“We are excited to add David December to our senior leadership team,” explained Eric Raby, Senior Vice President, Americas, for CLAAS. “I’m extremely confident that his experience, education and deep understanding of the agriculture market will make him a valuable asset in his new role leading the sales and marketing departments.”

In previous positions, David successfully implemented marketing strategies that expanded brand awareness, increased channel sales, and improved product positioning.

Most recently, he was the Vice President of Marketing for a large equipment dealership where he optimized and replaced the existing e-commerce presence, developed a strong brand strategy, and monetized tech support. He met his objectives by increasing the company’s strategic communications and staying well informed about the equipment, emerging technologies, and trends within the industry.

David holds a Bachelors of Business Administration, Marketing from the Wisconsin School of Business in Madison, Wisconsin.

• The all-new, high-horsepower XERION 12 Series was built for North American demands
• The new ARION 600 Series delivers versatility and productivity on the farm and ranch
• The AXION 900 TERRA TRAC (TT) is now offered in row-crop friendly configurations

As a leader in the production of tractors, combines, forage harvesters, balers and hay tools, CLAAS is recognized worldwide for its exceptional engineering and farmer-focused solutions.

"With innovative features and a bold design, these tractors will become the go-to choice for farmers looking to take their productivity to the next level,” says Frans Reijmers, CLAAS North America Product Manager – Tractors. “We have taken into account the valuable input our customers have given us, and we are excited to see how these tractors will deliver on their needs."

The newest models in the manufacturer’s impressive tractor lineup are the XERION 12 Series and the ARION 600 Series, both of which have been designed to offer exceptional capacity and operational comfort in their product ranges. The XERION boasts power, durability, efficiency and comfort, vaulting it to the top of the class in the high-horsepower 4x4 range. The ARION is an excellent choice for those who require a sturdy and efficient tractor capable of handling many challenging tasks. Whether looking to maximize productivity or optimize performance, CLAAS has poured every ounce of ingenuity and know-how into building a lineup that turns heads – full of clever features that help do the work for you while offering a variation of power for any application.

UNMATCHED HYDRAULIC FLOW, SUPERIOR HORSEPOWER AND EXCEPTIONAL COMFORT: THE XERION 12 SERIES

When the CLAAS XERION tractor lineup was first introduced in North America nearly a decade ago, its fixed-frame design, CVT transmission and quiet, comfortable cab were clear differentiators in a category filled with manually shifted, articulated alternatives. The all-new XERION 12 Series still gets its inspiration from the original 5000/4000 models, but everything about it is bigger – built to tackle the largest air seeders, tillage equipment and grain carts the industry has to offer.

The new tractors are available with an incredible 653- or 585-hp engine. That power, coupled with an industry-leading hydraulic flow rate of 140 gallons per minute, makes the XERION 12 Series the perfect tractor for today’s modern commercial farm. It also comes standard with a purpose-built continuously variable transmission (CVT) – the only one available in its horsepower range. A new, heavy-duty axle system has replaced the earlier series to handle higher horsepower and heavier loads.

When it comes to driving on the road or working in the field, producers now have the option of ordering the new XERION 12 Series with 36- or 30-inch TERRA TRAC units on all four corners. This option helps reduce ground pressure, prevent compaction, lessen vibration and increase traction. If wheels are what you prefer, 800/70 R42 duals are available with a footprint of up to 42 inches.

Finally, the capacity of the XERION 12 Series is not limited to horsepower and hydraulic flow. The capacity inside the cab is also of note, with more than 20 percent additional legroom than its previous models. Supported by a four-point suspension and a sound-dampening design for added comfort, the cab is not just a workspace, it’s a space that works.

VERSATILITY IN A POWERFUL, REFINED PACKAGE: THE ARION 600 SERIES

The ARION 660, 650 and 630 multipurpose tractors are efficient and comfortable options for producers looking to handle a long list of tasks. Available in a horsepower range of 165- to 205-hp and equipped with a continuously variable CMATIC transmission, the ARION 600 Series offers superior fuel economy for mowing, tedding, raking, baling, loading, filling, tilling, cleaning, spreading, hauling and feeding – just to name a few. With a maximum transport speed of 31 mph and a lift capacity of 17,600 pounds, the ARION 600 Series is capable of making short work of many chores on the farm or ranch.

