German press event launches expanded ranges and new products

Farmers Guide attended a Claas product launch in northern Germany – where new and updated combines, forage products and handlers were displayed and demonstrated for the first time.

Claas has expanded its green harvest product line-up with a new mower and new balers, and has uprated its top-end Lexion combines with a new cab, more power and additional features. The new Cemis 1200 touch terminal, which was featured by Farmers Guide earlier this year, has been formally launched and is now available  to order.

The event also celebrated 25 years of Claas Xerion tractors, and a highlight was seeing an original Xerion 3000 working with an early Quadrant baler operating alongside the latest commemorative edition Xerion 5000 with the latest addition to the Quadrant baler range.

Montana hill-side versions of Lexion combines will be available for the first time next year.

Seeing is believing

Speaking at the event, Cathrina Claas-Muehlhaeuser told Farmers Guide that it was  great to see everyone together again after  three long years apart due to Covid. “There  have been huge challenges during the past three years, but we have found solutions for our customers and for Claas,” she said. “We have continued to develop our product ranges, and the results of our efforts can be seen in the field today.” Cathrina is Claas chairwoman of the supervisory board and chairwoman of the supervisory committee.

Combine news

Three years after the current line-up of top-end Lexion models was launched, the range gains a new cab – seen last year on new mid-size Trion models. The new cab provides extra space around the operator’s head and feet, and there is also an optional leather seat which rotates up to 30 degrees to each side. New footrests add operator comfort.

Vision is improved due to new, narrower side pillars, a wider front screen and larger side windows. There is a 360-degree wiper.

Set-up and monitoring are through a larger 12in Cebis touch terminal with an improved display which is easier to read in a range of light conditions. The display layout can be set up to suit the user’s preference.

Optional Cemos Dialog and Cemos Automatic can also be added. Control is by touch as well  as a rotary/push control, and all threshing and cleaning settings can also be accessed directly using buttons on the right-hand control armrest. The main CMotion joystick operates the main functions and allows preferred settings to  be saved.

Options include a 30-litre cool box and a 360-degree lighting pack as well as a premium media system.

For automatic steering through GPS Pilot, the new Cemis 1200 terminal is used. As well as providing guidance control, the terminal enables online task documentation.

Dynamic steering is a new option – reducing the steering wheel turns by 40%.

A ‘slow retraction’ feature for the feed reverser will be a new option for 2023 models. After reversing, the rotation direction of the reversing motor can be reversed at the touch of a button, allowing the crop to be passed slowly to the threshing mechanism and reducing peak loads.

Other Lexion upgrades include an 18,000-litre grain tank for Lexion 8800 models, matching the size of the Lexion 8900 model, and a 15,000-litre tank is also now available for the Lexion 8700.  A pivoting spout is a new option for 330mm  and 420mm unloading augers, providing  precise grain stream control across a range  up to 60cm.

All Lexions gain a new cab with extra comfort and improved vision.

Extra automation

Cemos Auto Header is new for Trion and Lexion models. Using the cab-roof mounted field scanner to detect crop characteristics; it automatically adjusts the table length, reel height and horizontal reel position based on the crop  height, helping to reduce operator fatigue.

Extra convenience

Previously available only for the three widest Vario cutterbars, new rapeseed knives and a new reel drive are also available now for smaller working widths. The rapeseed knives have 50% increased cutting force and are more easily handled and mounted as they weigh a third  less than before.

Montana option

Montana hillside versions of the latest-generation Lexion are available. Previously a very popular option for smaller models, its availability for Lexion models too adds performance for farms with hilly and undulating terrain. The Lexion 7700 hybrid and 5500 straw-walker models can have the slope compensation system, which adjusts for side slopes up to 18 degrees and inclines up to six degrees using hydraulic chassis adjustment. Power Trac all-wheel drive, an electrically selected diff-lock for the front axle, and Auto Slope cleaning allow forward speeds to be maintained as the system adjusts automatically.

Extra engine power

More power and improved torque characteristics have increased the performance of Lexion 8700 and 8800 models. The Lexion 8700 gains 40hp bringing the maximum output to 625hp, while the Lexion 8800 has an extra 47hp at 700hp. The Lexion 8800 power unit has been changed to a MAN D42 6-cyl – previously used in the larger Lexion 8900. The improved torque provides increased power reserves to maintain constant engine speeds in heavy conditions.

New entry-level models

New Lexion 8600 and Lexion 8600 Terra-Trac models have been added to the Lexion hybrid line-up. With a 1,700mm drum width and powered by MAN D26 6-cyl, 12.4-litre engines producing 549hp, the Lexion 8600 is positioned in the range immediately above the Lexion 7700 with a 1,420mm drum width. Dynamic Power adapts the engine output to match the conditions, reducing fuel consumption by 10% in the partial load range. The wheeled Lexion 8600 has a 12,500-litre grain tank and the Lexion 8600 Terra-Trac has a 13,500-litre version.

New Variant 500-series round balers feature significant upgrades.

