SDF Group

SDF Group is an Italian agricultural machinery manufacturer headquartered in Treviglio, in the province of Bergamo. The group traces its origins to 1927, when brothers Francesco and Eugenio Cassani developed an early tractor powered by a diesel engine. Their work led to the establishment of SAME, or Società Accomandita Motori Endotermici, in Treviglio in 1942. SAME became the foundation of the modern group and subsequently expanded through acquisitions, partnerships, and international manufacturing. The company operates across the agricultural equipment value chain. Its principal products include tractors, combine harvesters, diesel engines, and specialized machines for vineyards, olive groves, pruning, and related farming operations. Tractor models produced by the group span approximately 25 to 440 horsepower, while its combine-harvester range reaches approximately 395 horsepower. The group sells equipment through a portfolio of established brands rather than concentrating all products under the SDF name. These brands include SAME, Deutz-Fahr, Lamborghini Trattori, Hürlimann, Grégoire, and VitiBot. SDF's expansion was shaped by a series of acquisitions. It bought Lamborghini Trattori from founder Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1973, acquired Hürlimann in 1979, and adopted the name SAME-Lamborghini-Hürlimann. In 1995 it acquired Deutz-Fahr from Germany's KHD group and changed its name to SAME Deutz-Fahr, commonly abbreviated as SDF. The business then developed manufacturing and commercial operations in India, China, Turkey, Germany, Croatia, and France, complementing its historic Italian base. The group has also pursued specialized and technology-oriented growth. It acquired an interest in Finnish combine-harvester manufacturer Sampo-Rosenlew in 2003, created Deutz-Fahr Combines following the acquisition of Croatia-based Đuro Đaković in 2005, and bought French specialist Grégoire in 2011. In 2022, SDF acquired VitiBot, a French company focused on autonomous and electric vineyard robots. These moves broadened the group beyond conventional tractors into harvesting, specialty crops, automation, and lower-emission agricultural equipment. SDF's operating structure includes production sites, commercial branches, importers, and a large dealer network. Reported manufacturing locations include Treviglio in Italy; Lauingen in Germany; Županja in Croatia; Ranipet in India; Châteaubernard in France; Bandırma in Turkey; and several facilities in China. The group has also maintained joint-venture and strategic relationships in China and previously held a shareholding in Deutz AG. Its products are distributed internationally through more than 3,100 dealers, according to the referenced company history. Research and development is a significant part of the group's strategy. SDF has pursued vehicle automation, remote monitoring, digital agricultural tools, and technologies intended to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. A European Investment Bank financing initiative supported research and development in farm equipment, machinery, and logistics within the European Union's Horizon 2020 framework. In February 2025, SDF announced a partnership with AGCO under which SDF would manufacture tractors of up to 85 horsepower for sale under the Massey Ferguson brand in global markets. This arrangement extended SDF's manufacturing role beyond its own brand portfolio while reinforcing its position as an international agricultural-equipment producer.

