Massey Ferguson’s parent company – Agco – has announced that it will build its new generation of high-output combines at its Randers plant in Denmark.

The firm – which also owns Fendt, Valtra nd Challenger brands – says trials with protoype machines in Europe over the past few years have proved successful and pre-production preparations have already begun at the Randers plant to ensure a batch of these new units are available for the 2008 harvest.

Details of the machines are sketchy at present but it is understood that they are hybrid units using a combination of conventional drum-and-concave and rotary threshing systems.

Agco makes no secret of its intentions to grow its share of the combine market and currently manufacturers combines in Europe and North and South America.

The Randers announcement coincides with the launch of Agco’s new class VIII rotary machine, which is claimed to be a high capacity machine for North American maize, soya and wheat producers.