ONE OF the world’s largest manufacturers of farm machinery, AGCO, has confirmed plans to substantially reorganise its combine harvester business.

This week, it concluded negotiations to close its Randers plant, in Denmark, to concentrate European production at its new ‘centre of excellence’ plant in Breganze, Italy.

The Danish plant will remain open until mid-2010, with production shifting to Italy after than.

Employing 450 people, Breganze has produced combine harvesters for more than 50 years and the Italian facility has been manufacturing combines for AGCO’s Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Challenger brands for distribution in Europe, Africa and the Middle East since 2004.

In 2007, this partnership was strengthened when AGCO acquired a 50% stake in the then factory’s owners, Laverda, from the Argo Group.