The International Harvester combine line in America was extensive and completely separate from the European range. However, its success on the market did not satisfy the manufacturer. It was therefore decided to develop something entirely new. The Axial-Flow combines introduced in the fall of 1977 were built around a single longitudinal cylinder that handled both threshing and separation, followed by a conventional sieve system.

At first there were two models: the 1440 had a 135 hp engine and a 51 hl grain tank, and the 1460 had a 170 hp turbo engine and a 63 hl tank. A year later, the 1480 was introduced with a larger-diameter rotor, 190 hp, and a 73 hl tank. The range was later expanded with the 1420 (112 hp), the downhill-threshing model 1470 (210 hp), and the traction combine 1482. In Europe, focus was placed on the 1460. The axial-flow combine was never imported to Finland, although it was shown at an agricultural fair there in the early 1980s.

The drive train was hydrostatic. The closed unloading pipe could be swung hydraulically during discharge. An electronic monitoring system covered the most important functions, and the speed gauges were displayed on a digital screen. The rotor drive belt automatically tightened as load increased. From at least 1980 onward, air conditioning was standard in Europe. The cab’s noise level was specified as 85 dB.

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