Celebrating 75 years of Austoft

Celebrating 75 years of Austoft:
Boosting sugar productivity since 1944

It’s a commitment to innovation that has spanned generations. A deep understanding of the sugarcane industry and a belief that we can always get better, more efficient. With each development we boost productivity and improve the lives of sugarcane farmers throughout the world. But we don’t stop there. We support our customers with parts and service support, training and know-how, and expert dealers who care about your business. We stand beside you today, just as we have since the first Austoft® sugarcane harvester was released 75 years ago.

1890–1944
As early as the 1880s, inventors in Australia and the United States experimented with cane harvesters and loaders. None of these early designs proved commercially viable and in the 1940s nearly all sugarcane was still cut by hand. A skilled cane cutter could cut around 9 tons of sugar cane per day. Sometime between 1942 and 1944, the Toft brothers invented their first sugarcane harvester. In 1944, the brothers entered a mechanical harvester contest. Due to WWII, severe labor shortages prompted the call for inventions to alleviate these shortages in the labor intensive sugar industry.
1945–1957
In 1947 Toft brothers form partnership to manufacture mechanical sugar cane harvesters. In 1955 First export to South Africa. In 1956 Harold Toft develops hydraulic loader to load hand-cut or machine-cut sugar cane.Slim Jim - Larger dedicated machines were more suited to the larger farmer and the contractors who cut cane for groups of farmers.Broad Claude - As the years past further developments were made to improve the machines.
1958–1969
In the 1960s Toft Whole Stalk harvester could cut 10 tons per hour. In 1965 Chopper harvester makes handling much more efficient and reduces amount of soil that goes into processing.Toft Bros - CH 364 Robot 1969 – 1971 Hydrostatic transmission - Hydraulic drives to chain cases.
1970–1996
By the 1970sthe Toft company had grown to more than 750 employees. Toft Bros begins production in Brazil in 1976. Introduction of the “Thousand Series” - 6000 - Fully hydraulic removal of all of the chain drives. The introduction of the 7000 in 1984 brings a major advantage - the ability to harvest green cane.
1997–2014
In 1996, Case Corp acquires Austoft and the following year, the machines transition to the iconic red livery of the Case IH brand. In 2004, Austoft production moved from Bundaberg, Australia to Piracicaba, Brazil due to the rapid mass-scale mechanization of the Brazilian sugar industry. In 2006, The heritage of innovation continues in Brazil as Austoft introduces auto tracker basecutter height control on 7000 series harvesters as well as a brand new smaller harvester - the 4000 series. In 2009, Launch of 8000 series Austoft.
2016–2019
In 2016 40 new features are introduced with model year 2016 including external feed roller bearings and high pressure shaft seals. In 2017 Over two dozen improvements made for model year 2017 including AutoTurn end of row turning function and SmartFan smart engine cooling fan. In 2018, Case IH launches the 8810 and 8010 sugarcane harvesters, culminating more than 100 product enhancements over 3 model years. In 2019, Case IH celebrates 75 years of innovation in sugarcane harvesting driven by the Austoft brand.