Bad Saulgau is the CLAAS Group’s “Center of Excellence” for the forage harvesting process chain; producing disc mowers, rakes, tedders and heads for the industry-leading JAGUAR forage harvester. The facility has expanded considerably over recent years and continued to increase its turnover even through the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of an ongoing investment program, the site’s infrastructure is currently being expanded and upgraded, while an existing 16,000 sq ft building is being redesigned to create additional assembly space. In addition, the entire energy infrastructure is being adapted and upgraded over several stages to meet future production capacity. This will be followed by investments in production logistics and assembly optimization.

“In North America, CLAAS has led the forage harvesting market, continuing to deliver high-performance machines that deliver outstanding forage quality,” says Eric Raby, CLAAS Senior Vice President, Americas. “This expansion will allow us to continue providing farmers with equipment that meets their harvesting needs.”

Focus on growth segments

The success of CLAAS forage harvesting equipment and, most importantly, the positive sales forecasts for the new ORBIS header line, spurred the changes in the Bad Saulgau plant.

"We continue to observe an unbroken trend toward professional harvesting technology and enjoy an excellent positioning here with many product lines," explained Uli Nickol, Head of the CLAAS Forage Harvesting Division and Managing Director at CLAAS Saulgau GmbH and CLAAS Material Handling GmbH. "An example of this is the enormous demand for our new ORBIS row-crop headers, especially the new ORBIS 900, which has significantly exceeded our expectations. In addition to technology for the harvesting chain based around the forage harvester, CLAAS will also be expanding, modernizing, and professionalizing its range of mowers, tedders, rakes, and balers with many new products over the next few years. New innovations are currently being developed and tested to achieve this."

CLAAS will further consolidate its position as the world market leader when it comes to forage harvesters and one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of mowers, tedders, rakes and balers. Just recently, a brand-new generation of LINER 4-rotor rakes with a patented cardanic system and unique frame design was introduced. It was met with enormous interest from farmers and contractors worldwide. Another new, ground-breaking achievement in the mower segment is the unique DISCO 4400 vector folding system, which was also recently unveiled.

"CLAAS has once again shown itself to be the leading pace-setter in professional forage harvesting," Nickol adds. "The investments in the Bad Saulgau site aim to ensure that our expectations for growth are supported by high-performance production at the highest level of quality. Furthermore, new requirements in terms of documentation and the high-impact harvesting of renewable raw materials for energy production are resulting in an increasing demand for harvesting chains featuring yield and content detection via NIRS technology, something we are ideally suited to meet with the JAGUAR forage harvester."

• The TRION 740 is an all-new Class 7 combine, bringing new life to the segment.
• The AXION 900 TT is the first half-track tractor with full suspension in the market.

“Innovative, efficient, reliable and bold are a few words I would use to describe the TRION 740 and AXION 900 TT,” says Eric Raby, Senior Vice President, Americas, for CLAAS. “By listening to the needs of our customers and bringing our brightest thinking into research and development, CLAAS is providing customers with two truly innovative products that will take their farming operation to new levels of productivity.”

These products are the result of years of relentless development focused on improving efficiency, increasing productivity, and exceeding farmer expectations. The TRION is designed for corn and soybean farmers who are looking for a reliable machine in the right-sized and right-priced package that still offers high performance. The AXION 900 TT maintains the great qualities of the standard-wheeled AXION tractor, but delivers the added benefits tracks provide, such as better flotation, less compaction, added traction and superior comfort.

TRION 740 Combine Delivers Power and Reliability in an Affordable Package

For nearly 25 years, CLAAS combines have set the standard for throughput and efficiency on farms across North America. That legacy continues with the addition of the TRION 740 to the CLAAS product portfolio. The TRION is newly designed to provide small to mid-sized operators a competitive edge.

The TRION is a combination of proven components that one would expect from CLAAS, along with new innovations to maximize today’s harvesting conditions. 

“The Class 7 combine market segment has long been in need of new innovation,” says Greg Frenzel, CLAAS Product Manager – Combines. The CLAAS TRION 740 was designed from the ground up to address the needs of 1000- to 3000-acre farms, a segment of farms making up over 30% of all combines sold in North America. The company’s latest combine design re-energizes this segment by delivering CLAAS innovation in an unparalleled crop flow design on an affordable and reliable chassis.

Machine reliability is a high priority. The CLAAS TRION offers long greasing intervals and extended wear parts across 60% of the crop flow to minimize downtime. It has been proven in five years of field tests across three different continents. With affordability in mind, the CLAAS TRION also offers active slope compensation and minimal fuel consumption to keep more dollars in farmers’ pockets.

