View source for Claas

{{Short description|Global agricultural machinery manufacturer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = CLAAS KGaA mbH
| logo = [[File:Claas Logo.svg|200px|Claas logo]]
| type = [[Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien|GmbH & Co. KGaA]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1913}}
| founder = August Claas
| location_city = [[Harsewinkel]]
| location_country = Germany
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = CEO Thomas Böck
| products = [[Tractor]]s<br>[[Combine harvester|Combines]]<br>[[Gearbox]]es and [[Axle]]s<br>[[Baler]]s<br>[[Forage harvester]]s<br>[[Telescopic handler]]s<br>[[Wheel loaders]]<br>Farming Information Technology
| num_employees = 11,448 (2019)
| revenue = {{gain}} €3.898 bn (2019)<ref>https://www.claas-gruppe.com/blueprint/servlet/blob/1900026/cbcecb316639b4d9dfcc2801bdcc0ce5/geschaeftsbericht-2019-data.pdf}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| industry = [[Agricultural machinery]]
| homepage = [http://www.claas.com/ www.claas.com]
}}
[[File:CLAAS Dominator 96 Västerby 03b.jpg|thumb|261x261px| Claas Dominator 96 combine harvester]]
[[File:CLAAS LEXION 740 .jpg|thumb|CLAAS LEXION 740 combine harvester|260x260px]]
[[File:Claas Trion 730 Terra Trac Agritechnica 2023 (DSC07010).jpg|thumb|261x261px|CLAAS TRION 730 combine harvester]]
[[File:XERION with Dual Tires.jpg|thumb|261x261px|CLAAS XERION  tractor]]
[[File:Claas Axion 960 Terra Trac Agritechnica 2019 - Front and right side.jpg|thumb|258x258px|AXION 960 TERRA TRAC]]
'''CLAAS''' is an [[agricultural machinery]] manufacturer based in [[Harsewinkel]], [[Germany]], in the federal state of [[North Rhine Westphalia]]. Founded in 1913 by [[August Claas]], CLAAS is a family business and one of the market and technology leaders in [[harvest]]ing technology. It is the European market leader in [[combine harvester]]s and considered as world market leader in self-propelled [[forage harvester]]s. The product range also includes  [[tractor]]s, [[baler]]s, [[mower]]s, rakes, [[tedder (machine)|tedder]]s, [[silage]] trailers, [[wheel loaders]], [[Telescopic handler|telehandlers]] and other harvesting equipment as well as farming information technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roedl.com/media/press-releases/roedl-partner-advises-claas-america-tingley-family-sale-majority-shares|title=Rödl & Partner advises CLAAS of America, Inc. ("CLAAS") and the...|website=roedl.com|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> CLAAS employs around 11,500 employees worldwide and reported a turnover of roughly 3.9&nbsp;billion euros in the 2019 financial year. About 78.5% of sales are generated outside of Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-gruppe.com/investor/geschaeftsbericht|title=Geschäftsbericht 2019|website=claas-gruppe.com|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>
==History==
=== Early days ===
The beginnings of the company go back to 1887, when [[Franz Claas]] founded a company in Clarholz for the production of milk [[Centrifuge|centrifuges]]. From about 1900 onwards, he also manufactured other [[agricultural machinery]] there, such as straw binders and cutters for mowing machines.
The official foundation of the company took place in 1913, when the son of [[Franz Claas]], [[August Claas]], informed the responsible office in Herzebrock that he was manufacturing straw binders with two locksmiths and one unskilled worker. In 1914 his brothers Franz jun. and [[Bernhard Claas]] also joined the company. The company was then continued under the name "Gebr. Claas". The fourth brother, Theo, officially joined the company as a partner in 1940.
=== Growth period ===
After their return from the First World War, the Claas brothers and sisters moved their company to Harsewinkel in 1919, where they bought a disused hard stone factory and continued production. The export of Claas products now also began from Harsewinkel, initially to Holland, France and Belgium.
