Inventor Jerome Increase Case founded Case in Racine in 1842 to build threshing machines. Later, the company gained global recognition as the first builder of steam engines for agricultural use, eventually becoming the world’s largest maker of steam engines. By 1912, Case had established itself in the construction equipment industry as a manufacturer of road-building equipment, such as steamrollers and road graders. The company built its construction equipment business through several acquisitions, starting with American Tractor Corporation in 1957. By the mid-1990s, Case had expanded to become the world’s leading manufacturer of light- to medium-sized construction equipment. In 1999, Case merged with New Holland to become CNH Global, marketing several of the world’s leading brands of construction and agricultural equipment.