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Worldwide launch of the anniversary of CLAAS harvesters. Over 500,000 success stories: CLAAS celebrates half a million harvesters.

CLAAS celebrates the production of half a million harvesters manufactured since 1936 and is producing several commemorative machines from LEXION, TRION, EVION, and DOMINATOR at three locations across three continents. These will be showcased at trade shows, field days, and demonstrations in the coming weeks and months.

European Pioneer in Harvester Production

CLAAS has been a pioneer in the development of harvesters for many decades. Since 1936, the family-owned company based in Harsewinkel, Germany, has revolutionized cereal harvesting in Europe with the cross-flow combine harvester, abbreviated as M.D.B. The great success finally came in 1946 with the SUPER series, which could also be equipped with additional engines starting in 1953 and, from 1958, as the SUPER AUTOMATIC with hydraulic drive for the cutting device. More than 60,000 units of the SUPER were sold worldwide, even finding buyers in Canada and Uruguay.

In 1953, the family business successfully entered the self-propelled harvester segment with the HERCULES, which later became known as the SF. In 1961, the MATADOR GIGANT set new standards with a cutting width of up to 6.0 meters. Other milestones that defined the industry in the 1960s included well-known names like SENATOR, COMET, COSMOS, CORSAR, MERCATOR, PROTECTOR, and COMPACT.

In 1972, the DOMINATOR series opened a new era that has lasted for over 50 years to this day. CLAAS established itself as the market leader in Europe, especially with the DOMINATOR 6 and DOMINATOR 8 series, introducing innovations such as 3D cleaning, AUTO CONTOUR cutting unit guidance, and the MEGA threshing group. The DOMINATOR CS, introduced in 1981 with cylinder separation (COMMANDOR CS starting in 1986), was among the most powerful harvesters in the world at that time and was delivered with rubber tracks for the first time in 1987.

At Agritechnica 1995, the LEXION 480, featuring innovative hybrid APS technology, was not only the highlight of the fair but also a turning point in terms of performance, comfort, and innovative electronic applications for the emerging era of precision agriculture. Since 1997, LEXION’s TERRA TRAC soil-protective chassis technology, also available for TRION since 2021, has celebrated global success.

In 2013, a significant step was taken in the realm of machine intelligence: with CEMOS, CLAAS has since become a leader in harvester automation, as evidenced by numerous international awards. CEMOS continues to develop and expand to include additional processes and units in harvesters and implements.

The latest members of the CLAAS harvester family are the TRION and EVION series, introduced in 2021 and 2023 respectively. Together with LEXION, they offer a unique range of products and equipment, from the five-shaker 205 HP model to the flagship LEXION 8900 TERRA TRAC with 790 HP and APS SYNFLOW HYBRID. All three series enable increased threshing efficiency through the DYNAMIC POWER engine management system and extended CEMOS functions. Depending on the needs profile, a wide variety of cutting units is available, from conventional auger cutting units to the ultra-modern and automated VARIO cutting units, as well as the CONVIO FLEX Draper with a flexible knife bar and folding reel control.

More than 500,000 Success Stories:

A solid foundation of experience and preparation for the future.

With around 100,000 and more than 75,000 units respectively, the DOMINATOR and LEXION models account for the majority of the 500,000 CLAAS harvesters manufactured to date. The SUPER and SUPER AUTOMATIC (approximately 65,000 units), along with EUROPA and COLUMBUS (approximately 60,000 harvesters combined), and TUCANO (approximately 35,000 units) have also made significant contributions to the global success of CLAAS harvesters. Even the less numerous series, such as the COMMANDOR TERRA TRAC, have propelled progress and had a significant impact on the genetics of today’s CLAAS harvesters. Features like the unmistakable multi-crop suitability, undeniable harvesting performance, and incomparable efficiency have been continuously optimized over decades of development work for the benefit of customers worldwide and are deeply embedded in the DNA of every new CLAAS harvester. Moreover, CLAAS harvesters are perfectly prepared for the future not only with these solid arguments but also with industry-leading automation and a new level of connectivity.

International Competition and Production Network.

CLAAS has been supplying harvesters to other manufacturers for decades. Since 1992, CLAAS harvesters have no longer been exclusively manufactured at the headquarters in Harsewinkel. That year, the first CLAAS CROP TIGER rolled off the assembly line in India, of which more than 10,000 units have already been produced. Since 2001, CLAAS has also produced hybrid LEXION harvesters for the North American market in its own factory in Omaha, in yellow and branded with Caterpillar until 2019.