Expert view

Claas combine product specialist Rob Portman said that UK customers will appreciate the additional performance available for Lexion 8700 and 8800 models, as well as the addition of  the wide-body Lexion 8600 as an entry to the Lexion hybrid range. “There is also an extra grate which adds separation capacity for the Lexion 8700, bringing it more into line with the larger Lexion 8800 and 8900,” he said. “And for those upgrading from previous Lexion 700-series machines, the new Lexion 8600 provides a gradual step.

“The new Montana option will also be widely welcomed. The slope compensation system was available for Trion models when they were launched last year, and for larger Lexions with their extra performance, it offers even bigger advantages.”

Rob said that the adjustable auger flap option which was first available last year for Trion models has been specified by most customers, and he expects it to prove equally popular for the Lexion range. The new Lexion cab offering extra space and comfort plus improved visibility will also be regarded as a major benefit, he believes.

Baler news

The new Variant 500 round baler line-up includes four models. The Variant 560 RC and 565 RF can create bales from 0.9m–1.6m diameter while the Variant 580 RC and 585 RF produce bales up to 1.8m.

Variant 560 RF and 580 RF versions both feature a spiral feed rotor, while the Variant 565 RC and 585 RC both have a spiral Roto Cut four-star cutting rotor.

RC models also feature heavy-duty drive components, and a 17-knife cutter for a theoretical 60mm chop length. The standard  Pro rotor drop-floor can be lowered hydraulically to clear blockages at the push of a button from the tractor cab.

Smart Density bale pressure control has been added. New control software optimises the baling process so that perfectly formed bales are produced even in difficult conditions in silage, and it also achieves higher density in the outer layers of the bales for extra weather protection. There is also the opportunity to accurately control the pressure of the inner layers – for example when baling hay.

Easier roll changes are made possible by a new mounting position – 25cm lower than before. A new net brake works independently of the roll diameter providing constant net tension, and a new feed plate and knife release ensure trouble-free tying. There are new larger tyres for ground protection and air brakes are an option. Control is through the latest Cemis 700 Isobus terminal.

Quadrant 5200 and 5300 balers gain a heavier flywheel for improved performance in variable conditions, and a new front chopper option creates fine-chopped straw for specialist bedding.

Quadrants evolved

A hydraulic drive option for the pick-up and Power Feeding System (PFS) has been added for Quadrant 5200 and 5300 models – allowing the user to set the ideal PFS feed roller speed relative to the constant speed of the five-row pick-up.

A new, heavier flywheel with an optimised spoke design increases the inertia for constant performance in uneven swaths. The new flywheel features on the Quadrant 5200 and 5300 models – and increases inertia by 46% on the Quadrant 5200 and 44% on the Quadrant 5300. An optional slip clutch protects the two models, as an alternative to standard shear-bolts.

Pre-chopper

A new front-mounted shredder is available for Quadrant 5200 and 5300 models. Benefits include no excess stem lengths as the straw is chopped and not cut. Shearbar adjustment achieves the required chop quality.

The belt-driven rotor has 88 oscillating knives. Two adjustable counter-blades each with 45 knives set the cut length. When the chopper is active the crop feeds directly to the rotor via the roller crop press of the pick-up.

Rob Portman (left) with Dean Cottey.

Wide mower option

The new Disco 1010 rear mowers provide a wide 9.7 or 9.9m working width – set by selecting alternative mounting pin holes for each mower unit. Each unit has a 3.8m working width, giving a 9.7m total working width with a 3.0m front mower.

Apart from the simple design and lower cost compared to the premium Disco 1100; advantages include a lighter weight of only 2,300kg, allowing use with smaller tractors.

Claas forage product specialist Dean Cottey said that the new mower will appeal to larger farms where grass is cut frequently and where there is no need for a conditioner, and it will be a popular high-output option for contractors, too.

Forage expert view

Dean Cottey explained that UK dealers are delighted with the new products and updates. He believes that the Quadrant pre-chopper will have limited appeal for general users but satisfies demand for the very fine chop required by poultry farms, and similar situations where fine chopped straw is needed for bedding.

“The heavy flywheel for Quadrant 5200 and 5300 balers is a significant advantage in terms of improving performance – particularly in difficult working conditions,” he explained. “The updated square balers will appeal to users all over the

UK, as will the new Variant round balers with their revised net tensioning system which will improve performance in silage and make net  roll replacement easier.”

Upgraded loaders

Torion loaders are proving popular and almost 1,000 have been sold so far. There are three new mid-size models – the 1285, the 1611 and the 1611 P, all featuring newly developed Z-kinematics for more lifting power and break-out force. Smart loading modes ease operation and improve productivity. All three new models have extra power and uprated transmissions. The Torion 1285 with 157hp replaces the previous Torion 1177 and 1410 models with 137 and 165hp respectively, while the Torion 1611 has 207hp – 23hp more than the Torion 1511 it replaces, and the Torion 1611 P has an increase of 45hp to 252hp. The 1611 P with extra drive torque and power has been designed especially for silage clamp use and similar demanding applications.