In a combine, threshing and separation are key. With the CLAAS TRION, threshing adjustments are made in-line with the changing harvest conditions throughout the day. A tri-cylinder APS threshing unit gently guides a 56-inch-wide crop mat across concave grates into a single rotor, ensuring that more grain makes it to the tank. Only CLAAS brings individually controlled cylinder threshing and rotor separation together in one machine.

With the CLAAS TRION, farmers are equipped with a 402 horsepower Cummins engine, providing high torque at low RPM’s. This power level easily handles 12-row chopping corn heads or draper headers up to 40 feet wide. Pairing the 341-bushel grain tank and 3.8 bushel per second unloading rate simplifies grain handling in the field. A top road speed of 19 miles per hour means the CLAAS TRION is prompt between fields. Changing to harvest soybeans rather than corn takes less than five minutes, keeping idle time in the middle of the day to a minimum.

AXION 900 TT Further Enhances Productivity and Efficiency

Better flotation, traction, operator comfort and soil protection are just a few of the advantages farmers get with the CLAAS AXION 900 TT – the world’s first fully-suspended half-track tractor. With its debut, the machine makes farming more efficient and productive in wet, dry or heavy soils.

“We look to our customers to continuously evolve our approach to the design and innovation of new products,” says Drew Fletcher, CLAAS Product Manager – Tractors. “Through extensive testing and discovering numerous advantages with this product compared to other manufacturers, this is technology we’re thrilled to bring to market.”

The TERRA TRAC design is based on the technology currently used in other CLAAS machines. Using a front-wheel, rear-track design with independent suspension, the CLAAS AXION 900 TT provides advantages such as 25% less ground pressure, 15% greater traction and reduced soil disturbance. Between the standard four-point cab suspension and fully-suspended tracks, the ride of this tractor is also exceptional. 

Like all CLAAS AXION models, the AXION 900 TT is equipped with an 8.7 L FPT engine and maintains a low-speed, high-torque concept at 1,400 RPM for significant engine efficiency. The machine also has a continuously variable CMATIC transmission that offers industry-leading fuel savings in a variety of agricultural applications. From the operator’s perspective, brake-assisted steering for seamless turns and drawbar height adjustment for easy implement hook-ups make for even more added convenience.  

The CLAAS AXION 960 and 930 models, with 440 and 350 horsepower respectively, are available to order with the TERRA TRAC options. They are currently available with 25-, 29- or 35-inch belts. 18-inch belts on 88- and 120-inch centers will be available in 2023.

"All those who knew Reinhold Claas appreciated him for his friendly and modest manner. People and the well-being of the family business always came first for him. Through his actions in important phases of the company's history, he made a significant contribution to our success today," said Thomas Böck, CEO of CLAAS.

Reinhold Claas graduated in 1958 from Darmstadt Technical University as an industrial engineer. He was one of the first graduates of this new interdisciplinary course of study, consisting of mechanical engineering and business administration. Reinhold Claas officially joined the company with his brother Helmut in July 1957. His main focus was on the development of balers and forage harvesters. Among other things, he was responsible for setting up baler production at the newly built factory in Metz, France. Until the 1970s, he expanded the production site and developed it to its current size.

Reinhold Claas was also the driving force behind the takeover of the renowned specialist for forage harvesting machines, the former Josef Bautz GmbH in Bad Saulgau, which joined CLAAS in 1969. As its managing director for many years, he developed the affiliate in Southern Germany into what would later become a successful and innovative product division. Reinhold Claas was also active as an entrepreneur outside the family business. In 1958, he took over two ball-bearing companies - one in Fribourg, Switzerland, with 250 employees, and another in Munderkingen, Swabia, with 550 employees. He managed both companies until the 1990s. During this time, he also applied for more than 40 patents.

In the region around his hometown of Harsewinkel, Reinhold Claas was socially involved in many clubs and organizations, especially in football and handball, which earned him high recognition. His great passion in his private life was hunting.

Reinhold Claas was married to his wife Doris for many years, before her passing in December 2005. The marriage produced sons Volker and Rüdiger Claas. The early death of his son Volker Claas, who died in January 2022 at the age of 57, hit him particularly hard. Most recently, Reinhold Claas held a seat on the Supervisory Board and two advisory boards. In the CLAAS Group, his son Rüdiger Claas is now the third generation to succeed his father.

The death of Reinhold Claas deeply saddens his family, the shareholders, the Executive Board and the employees of CLAAS Group.

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.