Fortschritt

After privatization, Fortschritt became MDW Mähdrescherwerk (= Combine Harvester Factory). The combine series was named Erntemeister, and the color chosen was dark blue. Initially, the lineup continued with the familiar 514 and 524 models, as well as the rarer 521, which was positioned between them. Alongside the 514, a more powerful 514 S was introduced, featuring a new cab, a larger grain tank, and the Schumacher threshing system. The new cab was also introduced during the first year for the 521 and 524 models.

In 1993, a revamped series was completed. The engines were Perkins, except in the largest 527 model, which had either a Volvo-Penta engine or the same MB OM 441 engine as in the previous models. The drive transmission in the 514 and 521 was mechanical, while in the larger models it was hydrostatic. The lineup was also strongly divided in other respects. The 525 was nearly 70% more expensive than the smaller 521.

The massive 80 cm threshing drum was replaced in the two largest models by no less than three consecutive drums, with diameters of 60, 40, and 57 cm. The smaller models did not have the last separating drum. The upper sieve system was still three-tiered. The grain sieve was now adjustable. The cab introduced only a couple of years earlier was replaced with a TC cab purchased from New Holland, which had a noise level of 77 decibels. Standard equipment in the two largest models included, among other features, a trip computer with threshing pin monitoring, a 20-degree lateral tilt for the cutter bar, air conditioning, an air-suspended seat, electrically adjustable mirrors, and electrically adjustable threshing clearance.

Despite the modernized lineup, MDW's combine production dropped from the previous 4,500 combines per year under Fortschritt to 300 combines annually. Eventually, the factory ended up under Case IH ownership, and the combines were painted red. The CF series was introduced as the successor to the lineup. However, the factory's fate was sealed when Case IH was acquired by New Holland, leading to streamlining of overlapping operations. In 2004, the factory was revived when the production of Hemas combines began there.

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Combines

MDW Erntemeister 514-527 / Case IH 521 – 527

The traditional combine harvester factory of East Germany was taken over by Case IH in 1997. When Case IH came under the ownership of New Holland, the factory was decided to be closed at the end of 2004. However, there was a desire in Singwitz to continue the factory. The 50 years of experience in manufacturing plot combine harvesters was utilized to develop a new series of plot combines and small conventional combines. The plot combines were also introduced into the Zürn company's sales lineup in green color. In Eastern Europe, agricultural combines were marketed through the Zetor network.

The established company Hege Erntemaschinen Singwitz employed 120 people. The product range introduced in summer 2004 appeared under the name Hege-MDW or Hemas-MDW. Later the name settled as Hemas. There were three models. The smallest, Farmer 165, was mainly aimed at plot use. The Farmer 180 was a 3-walker combine with a 101-horsepower engine and a 2.4–3.6 meter cutting platform. The Farmer 220 was clearly a larger four-walker model. It had a 132 hp engine and a 3.0–4.2 meter cutting platform. The engines came from Perkins and the hydraulics from Sauer Danfoss. The final drive was hydrostatic. Most adjustments were mechanical, for example, the cutting platform reverse rotation was initially an optional extra.

The end of Hemas production remains unclear. The manufacture of plot combine harvesters continues, but the production of agricultural combine harvesters likely ended by the 2010s.

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Hemas Farmer 165-220

The future combine of the MDW combine factory, Arcus, was introduced in the autumn of 1996. The most distinctive external feature of the combine was that the large wheels were at the rear (or rather in the middle) and the small, steering wheels were at the front. The main purpose of this design was tractor-like drivability on the road. The top speed was 40 km/h. The transport width without the header was 2995 mm, which allowed trouble-free movement on the road. The Arcus was four-wheel drive and powered by a 12-liter Volvo engine. The preliminary information stated a power output of 374 hp, but production models had 425 hp. Speed was controlled on the road with a speed pedal and in the field with a hydro lever.

The threshing mechanism of the Arcus was based on two longitudinal threshing and separation rotors with a diameter of 450 mm and a length of 254 cm. Thanks to the small front wheels, the rotors started immediately behind the cutting header. Behind the rotors were counter-rotating drum separators with choppers at the ends. The sieving system featured two stacked three-tier sieves that had also been used in previous MDW combines. The sieving surface was enormous at 854 dm². The grain tank was also large: 12,000 liters (120 hectoliters). Each separator had separate conveyors to the tank. Standard equipment for the Arcus included, among other things, an on-board computer with threshing drum monitoring and air conditioning.

