New Tractor Design Recognised at Major Machinery Awards
A new model introduced at Agritechnica 2025 was recognised as the ‘Upper Medium Size Tractor’ winner in the 2026 Farm Machine of the Year awards.
Case IH’s Optum 440, led a three-model series that expanded the company’s Optum range into the 360–435hp sector. Formerly known as ‘Machine of the Year’, the Farm Machine awards were presented during the exhibition in Hanover, with judging carried out by agricultural technology editors from leading German publications and international specialists from ten other countries.
Making their public debut at the event, the new models were designed around a long wheelbase combined with compact overall dimensions, allowing the tractors to operate flexibly across transport, light field tasks and fully ballasted heavy draft work. The machines used Cursor 9, 8.7-litre engines and a newly developed 4×2 CVXDrive transmission, offering a top speed of 60kph alongside upgraded braking.
Additional features included independent front axle suspension and an optional fully integrated central tyre inflation system for rapid adjustment between road and field conditions. Integrated precision tools covered ISOBUS compatibility, Tractor Implement Management (TIM), telematics and Connectivity Included, which removed recurring connectivity subscription requirements. Case IH also provided FieldOps, a platform designed to simplify machine and agronomic data management.
Franz Josef Silber, global product marketing manager for medium horsepower tractors at Case IH, said: “It’s fantastic to see the design of the new Optum 440 recognised with this ‘Upper Medium Size Tractor’ Farm Machine of the Year award.”
He added: “This is a design created in direct response to farmers’ feedback on what they want in a high-hp yet light, compact and manoeuvrable tractor.”
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