with new dual-season high-speed disk offering

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CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) announced its agreement to acquire the Australian agricultural implement manufacturer K-Line Ag. This acquisition will add key high-speed tillage and residue management equipment that will further enhance the Case IH Agriculture worldwide crop production portfolio. K-Line Ag is the No. 1 tillage manufacturer in Australia and the company designs robust and reliable products for some of the world’s harshest soil conditions.

“The acquisition of K-Line Ag will bring Case IH customers the best complementary solution on the market for aggressive high-productivity soil management,” said Brad Crews, Case IH brand president. “In particular, the Speedtiller from K-Line Ag gives producers ideal seedbed preparation without agronomic compromise. This dual-season high-speed disk allows producers to achieve a higher level of productivity while ensuring a smooth seedbed surface and consistent seedbed floor. The K-Line portfolio and its agronomic advantages are a perfect addition to the existing Case IH portfolio of crop production equipment.”

Case IH is a full-line equipment manufacturer and the leading tillage brand in the North American market; guided by the principles of Agronomic Design™ in the development of the product portfolio. Since the acquisition of DMI Inc. from Goodfield, Illinois in 1998, Case IH has raised the bar for soil management tools, specifically for reducing compaction. While deep soil compaction continues to be a key driver of yield loss that cannot be forgotten, Case IH also identifies surface compaction and seedbed floor levelness as having a critical impact on seed placement accuracy, early root development and, ultimately, yield.

“When evaluating high-speed tillage solutions, there is more to soil tilth and seedbed preparation than what meets the eye,” said Dr. Rob Zemenchik, Case IH global marketing manager and certified agronomist. “Surface levelness and residue mixing is important, but it’s level conditions below the soil surface that enable smoother planter row unit ride and seed placement accuracy — especially at higher speeds.”

“There are a lot of products on the market today that go fast and do a great job on the surface. However, in numerous field studies, the Speedtiller from K-Line Ag was the only dual-season high-speed disk designed for deep and shallow settings that could deliver uniform results to depth and finish. Thus, it merits the Agronomic Design badge that all Case IH crop production products must earn,” Zemenchik said.

The Speedtiller™ by K-Line Ag will be added to the Case IH tillage product line in 2020. K-Line Ag, a pioneering leader in the agricultural implement business, was founded in 1993; is headquartered in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia; and entered the North America market in 2013. This acquisition will further expand the Case IH crop production presence utilizing the K-Line and Case IH brand networks. K-Line products will be available in Case IH dealerships in North America and in the Case IH and K-Line networks in Australia and New Zealand.