From August 18 to 20, CASE Construction Equipment, a CNH brand, hosted customers, industry partners, and members of the media at its Construction Experience Center (CEC) in Sarzedo, Minas Gerais. The event offered attendees an opportunity to explore the company’s equipment lineup firsthand while learning about emerging technologies and industry developments that are expected to influence the future of construction.

The CEC, which opened slightly more than a year ago, served as the venue for the CASE Experience. One of the event’s notable attractions was the CASE 721E wheel loader powered by ethanol. The machine is currently a concept project undergoing testing and represents the company’s first equipment model designed to operate on ethanol.

Taking place at a facility focused on training, testing, and technological development, the event gave participants direct exposure to a range of CASE equipment and initiatives. The demonstrations covered several key areas, including productivity and operational efficiency, electrification, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.

A major focus of the event was the ethanol-fueled CASE 721E wheel loader. Based on the existing 721E platform, the concept machine has been modified specifically for applications within Brazil’s sugar and ethanol sector. Although it remains under evaluation and there are currently no plans for commercial production, the loader has been engineered to use ethanol manufactured directly by sugar and ethanol mills. By replacing some of the industry’s reliance on diesel, the technology could offer a pathway toward lower greenhouse gas emissions while making use of an existing locally produced fuel source.

Case IH, part of the CNH portfolio, has been honored at the Automotive Business 2025 Awards—one of Brazil’s leading recognitions in mobility and innovation—after securing the Energy Transition award. The announcement was made during a recent ceremony in São Paulo.

This category highlights projects that support decarbonization and the adoption of renewable energy. Case IH received the award for its ethanol-powered machinery initiative, a technology currently in development aimed at cutting emissions and advancing sustainable practices within agribusiness.

According to Leandro Conde, Director of Marketing and Communication for Case IH in Latin America, the recognition underscores the company’s dedication to low-carbon agriculture and solutions that balance efficiency with environmental responsibility. He noted that ethanol plays a vital role in Brazil’s energy landscape and that the company is progressing toward offering a full range of equipment powered by this renewable fuel.

The project’s initial phase included the unveiling of an Otto-cycle engine prototype for the Austoft 9000 sugarcane harvester, developed by FPT Industrial and showcased at Agrishow 2024. Since then, development has advanced through laboratory and field testing. More recently, Case IH also revealed trials of the ethanol-fueled Puma 230 tractor, which is now operating alongside the harvester.