The Arcus was certainly one of the main reasons why Case IH purchased the MDW combine factory. However, the story of the Arcus itself was short, as after New Holland acquired Case IH, the factory had to be closed down.

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MDW Arcus / Case IH Arcus 2500

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In 1983, the Fortschritt E 512 was replaced by the updated E 514. The engine power had increased to 115 horsepower. There were more different table options available for special crops. The standard table cutting widths were 360, 420, 480, and 570 cm. A driving computer including threshing drum monitoring was offered as an optional extra. The unloading pipe was hydraulically swiveled into the working position.

At the same time, a slightly improved E 516 B was introduced in a larger size category. Initially, the color of the combines was still a fresh blue and white, but it soon changed to green and white. Red coloring also appeared on export markets.

In 1988, the E 517 was introduced as a more thoroughly revised successor to the E 516 B. Its speciality was three upper sieves partially overlapping one another. This construction was promised to reduce sieve losses by 30%. The engine power remained the same, but the displacement was increased to 14.2 liters. The grain tank was increased to 55 hectoliters. A threshing loss meter and driving computer were standard equipment. The warranty in Sweden was 3 years. Brochures praised the good results in tests conducted by Sweden’s Statens Maskinprovningar (State Machine Testing Authority).

In 1989, the medium-sized E 524 was introduced, equipped with a 6-cylinder 9.2-liter engine (152 hp). This model had a completely new cab and the unloading pipe was raised to the upper part of the tank. The grain tank capacity was 48 hl and cutting width ranged from 360 to 540 cm. The power transmission was mechanical.

Following the fall of the wall, the successor to the E 517 was the E 518, improved with many Western components. The engine was a Mercedes 11-liter V6 (222 hp). The hydraulics were switched to Bosch products. The straw walkers were longer than before. The cab was the same new panoramic cab as in the E 524. Below the E 518, the model E 526 was introduced, but production remained almost at the prototype stage. It was powered by a 6-cylinder GDR-made engine, but the threshing mechanism was the same 162 cm one as in its bigger brother.

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Fortschritt E 514 – E 518

In 1968, the severely outdated E 170 series combine harvesters were completely replaced by the brand new E 512. Compared to its predecessor, the combine had grown significantly. The standard cutting width was 426 cm, with an optional 570 cm. The width of the threshing mechanism was 128 cm. The engine was a 6.5-liter four-cylinder used also in Fortschritt tractors, producing 105 hp. The equipment was of a normal standard; for example, the settings for the straw lifting drum were adjusted mechanically from the cab, and the unloading pipe was rotated manually. The equipment often included a wide cab, which at the time had a low noise level of 85 dB.

In 1977, the large combine E 516 was introduced alongside it. It featured a hydrostatic drivetrain, a 13-liter V8 engine (228 hp), and a cutting platform of either 670 cm or 760 cm. The diameter of the threshing drum was as much as 80 cm. Adjustments for the straw lifting drum and threshing drum were hydraulic. The cab was air-conditioned at least for the Swedish market. Fortschritt combine harvesters were sold with quite good success in Sweden. Larger Western markets were France and Denmark. An optional feature was automatic guidance, which was based on a small wheel at the end of a bar, connected to a sensor unit that scanned the edge of the windrow.

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Fortschritt E 512 – E 516

The production of the S-4 (Stalinez) combine harvester, developed by the Soviet Union, began in the GDR in 1948. The harvester had a 4-meter cutting platform, a grain tank, a 6-cylinder gasoline engine, and 8 forward gears (no continuously variable transmission). In 1953, the engine was replaced with a diesel, and the model designation changed to E 171. Alongside it came the E 173, equipped with a 3-meter cutting platform. The straw was often transferred to a container wagon attached behind the harvester. There was no discharge pipe for the grain tank; instead, the tank was emptied next to the harvester.

At the end of the 1950s, the E 175 (300 cm) and E 176 (300 and, for export, 360 cm) models appeared, featuring a 13 hectoliter grain tank instead of 17 hl and equipped with an unloading auger. The E 174 and E 177 were 3-meter sack harvesters. The cutting platform and the reel were hydraulically adjustable, and the threshing drum speed was adjustable between 385 and 1250 rpm. All models had the same engine and transmission. The E 177 was equipped with a sun canopy and was otherwise made "rainproof." Production of the series continued until 1967. The E 175 was by far the most common model.

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Fortschritt E 171 – E 177 ”Patriot”

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