Since 2013, following the acquisition of Jinyee, CLAAS has also been producing harvesters and harvester components in China. The new hybrid DOMINATOR 370 was introduced here in 2019, followed three years later by the DOMINATOR 260 with six shakers. The new EVION, like the DOMINATOR 370 and 260, was developed in Harsewinkel but has also been rolling off the production line in Gaomi since 2023.

As another site in the harvester manufacturing network, Törökszentmiklós in southern Hungary has been producing cutting heads and corn headers for CLAAS harvesters since 1997. In October 2021, the 100,000th cutting unit for CLAAS was produced here.

Automation, Assistance, and Data Management:

From the performance control device to CEMOS and CLAAS connect.

The increase in threshing performance since the advent of the first European harvester, the MDB, is not solely due to new advancements in hardware and higher engine performance. Especially in the last 25 years, automation has become an increasingly important part of greater optimization in the areas of efficiency, productivity, and job outcomes. With the introduction of the performance control device in 1974, CLAAS began integrating electronic operating aids into its harvesters. CEMOS, introduced in 2013 and since then has won several awards at international fairs like Agritechnica and SIMA, has proven to be a true turning point: it has continuously expanded to include other processes in the harvester and cutting unit, allowing for optimal machine use with a special focus on maximizing harvesting performance, supported by the unique multi-crop suitability of all CLAAS harvesters.

CLAAS has also been a pioneer in building harvesters for precision agriculture applications. Since 1991, performance data and GPS location data have been able to be linked together, and as of 1996, LEXION even offers performance maps through AGROCOM MAP and, in 1998, telemetry-based fleet management. In 2005, LEXION harvesters were the first CLAAS products equipped with the innovative TELEMATICS. Starting in October 2024, the digital connection of CLAAS harvesters with the rest of the fleet, operational management, and CLAAS’s service and distribution partner will take place through the new CLAAS connect, opening a new chapter in the realm of digital machine and farm management.

More than a Machine: The CLAAS Principle

From the first harvester in 1936 to today, CLAAS offers its customers extensive support. When purchasing a CLAAS harvester, customers expect maximum performance and productivity through leading technology and optimal support. With a user-friendly operating concept, innovative driver assistance, and close collaboration with the CLAAS service partner, not only is maximum campaign performance achieved, but also a unique lifespan for each CLAAS harvester. Thanks to this long-term viability, CLAAS harvesters have been used for a long time, in some cases for over five decades. Due to extremely low annual depreciation, all series and models of CLAAS harvesters enjoy great popularity, even when in use.

Modern driver assistance systems like CEMIS and GPS PILOT are just as important today as the CLAAS MAXI CARE maintenance contracts. And thanks to the wide range of implements and the low effort required to switch between crop types, CLAAS harvesters are perfectly equipped for any crop. Because harvesting requires speed, versatility, variability, and maximum reliability.

These features are inherent to all CLAAS harvesters and have been for 500,000 success stories. It is this nearly 90 years of experience in harvester production that makes “Made by CLAAS” a promise.

Anniversary Machines for Demonstrations and Trade Shows – Customer Sales Edition

To emphasize the global production network of CLAAS harvesters and to ensure that all locations can equally participate in the anniversary, several commemorative machines with a special look have been built and are being built. In the coming weeks and months, LEXION, TRION, EVION, and DOMINATOR will be showcased at various national and international fairs, as well as at field days and demonstrations. The design pays homage to the history of CLAAS harvesters: the metallic silver color represents the beginnings of CLAAS harvester production up to 1961, while the metallic seed green represents the well-known CLAAS color pattern introduced in 1966 with the SENATOR. The knot pattern on the CLAAS letters on both sides of the commemorative machines references the old CLAAS logo featuring the CLAAS knotter, the company’s first patent from 1921.

“500,000 CLAAS harvesters are, above all, 500,000 success stories, because farmers and contractors around the world have trusted us 500,000 times,” explains Jan-Hendrik Mohr, CEO of CLAAS. “That is why we are celebrating this anniversary on an international level with a global launch event of several anniversary machines in Harsewinkel, Omaha, and Gaomi. This also reflects and values our international dimension and our network of harvester production, which of course also includes our cutting unit and corn header manufacturing plant in Törökszentmiklos, Hungary.”

Customers can participate in the anniversary during the 2025 harvest season with a special sales edition that, in addition to selected equipment features, is characterized by stickers saying “More than a machine” on the side panels. All CLAAS harvesters from 2025 onwards will also receive a small sticker on the cabin door. “In reality, a CLAAS harvester is much more than a machine,” continues Mohr. “Because behind every EVION, TRION, LEXION, and DOMINATOR is a powerful sales organization, highly professional service, fast and reliable spare parts supply, and much more. And last but not least, a strong international marketing for used machines that, just like the technical factors of overall performance, reliability, and durability, inspires customers worldwide.”