In 1930, the development of the first CLAAS combine harvester began, initially as machines using the fore-cut principle. The first CLAAS straw baler was produced in 1931. In 1936, the company launched the first combine harvester designed specifically for European harvesting conditions, the combine harvester (ger. Mäh-Dresch-Binder – MDB). This was then mass-produced from 1937. Until the production was stopped due to the war in 1943, approx. 1400 machines were produced.
<br />
[[File:Claas Jaguar 950 AB 2017 01.JPG|thumb|248x248px|CLAAS JAGUAR]]
[[File:Claas Luftbild.jpg|thumb|255x255px|CLAAS production facility in Harsewinkel]]
[[File:Feldhaecksler-Mais.jpg|thumb|CLAAS tractor, CLAAS forage harvester|258x258px]]At the same time as the 1000th combine harvester was built in 1942, development of the CLAAS SUPER began. This came onto the market in 1946. By the end of production in 1978, more than 65,000 units had been produced by this combine harvester family.
In 1956 a new factory was established in Paderborn. This was now the third location besides the plant in Harsewinkel and the Christopherus-Hütte in Gütersloh-Blankenhagen, which was built in 1948. In 1961, the new CLAAS baler factory in Metz (France) was added, which has been operating under the name Usines Claas France S.A. since 1969.
Helmut Claas, the son of August Claas, became managing director for Engineering in 1962. By then CLAAS was already the No. 1 combine harvester manufacturer in Europe. 1969 saw the takeover of Josef Bautz AG in Saulgau with a factory for forage harvesting machinery. One year later, the Speiser company from Göppingen, which specialised in forage harvesting technology. The company continued to grow steadily and presented new products for forage harvesting such as mowers, tedders, windrowers, loader wagons and trailed forage harvesters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.landtechnik-historisch.de/historische-landmaschinen/claas-maschinenfabrik/|title=Claas Maschinenfabrik|website=landtechnik-historisch.de|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/history|title=Topics|website=claas-group.com|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>
In 1978 Helmut Claas took over as chairman of the management board.
=== Establishment as a global agricultural technology company ===
Since the 1990s, the company has strengthened its international presence in non-European countries. New production and sales locations were established in India (1989), the US (1999), Russia (2005), China (2012/2014) and South America, among others. With the acquisition of a majority stake in [[Renault Agriculture]] in 2003, CLAAS expanded its product range to include standard tractors. On 11 February 2003, the 400,000th combine harvester left the production line at the main plant in Harsewinkel.
In 2011 the LEXION 770 set a [[Guinness World Record]] with 675.84 tonnes of grain harvested in eight hours.<ref name="Combine Harvesting (Wheat) - Team in Eight Hours">{{cite web|title=Combine Harvesting (Wheat) – Team in Eight Hours|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/1/combine-harvesting-(wheat)-team-in-eight-hours|publisher=Guinness World Records|accessdate=10 August 2013}}</ref>
With the construction of the new development center for electronics in Dissen, Lower Saxony, CLAAS set the course for another important future field in 2017: the digitalization of agriculture.
