Krone Group Earnings Drop Despite Stable Farm Machinery Sales
While turnover was back slightly at €2.3 billion in 2024/2025 (previous year €2.4 billion), the German Krone Group saw earnings fall from €107 million to €40.1 million.
It is not just the 41-knife chopping system, complemented by a gearbox drive system for the full-width belt variable chamber baler, with a complete absence of drive chains throughout, even for the pick-up. Indeed, the latter is powered hydraulically, with the configuration allowing the addition of an extra row of tines and increased width to 2.24m.
The pick-up can also automatically alter its rotational speed to match the forward speed of the tractor. The Hardox chopping rotor is also gearbox driven on the right-hand side of the machine, allowing inputs of up to 340hp and an overall rating of up to 5000Nm. To help achieve an output of 40 bales per hour, the manufacturer recommends you need around 250hp ahead of the HDP.
The drawer/cassette for the chopping unit slides out laterally to the side of the machine for swapping out the 41 knives, with the option alternatively manually select five, 20 or 21 knives, if the theoretical 27mm chop - claimed to be the shortest in the market - is not required.
Krone suggests that the very short chop will help reduce mixing times and provide a more homogenous ration when bales are used in a diet feeder. Equipped with two binding units, both can be loaded with film and/or net.
To keep up the baling pace, a transfer kicker sends the completed bale to the wrapping table, where it will be dealt with by twin-satellites spinning at up to 40rpm.
In other Krone news, the company has confirmed that it will temporarily suspend exports of its large forage harvesters and wide-area mowers to the United States, citing the growing impact of US steel derivative tariffs and the resulting increase in administrative and compliance costs.
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Primarily affecting the flagship BiG X forage harvesters and BiG M Mo-Co’s, both series are aimed at high-acreage operations in the US corn belt and dairy regions. According to the company, the complex import certification procedures and unpredictable tariff assessments on steel-intensive machinery have made the current export framework economically unsustainable.
Krone will continue to deliver compact and mid-sized equipment to North America, while it evaluates alternative strategies, such as local assembly or sourcing partnerships. The pause also reflects a broader trend among European manufacturers facing the dual challenge of trade barriers and logistical inflation, which are reshaping traditional export models.
