And farmers and contractors in Australia can expect to hear more from the Italian-based Same-Deutz-Fahr Group, which claims to be the world's fourth biggest farm machinery conglomerate after John Deere, CNH and AGCO.

Also underscoring its privately-owned credentials has seen export sales regional manager SDF Group, Marco Polastri, fill in the background behind recent company moves on a visit to Lamborghini distributor, Inlon Agrimec Group, Ourimbah, NSW.

Upping SDF Group's shareholding in the famed Deutz engine supplier from 20pc to 42pc is all about taking the bullish farm tractor supplier to the next level in the aftermath of its 2002 strategy to realise worldwide potential by increasing production volumes.

Accessing the engines, technology and global distribution network of Deutz, one of the largest diesel engine manufacturers in the world, remains a pivotal part of its outward-looking strategy.

"This is very important for a tractor manufacture - because you need to have ownership of the engines which are the heart of the tractor," Mr Polastri said.

On top of these sizeable investment decisions, the SDF Group is tracking improvements in the economy of Croatia to start building combine harvesters in what once was a Deutz factory.

Badged as Deutz Fahr headers, they are being earmarked for Europe's 'conventional' market rather than the US and Australia, which largely require rotary-style machines.

Meanwhile, the SDF Group's 'ground-breaking' ceremony in China took place in March of this year, with tractors in the 80 to 110hp power band expected to roll off the assembly lines by the end of the year.

It's not hard to understand the attractions with the Chinese and Indian tractor markets estimated to be 150,000 and 200,000 units per annum respectively.

By comparison the Australian tractor market pegs along at about 10,000 units a year.

"If you want to sell in China, then you have to make them there," Mr Polastri said.

It looks as though a 'sophisticated' line of European tractors will be complemented by a global line of product offering a handy specification but at lower prices.