Since 1 October 2019 the company has been led by CEO Thomas Böck.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Management|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/management/thomas-boeck|access-date=2020-07-27|website=www.claas-group.com|language=en}}</ref>
== Product portfolio ==
CLAAS is well known as harvest specialist, offering combine harvesters in various sizes. The largest model series is the LEXION, which has been produced since 1995 and is now in its fourth generation. The LEXION 8900 has a maximum output of 790&nbsp;hp and is available with tyres or crawler tracks (TERRA TRAC) on the front axle. Both options allow a top speed of 31&nbsp;mph (50&nbsp;km/h). The cutter bars are up to 13.79 meters wide and the grain tank holds up to 18,000 liters. CLAAS offers also the two smaller combine product families, the TRION and the EVION. CLAAS also offers a TUCANO 320 from the former TUCANO range which consisted of the TUCANO 500, TUCANO 400, and the TUCANO 300, which was only recently discontinued in Favour of the TRION/EVION Ranges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas.co.uk/products/combines|title = The European leader, made in Germany – CLAAS combine harvesters}}</ref>
In August 2021, CLAAS unveiled a new product line of harvesters called TRION. The TRION is a Replacement for the Larger TUCANO models and the Smaller 2012-2019 Lexion Harvesters. The range consists of the TRION 700, TRION 600, and TRION 500 series. They are powered by [[Cummins]] engines.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New: TRION|url=https://www.claas.co.uk/products/combines/trion|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.claas.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>
In July 2023, CLAAS unveiled the new EVION 400 Harvester Range, a Replacement for the previous AVERO and smaller TUCANO models.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EVION 400 |url=https://www.claas.ie/products/combines/evion |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=www.claas.ie |language=en}}</ref>
The CLAAS forage harvester is called JAGUAR. CLAAS is considered as world market leader in the silage chopper market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/business/claas-hits-jaguar-milestone/article_0abbc98b-87aa-565a-998f-379972007e23.html|title = Claas hits Jaguar milestone}}</ref>
The manufacturer produces and sells tractors from 47&nbsp;hp to 653&nbsp;hp. The XERION is the biggest tractor in the CLAAS product range, and is easy to recognize with four equally-sized wheels.
The AXION model series is available from 205&nbsp;hp (AXION 800) to 445&nbsp;hp in the AXION 960. Since 2019, CLAAS has offered an optional track system for the AXION 900 series, instead of the rear wheels, called TERRA TRAC providing an exceptionally smooth operation with reduced ground compaction.
The ARION model range consists of [[Tractor]]s ranging from 95&nbsp;hp (ARION 410) to 205&nbsp;hp (ARION 660). The ARION model range includes the ARION 400, ARION 500, ARION 600, and ARION 600C.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A family gathering – tractors from CLAAS.|url=https://www.claas.com.au/products/tractors|access-date=2021-04-15|website=www.claas.com.au|language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
Product Range
!Combine harvesters
!Self-propelled forage harvesters
!Tractors
!Balers
!Wheel loaders
!Telehandlers
!Forage harvesting machinery
|-
|LEXION 8900-7400
|JAGUAR 990-930
|XERION 5000-4000 12.650-12.540
|QUADRANT 5300-4000
|TORION 1914-535
|SCORPION 1033-635
|DISCO
|-
|LEXION 6900-5300
|JAGUAR 870-840
|AXION 960-920
|ROLLANT 620-375
|
|
|CORTO
|-
|TRION 750
|ORBIS cutting systems
|AXION 870-800
|VARIANT 485-450
|
|
|VOLTO
|-
|TRION 730-720
|
|ARION 660-610
|MARKANT 650
|
|
|LINER
|-
|TRION 660-520
|
|ARION 550-510
|
|
|
|CARGOS 9600-740
|-
|TUCANO 320
|
|ARION 460-410
|
|
|
|
|-
|EVION 400
|
|ATOS 350-220
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|ELIOS 240-210
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|NEXOS 250-210
|
|
|
|
|}
[[File:Claas Lexion 760 V 900 Moravia 02.jpg|thumb|251x251px|LEXION 760 in grain harvest]]
== Company locations ==
[[File:Drone video of combine harvester and tractor on a field in Jõgevamaa, Estonia (July 2022).webm|thumb|Drone video of CLAAS Tucano 430 on a field in Jõgevamaa, Estonia (August 2022)]]
CLAAS is an international company active worldwide.
=== Harsewinkel, Germany ===
Harsewinkel, CLAAS' headquarters, hosts the company's administration and a major factory.
