Claas Balers Turn 30
Claas built its first variable chamber round baler - the Variant 100 - in 1996, so 2026 marks 30 years and the fifth generation of the Variant name, recently complemented by the new Cerex Series introduced in 2025.
However, the pair recently revealed a new collaborative concept they have been exploring. The Combined Powers project centres around a 230hp diesel-electric autonomous tractor that sees electricity, produced by the drive unit, transferred to the wheels, PTO and hydraulic systems.
The machine is said to have been developed to address the increasing problem of finding skilled labour. Both companies believe it will also free farmers from spending extended hours in the paddock undertaking harvest, cultivation and planting.
Tested in secret during 2021, no doubt helped by the ongoing Covid pandemic creating lockdowns and removing “prying” eyes, the concept was tested with a wide range of implements – including ploughs, cultivators and drills, as well as mowers tedders and swathers.
In practise, what were tractor drivers will now become machine operators – controlling the unit from a mobile device. This will involve transmitting jobs and receiving completed job reports via a communications module and Agri-Router – an already established data exchange hub.
In the paddock, sensors mounted on the drive unit will monitor the immediate surroundings and the implement – with the former being controlled by the latter. This, the companies explain, is important to achieve consistent and accurate work.
Based on experience with ISOBUS and TIM on existing Krone and Lemken products, the drive unit and implements communicate and interact sharing all types of data.
