Case IH once again proved at the 2026 Harvester Race that you do not have to reinvent the wheel to come out on top. With its proven Axial-Flow technology, the company demonstrated that continuous refinement of a trusted design is enough to stay ahead of the competition and ultimately secure the overall Harvester Race title!

It was this innovative Axial-Flow technology that helped Case IH claim the overall championship at this year’s event.

Case IH entered these harvesters in this year’s Harvester Race, with the following results:

The Case IH Axial-Flow 6150 finished second in the Class 6 category.

Class 6: Case IH Axial-Flow 6150

Case IH entered its Axial-Flow 6150 combine harvester in the Class 6 competition, where it finished in second place with a score of 83,42 out of 100.

Bart van Damme, Case IH’s International Product Specialist and combine harvester expert, explained that the Axial-Flow 6150 features the company’s classic design and incorporates the well-known Case IH Axial-Flow technology.

The machine was equipped with a Geringhoff eight-row header for the competition.

The concaves on this harvester can easily be exchanged, allowing farmers to select the concave that provides the highest capacity for their specific harvesting conditions.

The machine also features fewer driveline components, something that has long been part of Case IH’s design philosophy. It is an excellent choice for farmers looking for a straightforward, mid-range Class 6 combine.

The combine has a simple design with an integrated chopper positioned directly behind the rotor, allowing the remaining crop residue to be chopped into smaller pieces at high speed. These finer particles are then distributed evenly behind the machine through the spreaders.

The Class 6 combine has a 5,5 m² cleaning shoe. Both the upper and lower sieves can easily be adjusted, while the design also makes routine maintenance on the cleaning system quick and straightforward.

Results for the Case IH Axial-Flow 6150

  • Speed: 37,46 out of 50
  • Material under the sieve: 7,35 out of 10
  • Material on the table: 10 out of 10
  • Losses behind the harvester: 19,09  out of 20
  • Heads left behind or cut: 9,52 out of 10

The Case IH Axial-Flow 8260 during the Class 8 competition.

Class 8: Case IH Axial-Flow 8260

For the Class 8 competition, Case IH entered its Axial-Flow 8260 combine, which also features the proven Axial-Flow technology. The machine claimed first place with an impressive score of 88,20 out of 100.

The Axial-Flow 8260 was fitted with a Geringhoff twelve-row header. Its hydraulic fore/aft header adjustment is particularly useful when harvesting soybeans, allowing operators to adjust the header angle to match changing field conditions.

Like the 6150, the 8260 features Case IH’s single-rotor Axial-Flow technology and easily replaceable concaves. On this machine, replacing the concaves is particularly simple. While many combines require the front wheel to be removed, only two bolts need to be removed on the Axial-Flow 8260 to access the concaves.

The feeder house chain drive ensures smooth crop flow through the rotor before it is delivered into the grain tank. The grain tank has a capacity of approximately 14 400 litres and an unloading rate of 159 litres per second.

The cleaning shoe measures 6,5  m², while both the upper and lower sieves can easily be replaced. The overall design also makes servicing faster and more convenient.

The combine is also equipped with a side-levelling system that keeps both the machine and the cleaning system level when operating on slopes.

“If you’re harvesting on hilly terrain, the entire cleaning system remains level from front to back. This prevents one side of the sieves from becoming overloaded, reducing grain losses. It allows you to continue harvesting at high capacity, even under those conditions,” Bart explained.

The remaining crop residue is then transferred to the spreaders. All combine functions are controlled from the cab, eliminating the need for the operator to leave the seat.

Results for the Case IH Axial-Flow 8260

  • Speed: 41,24  out of 50
  • Material under the sieve: 7,43 out of 10
  • Material on the table: 10 out of 10
  • Losses behind the harvester: 19,53 out of 20
  • Heads left behind or cut: 10 out of 10

Case IH’s powerhouse: the AF9 combine.

Case IH’s brand-new AF9 flagship combine

The highlight of the day came when Case IH entered its brand-new AF9 combine in the Class 10 competition. The machine secured first place with an outstanding score of 99,94 out of 100, ensuring Case IH’s overall victory.

Bart explained that AF9 stands for Axial-Flow 9.

“The AF9 is the largest machine we currently offer on the market.” The combine, capable of lifting up to seven tonnes, was equipped with a Geringhoff sixteen-row header.

The AF9 features a wider feeder conveyor measuring approximately 1,8 metres, with this increased width extending throughout the full length of the combine to provide a significantly larger crop flow area than conventional machines.

Although the AF9 remains a single-rotor combine, its capacity has increased substantially thanks to a longer rotor. The rotor is 86 cm longer than that of the current 260 series, providing space for two additional concaves during the separation process. Inside the rotor housing, the separation area gradually increases toward the rear, creating additional room for grain movement.

The AF9 is equipped with an automatic control system known as Harvest Command. Using AI technology and operator inputs entered on the Pro 1200 display, the system automatically adjusts the combine’s operating components to optimise harvesting performance.

The grain tank, positioned on top of the combine, offers a capacity of 20 000 litres while maintaining an unloading speed of 159 litres per second. The standard unloading auger supplied for South Africa is 50 ft (15 m) long to accommodate the larger headers and provide sufficient unloading clearance.

The AF9 also features the fewest drive belts of any Case IH combine. The flagship machine uses hydraulically driven grain-handling systems, providing more available power where it is needed most.

Engine speed has been reduced from 2 000 rpm to 1 900 rpm to lower fuel consumption in the field.

“Once you begin harvesting, you’ll immediately notice how much lower our fuel consumption is compared to other combines,” Bart said.

The AF9 is available with both tyre and track configurations, as well as optional four-wheel drive.

The residue spreaders are mounted horizontally and equipped with two radar sensors – one on each side of the machine. These sensors continuously measure the width of the header, allowing the system to automatically adjust the residue spreading width. The spreading system also compensates automatically for windy conditions to maintain an even spread pattern.

“In the Cape we’ve spread residue across widths of up to 21 metres, and the combine still distributed the material evenly across the field,” Bart added.

One of the AF9’s biggest innovations is the alignment of the engine and rotor. For the first time, the engine and rotor are positioned in line with one another, creating a direct driveline from the engine to the rotor.

For farmers, this translates into lower fuel consumption and improved efficiency. The direct drive from the prop shaft to the gearbox ensures smooth crop flow from the feeder conveyor through the entire harvesting system.

The brand-new Case IH AF9 combine, winner of the Class 10 category.

Results for the Case IH AF9

  • Speed: 50 out of 50
  • Material under the sieve: 10 out of 10
  • Material on the table: 10 out of 10
  • Losses behind the harvester: 19,94 out of 20
  • Heads left behind or cut: 10 out of 10

The impressive performances of the Axial-Flow 6150 and 8260, combined with the flawless display by the brand-new AF9, once again demonstrated why Case IH technology continues to stand the test of time.

By building on decades of proven engineering while integrating modern automation and efficiency, Case IH has shown that success does not always require starting from scratch. The company not only won the competition – it redefined the benchmark for the future of combine harvesting technology.

To learn more about Case IH’s Axial-Flow technology or its range of combine harvesters, visit: https://www.caseih.com/en-za/southafrica