Claas goes green ... finally

<p>This new Claas combine, minus model decal information, graced the Omaha headquarters lot for the company. The new Lexion 7000 Series and 8000 Series combines will join the color family with the “seed green” palette. But these machines also bring along a lot of new features, too.</p>

<p>Long an innovator in combines, the Lexion continues that work. The new Lexion 8000 Series will feature a 510-bushel grain tank and the 7000 Series is outfitted with a 425-bushel tank; that’s up from 385 bushels and 360 bushels, respectively. As Blake McOllough, Claas product manager, combines, explains, this upgrade in tank size boosts productivity.</p>

<p>There are five machines in the line: The 7400 (a Class 6 machine) features 375 hp (up from 349 for the 730 it replaces); the 7500 (Class 7) has 402 hp, which matches the horsepower for the 740 it replaces, but offers engine boost of needed power when unloading on the go — which the 740 lacked.</p>

<p>For the 8000 Series, there are three models: The 8800 (Class 10 machine) at 610 hp, versus 570 for the 780 it replaces; the 8700 (Class 9) has 507 hp, versus 503 hp for the 760 it replaces; and the 8600 (Class 8) has 466 hp, versus 456 in the 750.</p>

<p>McOllough explains that the 8600 as a Class 8 machine aims for the heart of the market. “For combines, 45% of the market is Class 8 machines, and we weren’t participating with the 750, but we are hitting it head on with the 8600,” he says.</p>

<p>During the dealer rollout of the new Lexion combines, the machines pulled in, and the big 8800 unloaded its 510-bushel grain tank as a demo. And it did that job in less than two minutes, with a 5.1 bushel-per-second top unload speed. These machines are designed with the power boost capability to unload on the go and not see a need to reduce speed during harvest. “We’re using Dynamic Power, a feature we picked up from the forage harvester world,” McOllough says. “We map the engine fuel use on the fly and can provide added horsepower as needed.”</p>

<p>This also provides added fuel efficiency, with the machine burning just 1.10 gallons per acre during harvest, which Claas says is lower than the competition.</p>

<p>The new machines also get the new APS Synflow Hybrid threshing system that is an upgrade from the company’s well-known APS Hybrid System. This is a high-capacity combine processor that provides 10% more capacity than the previous series.</p>

<p>The new Claas 7000 Series and 8000 Series combines also have a road speed, track or wheeled, of 25 mph. “Operators can cover significantly more ground with a 25-mph transport speed. The operator also saves time with crop changeover capabilities can be done in the cab, with just the touch of a button,” McOllough says.</p>

<p>The 7000 Series feature a 56-inch-wide chassis, while the 8000 Series has a 67-inch-wide chassis. The machines feature a central lubrication system and Dynamic Cooling, which Claas claims can cut maintenance time by more than half. The cooling system also helps keep dust and debris out of the engine compartment.</p>

<p>The tech in the new Lexion builds on what the company first launched in 2013. The CEMOS Automatic technology provides for automatic machine adjustment that can gain an operator up to a 10% improvement in capacity, have 32% less foreign matter in the grain sample and increase grain retention by 58%.</p>

<p>Astute farmers may have seen a few Axion tractors in the countryside the last three years. Claas has brought a few over from the LeMans, France, plant into dealerships, but the official launch of the line — the 800 Series and the 900 — is for 2019. These machines have wider turning radiuses than many tractors, which best suits them for hay and forage work, broad tillage work, and even work packing silage (though big brother Xerion is a strong contender there, too).</p>

<p>Drew Fletcher, product manager, tractors, explains that the Axion Series isn’t ready for many row crop applications but has a range of features for several key markets. “We’re positioning this tractor in the hay and forage market,” he explains.</p>