SDF Group's history begins in 1927, when Italian brothers Francesco and Eugenio Cassani developed an early diesel-powered tractor. Their engineering work culminated in the creation of SAME, Società Accomandita Motori Endotermici, in Treviglio in 1942. SAME established the industrial and technological base from which the later SDF group developed. A decisive phase of expansion began in 1973, when SAME acquired Lamborghini Trattori from its founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini. The transaction added a recognized tractor marque and demonstrated SAME's strategy of growing through acquisitions. In 1979 the company acquired Swiss tractor manufacturer Hürlimann and adopted the name SAME-Lamborghini-Hürlimann, reflecting the combined brand portfolio. In 1995, the group acquired Deutz-Fahr from the German KHD group. The deal added a major German agricultural machinery business and led to the definitive adoption of the name SAME Deutz-Fahr, usually shortened to SDF. The acquisition significantly strengthened the group's tractor and harvesting presence in European and international markets. SDF internationalized its manufacturing and commercial structure during the 1990s and 2000s. SAME Deutz-Fahr India was established in 1996. From 2003 to 2012, SDF held a stake in Deutz AG. In 2003 it also acquired a 10 percent interest in Finland-based Sampo-Rosenlew, a specialist in combine harvesters and components; that investment was later sold. In 2005, following the acquisition of Croatia-based Đuro Đaković, SDF established Deutz-Fahr Combines to produce Deutz-Fahr components and combine harvesters. The group formalized its historical and cultural identity in 2008 by establishing the SAME Deutz-Fahr Historical Archives and Museum at its Treviglio headquarters. In 2011, it acquired Grégoire, a specialist in machinery for wine and olive farming, including grape and olive harvesting, pruning, and crop treatment. The same year, SDF began a joint venture in China with Shandong Changlin Machinery. Further expansion followed in Turkey and China. SAME Deutz-Fahr Traktör Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. was founded in Istanbul in 2014. SDF also acquired an agricultural-equipment business in China in that period and took a majority position in the Chinese operation in 2016. Manufacturing and assembly activities subsequently covered tractors, combines, harvesting machinery, and engines across facilities in Italy, Germany, Croatia, India, France, Turkey, and China. The group's more recent development has emphasized specialty agriculture, robotics, and sustainability. In 2022, SDF acquired VitiBot, a French company specializing in autonomous and electric vineyard robots. The acquisition complemented SDF's conventional tractor and harvesting businesses with automation for labor-intensive specialty crops. SDF has also supported research into vehicle automation, remote monitoring, digital systems, and technologies intended to reduce fuel use and carbon emissions. A European Investment Bank loan supported related research and development under the European Fund for Strategic Investments and Horizon 2020. In February 2025, SDF announced a partnership with AGCO to manufacture tractors up to 85 horsepower for sale under AGCO's Massey Ferguson brand in global markets. The agreement illustrates SDF's role both as a branded agricultural-equipment group and as an international manufacturing partner. Today, the group is described as operating nine production sites, twelve commercial branches, one joint venture in China, approximately 155 importers, more than 3,100 dealers, and about 4,400 employees. Its portfolio remains centered on tractors, combine harvesters, engines, and specialist equipment sold under several established agricultural brands.

1. 2025AGCO manufacturing partnership announced

   SDF announced plans to manufacture tractors up to 85 horsepower for sale under the Massey Ferguson brand.

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2. 2022VitiBot joins SDF

   SDF acquired French autonomous and electric vineyard-robot producer VitiBot.

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3. 2016SDF takes a majority position in a Chinese agricultural-equipment business

   SDF increased its involvement in its Chinese agricultural-equipment operations by acquiring a majority position.

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4. 2014Turkish subsidiary is founded

   SAME Deutz-Fahr Traktör Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. was established in Istanbul.

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5. 2011Grégoire acquisition and China joint venture

   SDF acquired Grégoire and began a Chinese joint venture with Shandong Changlin Machinery.

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6. 2008Historical Archives and Museum opens

   SDF established the SAME Deutz-Fahr Historical Archives and Museum at its Treviglio headquarters.

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7. 2005Deutz-Fahr Combines is created

   After acquiring Croatia-based Đuro Đaković, SDF established Deutz-Fahr Combines for combine-related production.

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8. 1996SAME Deutz-Fahr India is established

   The group established its Indian subsidiary, creating a manufacturing and commercial base for lower- and mid-power tractors and engines.

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9. 1995Deutz-Fahr acquisition and group renaming

   SAME acquired Deutz-Fahr from KHD and adopted the name SAME Deutz-Fahr, now commonly abbreviated as SDF.

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10. 1979Hürlimann joins the group

    The acquisition of Hürlimann led to the name SAME-Lamborghini-Hürlimann.

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11. 1973Acquisition of Lamborghini Trattori

    SAME acquired Lamborghini Trattori from founder Ferruccio Lamborghini and began a broader acquisition-led expansion.

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12. 1942SAME is founded in Treviglio

    The brothers founded SAME, Società Accomandita Motori Endotermici, in Treviglio, Italy.

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13. 1927Cassani brothers develop an early diesel tractor

    Francesco and Eugenio Cassani developed one of the early tractors powered by a diesel engine, establishing the technical origins of the future group.

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A multi-brand, international agricultural machinery group combining mainstream tractor and harvesting equipment with specialist vineyard, olive-grove, automation, and electrification technologies.

