Massey-Ferguson has ambitious plans to double its harvesting business within the next five years as it seeks to enjoy the same market shares for combines as it does with tractors.

Described by harvesting director Mike Edmond as a big but realistically achievable goal, part of the plan involves injecting millions of pounds in a new five-year rolling development programme that should produce at least one new machine a year.

The MF 9280 Delta is the first. Twenty of these hybrids have worked non-stop around the globe piling on the hours since its premiere at last November’s Agritechnica show.

It is easy to see why the company is making such a concerted effort. While new combine sales in Western Europe in the Sept 2009-June 2010 selling period were down 35% on the Sept 2008-June 2009 figures, the Class 8 (400hp+) market continues to grow. A decade ago, it represented just 6% of West European sales. Today, the figure has risen to 16% – nearly 1000 machines a year.

It is the fastest growing sector in Germany, Denmark and France, as well as in the UK, where Class 8 machines currently account for 27% of all new combine sales. While it is clearly a market that no serious player can afford to ignore, up until now MF has not had a presence.

Coupled to a 9m PowerFlow header, and supporting a 10,500-litre grain tank, the new 9280 Delta brings MF back to the big time. Made at Braganza, Italy, and on sale in time for the 2011 harvest, it shares many components, such as the header, axles, transmission, straw chopper and cab, with the eight-walker Centora.

The hybrid differs in the threshing department. Combining a conventional drum and concave with a new twin rotor separator, the result is a total separation area of 5.44sq m.

The engine plays a crucial role in the newcomer. MF was the first company to launch a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust technology tractor. Now it is the first to offer an SCR combine. Developed specifically for the new combine, the 7-cylinder 9.8-litre Agco Sisu Power engine provides valuable fuel savings.

The launch of the new combine boosts the MF offering to 22 models. But Massey is the first to admit that a comprehensive product portfolio in itself does not guarantee success. There will be significant investment in parts, as well as ensuring critical ones are in the right place at the right time, and MF is looking to improve product support.

Dealers are expected to take a more active role in promoting harvesting kit and MF is taking a tough line to achieve this.