MDW Erntemeister 514-527 / Case IH 521 – 527

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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