• SAME tractorsTractors

  SAME is one of SDF's core tractor brands, serving general agricultural and farm-utility applications. The group's tractor portfolio spans compact through high-power models, with reported output coverage from approximately 25 to 440 horsepower. SAME products form part of SDF's multi-brand approach, allowing the group to address different markets and customer preferences while sharing underlying engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

• Deutz-Fahr tractors and combine harvestersTractors and harvesting equipment

  Deutz-Fahr is SDF's principal German-origin agricultural machinery brand. Its portfolio includes tractors across mid- and high-power segments as well as combine harvesters and related harvesting equipment. The brand gained importance in the group after the 1995 acquisition from KHD and is supported by production activities in Europe, Asia, and other international markets.

• Lamborghini Trattori tractorsTractors

  Lamborghini Trattori is the agricultural tractor marque acquired by SAME in 1973 from Ferruccio Lamborghini. It remains part of SDF's branded tractor portfolio and benefits from the group's shared manufacturing, engineering, distribution, and service infrastructure.

• Hürlimann tractorsTractors

  Hürlimann is a Swiss-origin tractor brand acquired by SAME in 1979. It became part of the combined SAME-Lamborghini-Hürlimann group and continues as one of the specialized agricultural marques within SDF's international portfolio.

• Grégoire machineryVineyard and olive-grove machinery2011

  Grégoire supplies specialized equipment for wine and olive farming. Its products include machinery for grape and olive harvesting, pruning, crop treatment, and related operations, with both towed and self-propelled machines produced through SDF's specialist-equipment activities.

• VitiBot autonomous vineyard robotsAgricultural robotics2022

  VitiBot develops autonomous and electric robots for vineyard work. After its acquisition by SDF in 2022, the technology became part of the group's effort to expand into agricultural automation, remote operation, and lower-emission equipment for specialty crops.

• SDF diesel enginesDiesel engines

  SDF produces diesel engines used in agricultural machinery and related applications. Reported Indian production covers engines in the approximately 30-to-170-horsepower range, complementing the group's tractor and harvesting-equipment manufacturing activities.

• 2025Manufacture compact Massey Ferguson tractors for AGCOStrategy

  AGCO and SDF sought to expand manufacturing cooperation in lower-horsepower tractor segments.

  What changed. SDF and AGCO announced a partnership under which SDF would produce tractors up to 85 horsepower for sale under the Massey Ferguson brand in global markets.

  Aftermath. The agreement positioned SDF as a manufacturing partner for an external global agricultural brand in addition to selling equipment under its own marques.

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• 2022Acquire VitiBotM&A

  SDF was expanding into automation and lower-emission technologies for specialty agriculture.

  What changed. SDF acquired VitiBot, a French developer and producer of autonomous electric vineyard robots.

  Aftermath. The deal added agricultural robotics and electric vineyard equipment to SDF's established tractor and harvesting portfolio.

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• 1995Acquire Deutz-FahrM&A

  SAME sought to strengthen its position in agricultural machinery through a major international acquisition.

  What changed. SAME acquired Deutz-Fahr from the German KHD group and changed its name to SAME Deutz-Fahr.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened the group's European manufacturing and brand portfolio and established the SDF identity used today.

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• 1973Acquire Lamborghini TrattoriM&A

  SAME was pursuing growth beyond its original business and sought to expand its tractor brand portfolio.

  What changed. The company acquired Lamborghini Trattori from founder Ferruccio Lamborghini.

  Aftermath. The acquisition initiated a sustained strategy of growth through acquisitions and added a recognized tractor marque to the group.

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• 2025SDF and AGCO announce Massey Ferguson tractor manufacturing partnership

  SDF announced a partnership with AGCO to produce tractors of up to 85 horsepower for distribution under the Massey Ferguson brand in global markets.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2025SDF and AGCO announce Massey Ferguson tractor production partnership

  SDF and AGCO announced a partnership under which SDF would manufacture tractors with power ratings up to 85 horsepower for distribution under the Massey Ferguson brand in global markets.

  M&AOther
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• 2022SDF acquires VitiBot

  SDF acquired VitiBot, a French producer of autonomous and electric robots designed for vineyard operations, expanding the group's activity in agricultural automation and low-emission specialty-crop equipment.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2011SDF expands specialist crop-equipment portfolio through Grégoire

  The group acquired Grégoire, a manufacturer serving grape and olive cultivation, including harvesting, pruning, and crop-treatment applications.

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1. SDF Group