Harsewinkel plant was opened in 1919. Combine harvesters have been manufactured here since 1936. To date, over 400,000 have been built. CLAAS produces also forage harvesters and the XERION tractor in Harsewinkel. Between 2000 and 2003, the factory was expanded so that not only finished machines but also individual components for other CLAAS plants can be produced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/locations/germany/harsewinkel|title=Locations Germany|website=claas-group.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> The machines manufactured at the main plant in Harsewinkel are transported about half by rail and half by truck. The choice of the means of transport depends mainly on the destination country. To Western Europe (especially Germany, France, Spain), transport is mainly by road. To the seaports of [[Bremen]] and [[Hamburg]] as well as to Southeast and Eastern Europe (especially [[Poland]], [[Romania]] and former [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] states) rail transport is predominant. The importance of rail traffic is reflected in the fact that as early as 1967, a 3.1-kilometer-long connecting railway was built, leading from the Ibbenbüren – Gütersloh line of the Teutoburger Wald-Eisenbahn (TWE) to the company's own Harsewinkel-West works station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.captrain.de/presse/pressemeldungen/captrain-bringt-landmaschinen-zurueck-auf-die-schiene/|title=FLEXIBLE SHUTTLEZÜGE ÜBERZEUGEN MARKTFÜHRER CLAAS|last=Renner|first=Robert|date=4 July 2017|website=captrain.de|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103205450/https://www.captrain.de/presse/pressemeldungen/captrain-bringt-landmaschinen-zurueck-auf-die-schiene/ |archive-date=3 January 2020 |access-date=}}</ref>
=== Bad Saulgau, Germany ===
CLAAS's facilities in [[Bad Saulgau]] develop, test and manufacture forage harvesting machines and attachments. Additionally, the chopper unit of the JAGUAR comes from this production site. The Bad Saulgau site is also home to a test center for forage harvesting technology and the CLAAS Group's Competence Center for Tractor-Implement-Automation (TIM).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/locations/germany/bad_saulgau|title=Locations Germany|website=claas-group.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
=== Le Mans, France ===
Following the acquisition of a majority stake in [[Renault Agriculture]], CLAAS has also been offering a complete range of tractors since 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profi.de/aktuell/aktuelle-meldungen/claas-uebernimmt-renault-vollstaendig-11775510.html|title=Claas übernimmt Renault vollständig|date=20 September 2010|website=profi|language=de|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> All CLAAS tractor models except of the XERION are manufactured at the [[Le Mans]] factory, two hours' drive southwest of [[Paris]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-gruppe.com/gruppe/standorte/europa/frankreich/le_mans|title=Standorte Europa|website=claas-gruppe.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> In 2021, a three-year refurbishment of the factory was completed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CLAAS launches the "Future Factory" in Le Mans|url=https://www.claas.co.uk/news-testimonials/current/claas-news/claas-launches-the--future-factory--in-le-mans-/2487928|access-date=2021-07-23|website=www.claas.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>
=== Metz, France ===
At the CLAAS plant in [[Metz]], 400 employees manufacture balers for the agricultural industry. Since the start of production in 1958, over 300,000 have been manufactured. Each type of baler is produced on its own welding and sheet metal processing line. This saves costly retooling and enables the simultaneous production of all models.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/locations/europe/frankreich/metz|title=Locations Europe|website=claas-group.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
=== Törökszentmiklós, Hungary ===
800 employees work at the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] location [[Törökszentmiklós]], southwest of [[Budapest]]. It has been part of the CLAAS Group since 1997 and has developed into the competence center for cutter bars and drum mowers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/locations/europe/ungarn/toeroekszentmiklos|title=Locations Europe|website=claas-group.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
=== Columbus, Indiana and Omaha, Nebraska, US ===
CLAAS machines have been harvesting in North American fields since the 1950s. Since the founding of the CLAAS of America (COA) sales company in 1979 and the subsequent laying of the foundation stone in [[Columbus, Indiana|Columbus]], [[Indiana]], in 1981, sales have been handled by CLAAS dealers. With the growing business in the [[United States|US]], the spare parts department in Columbus, which is responsible for the entire US and [[Canada]], has also been greatly expanded.
The production company CLAAS [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] (COL) has been manufacturing LEXION combine harvesters since 1999. COL is also jointly responsible for product development of the US machines. The plant is located in the largest grain growing areas in the US and was initially operated in cooperation with [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] – since 2002 fully owned by CLAAS. Today, the LEXION combine harvesters are no longer sold exclusively through Caterpillar dealers, but also through other distribution channels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-gruppe.com/gruppe/standorte/amerika/usa|title=Standorte Amerika|website=claas-gruppe.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> Until 2019 the combines produced in Omaha had a yellow and black paint. With the start of the production of the new LEXION model series for the North American market at the factory in Omaha, Nebraska color scheme changed to the typical CLAAS green-white-red.