<p>The 800 Series, powered by an 6.7-liter FPT engine which requires no diesel particulate filter to meet final Tier 4 emissions requirements. There are two transmission options, the HEXASHIFT transmission and the CMATIC Continuously Variable Transmission. The machines feature the Proactiv suspended front axle, and a multispeed PTO to get more power to the ground. The efficient design offers improved fuel economy, too. Fletcher explains that while providing the same PTO hp as competitors, the Axion can also offer up to 20 more usable PTO horsepower while using up to 1 gallon per hour less fuel.</p>

<p>The Axion 800 Series includes seven models: three with HEXASHIFT transmissions and four with CMATIC powertrains. For the HEXASHIFT, the three models include the 810 at 200 hp; the 830 at 215 hp; and the 245 at 850 hp. The Axion CMATIC models include the 820 at 215 hp; the 840 at 230 hp, the 860 at 250 hp; and the 880 at 265 hp (290 hp with boost engaged). The machines come with a standard four-point suspended cab, the suspended front axle and shock absorbing front, and rear three-point hitches. And there’s a semi-active seat and a range of cab conveniences, including controls for loader use.</p>

<p>The company currently has 20 dealers in the U.S. designated to carry the Axion line, with plans to expand over the next year to put the line into all dealerships currently carrying the Lexion combine line. From there, the move would be to have Axion tractors in all Claas long-line dealerships.</p>

<p>A loader is a critical tool for a tractor in the 800 Series size. For livestock operations, a good-size loader combined with the shuttle shift and onboard loader controls makes this series a versatile machine. The U.S.-built loader from Agile Manufacturing features a solid steel design, and a range of other durability and serviceability features not found on other loaders. The company is also the contractor that sets up the tractors for the U.S. market when they arrive from France.</p>

<p>The Axion 800 Series offers two rear hitch options. The Walterscheid ball hitch is standard, and more common to the European market. This design is preferred by some users who have used European-made equipment in the past.</p>

<p>The more conventional hook three-point design is an option for the Axion 800. Its bigger brother, the Axion 900 Series, is only outfitted with the Walterscheid-style hitch. This hitch works well with the new Disco 4000 trailing mower.</p>

<p>The Claas 900 Series tractors come in five models, all with the CMATIC CVT transmission: the 920 at 320 engine hp; the 930 at 350 hp; the 940 at 380 hp; the 950 at 405 hp; and the 960 at 440 hp. Power comes from an FPT 8.7-liter final Tier 4 engine that does not require a diesel particulate filter, reducing maintenance. This heavier-frame tractor is built for bigger forage and livestock chores, from mowing to hauling large manure tanks. Its greater than 60-inch turning radius means it’s not for row crop precision work, but can handle a wide range of chores.</p>

<p>The new Disco 4000 TRC is designed for the U.S. market, where trailing mowers are popular. This machine features a 12-foot, 6-inch working width; has Chevron rubber roller conditioners with a double-belt drive; features a spring-loaded pivoting cutterbar to keep knives out of soil, reducing ash; and has windrow spreader plates that feature no-tools adjustment for just the right windrow width.</p>

<p>The VOLTO 55 TH tedder is designed to spread the crop more evenly for faster drydown. The new design provides for a faster ground speed and a more even spread pattern with the Claas Max Spread system. The design features equal-length tine arms for longer life and less ground contact to reduce ash. There’s also an adjustable tine angle for slower PTO speeds to save leaves on alfalfa or clover.</p>

<p>The Rollant line gets the new 520 4x4 fixed-chamber round baler, with an updated design and upgrades, for what Claas says are properly formed bales that provide better fermentation. New features include an updated drive concept for longer heavy-duty use; a reinforced frame that’s 20% thicker than the 300 Series; a 14-knife ROTO CUT chopping system for higher throughput; hydraulic drop floor for blocked clearing; and 15 mm-thick flanges for improved durability.</p>

<p>The new baler has eight newly designed heavy-duty rollers that have 4-mm wall thickness and shafts bolted to 15-mm thick flanges for improved durability.</p>