ARION also offers a four-point suspension for a smoother ride, along with a front PTO and three-point hitch. When used in conjunction with the CLAAS FL150 hydraulic self-leveling loader, the ARION can lift 7,546 pounds of material up to 15 feet high.

A highly spacious, ergonomically designed cab is available for superior operator comfort and excellent visibility. Its 12” CEBIS touchscreen display puts essential controls at the operator’s fingertips. The combination of versatility, power and comfort make the ARION the perfect all-around workhorse.

UPGRADED ROW CROP OPTIONS: AXION 900 TT SERIES

CLAAS has introduced a new option for the AXION 900 TT lineup, first released last year. The AXION 900 TT – TERRA TRAC option – is now available on 18-inch belts on 88- and 120-inch centers, in addition to the previous track widths of 25, 29 and 35 inches. The AXION 960TT and 930TT models, which are equipped with a four-mode, continuously variable CMATIC transmission, offer 445 and 355 hp, respectively.

“We are excited to bring these latest technologies to the market, with a focus on strength and efficiency,” says Eric Raby, Senior Vice President ­– Americas, for CLAAS. “The introduction of the new XERION and ARION tractor lines and row-crop technology for our AXION line adds game-changing productivity for farmers throughout North America.

For more information on the newest additions to the CLAAS family of tractors, visit the company website at www.claas.com.

"We are delighted to have won with Thomas Spiering an experienced manager for this important role on the Group Executive Board," says Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the CLAAS Group. "He knows CLAAS like no other and, thanks to his various stations in Germany and abroad, he is ideally equipped for his new management task. We thank him for the excellent work he has done so far and wish him a good start and much success in his new role."

Thomas Spiering, born in Herzebrock-Clarholz in Eastern Westphalia (Germany), has already been working for the CLAAS Group for 22 years. After his degree in Business Administration, he took on various specialist and management roles in the areas of controlling, sales and finance in Germany and abroad. As part of a temporary assignment, Thomas Spiering took on the role of CFO of CLAAS UK in Saxham, UK, for five years from June 2015, and from 2017 he was also CFO of CLAAS France and responsible for the Western Europe region in the Sales and Service Business Unit. Since July 2020, he has successfully managed the Middle Europe region as Senior Vice President.

The CLAAS Group Executive Board will consist of five members from October 1, 2023. In addition to CEO Jan-Hendrik Mohr and the newly appointed Thomas Spiering, these are CFO Henner Böttcher, Dr Martin von Hoyningen-Huene (BUs Tractors & Forage, Technology & Systems Division) and Christian Radons (BU Sales & Service).

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CLAAS is recognized the world over for its superior engineering and leading innovations in the production of combines, forage harvesters, tractors, balers and hay tools.

“CLAAS is delivering on our continuing promise to provide solutions that improve our customers’ businesses, as their success and our success go hand in hand,” says Eric Raby, Senior Vice President, Americas, for CLAAS. “We are pleased to announce our MOU with AFBF solidifying for farmers the right to repair.”

While CLAAS takes pride in its FIRST CLAAS SERVICE delivered through its dealers, they realize that customers also may need the ability to make repairs on their own terms. The company has supported this for years and offers an app for mobile devices under its CLAAS Connect portal that puts machine-specific owner manuals and technical resources directly in their customers’ hands. The agreement with AFBF codifies the commitment of CLAAS to provide customers with the resources and tools they need to safely repair their equipment. This is another example of CLAAS’ commitment in listening to their customers and sharing technology that will help them take their farming operations to new levels of productivity.

“The memorandum of understanding with CLAAS demonstrates AFBF’s continued commitment to ensure farmers have access to the tools they need to keep their farms running, and America’s families fed,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Farmers and ranchers are more dependent on technology than ever before, and they asked us to find a private-sector solution to the right to repair issue. This agreement is another step toward guaranteeing timely repairs for farmers regardless of the equipment they use.”

The agreement creates a framework for farmers and independent repair facilities in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico to access technical manuals, tools and product guides to self-diagnose and self-repair machines, while respecting intellectual property and legislated legal requirements of the manufacturer. It also reconfirms the ability to lease diagnostic tools, purchase products and parts from CLAAS dealers.