[[File:CLAAS_LEXION_740_.jpg|alt=|thumb|347x347px|CLAAS LEXION 740 in yellow and black paint scheme]]
[[File:CLAAS_LEXION_740.jpg|alt=|thumb|350x350px|CLAAS LEXION 740 in yellow and black paint scheme]]
=== Krasnodar, Russia ===
The factory in [[Krasnodar]], located in the granary of [[Russia]], started operations in 2005. This made CLAAS the first major agricultural engineering manufacturer to operate its own production facilities in Russia. The production facility in Krasnodar is designed for a capacity of 1,000 machines per year and aims to develop into a local center of excellence in agricultural engineering. In 2015, the company invested a further 120&nbsp;million euros in the expansion of the plant. Combine harvesters are produced there including metalworking, painting and assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.claas-group.com/the-group/locations/europe/russland/krasnodar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214141946/http://www.claas-group.com/the-group/locations/europe/russland/krasnodar|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 February 2015|title=Locations Europe|website=claas-group.com|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
=== Sunchales, Argentina ===
As early as the 1950s, CLAAS sold harvesting machines to [[Argentina]]. The local subsidiary has existed since 2000 in [[Sunchales, Santa Fe|Sunchales]], Provinz [[Santa Fe, Argentina|Santa Fé]]. In addition, five further spare parts and service centers ensure that CLAAS service is guaranteed throughout Argentina.
In 2006 the possibility that CLAAS Argentina set up a factory in Argentina was tangible and by 2013, began to produce the TUCANO combine harvester, with a motor of 270 to 360&nbsp;hp (Class VI or VIII). Models produced include the TUCANO 570,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pesadosargentinos.blogspot.com.ar/2015/11/claas-tucano-570.html|title = Pesados Argentinos: Claas Tucano 570|date = 17 June 2016}}</ref> TUCANO 470<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pesadosargentinos.blogspot.com.ar/2014/12/claas-tucano-470.html|title = Pesados Argentinos: Claas Tucano 470|date = 17 June 2016}}</ref> and TUCANO 560.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pesadosargentinos.blogspot.com.ar/2016/06/claas-tucano-560.html|title = Pesados Argentinos: Claas Tucano 560|date = 17 June 2016}}</ref> At the same time, the company advanced assembly capacity.
In the town of Ameghino, [[Buenos Aires]], CLAAS manufactures headers and other equipment and components.
=== Chandigarh, India ===
CLAAS opened a plant near [[Chandigarh]] in 2008. It is located 300&nbsp;km north of [[New Delhi]], in the middle of the most fertile areas of Northern [[India]]. The plant is designed for a capacity of around 900 combine harvesters per year. The CROP TIGER combine harvester is mainly produced in the Chandigarh plant in both wheeled and TERRA TRAC tracked versions. With the crawler tracks, this machine is particularly suitable for wet soils and is therefore sold in Southern India, [[Sri Lanka]], [[South Korea]] and other [[Southeast Asia|South-East Asian]] countries. The wheeled version of the CROP TIGER is mainly used in dry conditions such as in Northern India, the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa]].
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Claas}}
* [http://www.claas.com/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713213413/http://app.claas.com/claas_museum/uk/ausstellung/frameset_ausstellung.html Claas Museum]
* [https://www.farmtractorspecs.com/agricultural-tractors-specs/claas-2/ Claas Tractors Specs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124043638/https://www.farmtractorspecs.com/agricultural-tractors-specs/claas-2/ |date=24 November 2020 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Claas}}
[[Category:Claas| ]]
[[Category:Agricultural machinery manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:Tractor manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:German brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies of Germany]]
[[Category:Diesel engine manufacturers]]
[[Category:Automotive transmission makers]]
[[Category:Engine manufacturers of Germany]]