Agco’s Valtra factory in Finland is supplementing production of the first-generation ML-series Vario transmission for installation in some of its own tractors.

Capacity at Fendt’s Marktoberdorf facility in southern Germany is increasingly taken up with the TA-series VarioDrive units now installed in all its tractors from the 134-174hp 500 Vario Gen4 upwards to the 400-550hp 1000 Vario Gen4 models.

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Earlier this year, just 12 months after production got under way, the Suolahti plant reached a landmark 1,000 units of the ML-series, which go into the 230-305hp Valtra Q-series and 280-420hp S-series tractors.

The Fendt factory continues to also build ML-series Vario transmissions for the 79-124hp 200 S Vario Gen3 and 103-152hp Vario Gen5 tractors built there, and for installation into the complete transaxles shipped to Beauvais in France for all Massey Ferguson Dyna-VT tractors.

When it entered series production 30 years ago for the 260hp Favorit 926 Vario, the novel ML-series transmission was the first stepless drive system for tractors that harnessed both mechanical and hydraulic drive for seamless acceleration, infinitely variable speed adjustment and reduced engine revs.

The Fendt VarioDrive unit © Fendt

Deutz adds 1.6-litre engines from new Indian partner…

Indian manufacturer Kirloskar Oil Engines will enable Deutz to extend its diesel engine portfolio into smaller capacities by supplying 1.6-litre motors in naturally aspirated and turbo forms with power outputs from 24hp to 55hp.

The three-cylinder engines, which meet European Stage 5 emissions limits, will complement Deutz’s own 2.2-litre units, which start at 25hp.

Markus Villinger, head of Deutz engine operations, said: “We are responding to market trends such as downsizing and growing customer demand for reliable Deutz solutions in the power range below 2 litres, combined with our global service offering for spare-parts, technical support and lifecycle services.”

Kirloskar produces an extensive range of diesel engines for a multitude of industrial and off-highway applications. It supplies several domestic compact tractor manufacturers, including VST Tillers Tractors and Captain Tractors.

The business is located on the outskirts of Pune in the west India state of Maharashtra, about 90 miles south-east of Mumbai.

…and starts engine production in India with Tafe

Under an agreement first announced two years ago, Indian diesel engine maker Tafe Motors, a subsidiary of the Tractors and Farm Equipment group, has started production of compact Deutz engines in a new facility.

The new plant is based at Tafe Motors’ existing factory complex at Alwar in Rajasthan state, 110 miles south-west of New Delhi in northern India, and has capacity to build up to 30,000 engines a year under licence.

These 50-75hp 2.2-litre and 75-100hp 2.9-litre engines will mostly stay in India, but also provide an export opportunity for Deutz into Asia-Pacific countries, given the cost and logistics advantages over engines manufactured in Germany.