It's Back!

The agricultural equipment dealership will now be the exclusive dealer for all CLAAS products, including the JAGUAR forager in Eastern Ontario. All of this is in addition to their current location in Alliston, Ontario.

"The expansion will enhance our support to farmers in Ontario," said David Vander Zaag, President of HJV. "It has always been our top priority to provide our CLAAS customers with exceptional customer service, reliable parts inventory and factory-trained service technicians, along with new in-stock units."

HJV Equipment offers the entire North American lineup of CLAAS agricultural equipment along with other product lines to meet the demands of Ontario farmers. Each store features a full stock of parts, a knowledgeable sales team and a complement of skilled technicians. HJV Equipment places a strong emphasis on customer service and strives to build long-term relationships with its local growers.

"HJV Equipment represents what it means to be a long-line CLAAS dealer, and we are excited for their expanded presence in the region," said Torey Hadland, CLAAS Region Director – Canada. "Ontario remains an important market for CLAAS, and with this additional territory, we are able to continue our growth and expand our brand's reach due to their hard work and relationships they've built with growers in the area."

HJV Equipment is a trusted flagship dealer for CLAAS, selling the CLAAS LEXION combine for more than ten years. The partnership focuses on growing and supporting the existing business in the Eastern Canadian market. For more information on HJV Equipment and their CLAAS equipment offerings, visit hjvequip.com.

Along with his responsibilities as shareholder and representative of the family, Volker Claas was also actively involved in the company's operations from 1994 to the present. His area of expertise was market research, which he headed from 2004 and transformed into an important division of the company.

"Volker Claas was closely involved with CLAAS for decades. It was his ambition to get to know our customers as well as possible and to ensure their complete satisfaction. His many years of expertise made a valuable contribution to the growth of our family business and the penetration of new markets," explained Thomas Böck, Chairman of the CLAAS Group Executive Board.

His extensive specialist knowledge and advice, especially in the areas of marketing and sales, as well as on issues related to strategic orientation, were highly valued by all. He was deeply rooted in the company thanks to his many years of successful work in management positions. Staff, customers and partners valued him above all for his down-to-earth and personable manner.

The passing of Volker Claas leaves his family, the shareholders, the Group Executive Board and staff deeply saddened.
 

• Revenue rises by 19 percent to €4.8 billion
  
• Double-digit growth in all world regions
  
• Significant improvement in pre-tax earnings
  
• Outlook for 2022: Moderate rise in revenue and results just below last year’s figures
  

Last year’s growth in North America and Eastern Europe has been joined by the core markets in Western and Central Europe, including Germany and France, which are important for CLAAS. The United Kingdom also experienced major growth, despite the significant uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Spending on research and development at a record level

Expenditure on research and development set a new record with €262 million (previous year: €237 million). Investments in innovative electronic architectures and the digitization of agricultural processes remained important focus areas.

Investments in fixed assets totaling €138 million (previous year: €131 million) continued at a high level. In Le Mans, the Future Factory for tractors was reopened in May following an extensive renovation. A modernization project of even larger proportions at the combine harvester production facilities in Harsewinkel, Germany, was also finished. Over 15,000 m² of production space was completely refurbished in just five months. State-of-the-art AGV transport systems are now used in the production areas of both factories, increasing both flexibility and efficiency.

Successful product campaign

With innovative products and a strong sales team, CLAAS was able to acquire new customers and convince existing customers to stay with the company. Launched in 2019, the product campaign for harvesting technology continued with the new TRION combine series introduction throughout Europe and many other regions. The introduction adds a number of new models to the mid-range segment that is unparalleled in this combine harvester class.

There have also been significant developments in the tractor segment, where a number of new fuel saving and performance enhancing features were introduced. There was also a wealth of innovation in the forage harvesting segment, which included an extensive technical update for the QUADRANT large square baler.

Rise in the global workforce

The number of employees around the world rose over the course of the year and was 11,957 at the end of the fiscal year (previous year: 11,395). In Germany, the number rose by 3.5 percent to 5,790 (previous year: 5,596), and by 4.3 percent to 2,377 in France (previous year: 2,279). Group-wide, the number of trainees also increased to 775 (previous year: 714), of whom 473 were based in Germany (previous year: 430).

CLAAS Group in numbers

Outlook

The supply situation and price development in the procurement markets present a greater risk compared to last year. Overall, the company anticipates stable demand for agricultural machinery in the most important sales regions during the 2022 fiscal year. Despite these uncertainties, CLAAS expects a rise in revenue and a slightly lower result in a year-on-year comparison.

Further details and more exciting stories can be found at annualreport.claas.com.

Supply chain disruptions and financial constraints have affected many growers across North America. Now, growers can get the right CLAAS equipment — from combines and tractors to forage harvesters and hay tools — at a price that fits their operation. The CLAAS pre-owned equipment can be accessed through CLAASUsedEquipment.com.

“Every operation has different equipment needs, but today's business-minded ag professional should not have to compromise on efficiency or the bottom line,” says Allen Miller, North American Remarketing Manager. “By combining the superior power and efficiency of CLAAS machines at a pre-owned price with a one-year protection plan and excellent low-rate financing, growers who take advantage of the CLAAS Certified Pre-Owned program can have the best of both worlds.”

Buy with Confidence

To uphold confidence in all purchases, CLAAS has incorporated a Certified Pre-Owned equipment standard within the CLAAS USED program. All certified machines have been inspected, repaired and approved based on rigorous criteria by CLAAS Certified Technicians. This gives growers the kind of performance, efficiency and engineering that is expected from a CLAAS machine. Certified Pre-Owned equipment includes the following benefits:

• Comprehensive machine inspection performed by CLAAS Certified Technicians.
  
• Repairs made with CLAAS ORIGINAL parts.
  
• One-year drive-train protection plan, with the option to upgrade to a comprehensive protection plan.
  

New Protection Plans

The CLAAS USED program also provides affordable protection for pre-owned combines, forage harvesters and tractors with flexible protection plans.

• CLAAS USED Drive Train Protection comes standard on all CLAAS Certified Pre-Owned machines. It's also available for purchase on select CLAAS used combines, forage harvesters and tractors that meet strict age and hour requirements.
  
• MAXI CARE Comprehensive Extended Protection is an optional layer of coverage for CLAAS Certified Pre-Owned machines meeting the strictest inspection standards. This added protection is available for purchase on select CLAAS used combines, forage harvesters or tractors.
  

Shop Online

CLAASUsedEquipment.com is the one-stop portal for browsing CLAAS Pre-Owned equipment. Whether looking for a combine, forage harvester, tractor, baler or hay tool, growers can find their next machine in minutes. Easily search for pre-owned CLAAS equipment to find the right fit for any operation and connect with dealerships for questions and purchases.

Great Financing Offers

Right now, growers can also get 0% financing for 24 months on CLAAS Pre-Owned LEXION Combines and JAGUAR Forage Harvesters. View special offer details for the United States and Canada.

For more information about CLAAS USED, visit the website or contact your local CLAAS dealer.