20 years of the CLAAS LEXION

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A PROUD LEGACY On 16th July 2016, Helmut Claas, Chair of the Shareholders Committee and member of the Supervisory Board, celebrated his 90th birthday. Helmut Claas has for over 60 years nurtured and developed the CLAAS business, which is now one of the world’s leading agricultural enterprises.

In 1962 he was appointed Director of Engineering and he placed special focus on developing pioneering harvesting products, and economically mass producing them opening up the agricultural market to new technologies and efficiencies. A whole series of innovations were initiated or co-created by Mr Claas over time, including the renowned DOMINATOR series in 1970, which went on to become one of the most successful combines in the world.

Succcessor to the DOMINATOR was LEXION, also developed in Mr Claas’ time, and worldwide this is the most advanced and capable combine available today.

This year the 50,000th LEXION came off the production line in Harsewinkel, a true testament to the success of the LEXION range.

In this brochure we talk to a selection of our customers from across the UK and Irleand who have been a part of this remarkable 20 year story. We learn what LEXION has meant to them, the success of their businesses past and present, and looking to the future, with the introduction of new innovative technologies including new steering concepts, controlled traffic farming and innovative on-board computer systems – all further improving harvesting efficiency.

Videos are also available for you to view on claas.co.uk, showing footage of the LEXION range in action this harvest 2016, together with interviews with our testimonial customers. 20 remarkable years – we hope you enjoy the content.

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50,000th LEXION The 50,000th LEXION rolls off the assembly line The 50,000th LEXION has rolled off the CLAAS assembly line in Harsewinkel. During its 21-year success story, the high capacity LEXION combine harvester has become the flagship of international agricultural technology. More than 50,000 parts, 4,000 m of electrical cable and 215 m of hydraulic lines are installed inside each LEXION.

LEXION 400 Series After almost one decade of development, CLAAS introduced the first LEXION combine harvester in 1995. The 400 series offered farmers new high levels of performance.

The APS threshing system, with its threshing drum which was expanded to 600 mm, was for the first time combined with the ROTO PLUS residual grain separation system.

This combination resulted in the proven APS HYBRID system. Drivers could now work in a comfortable cab, equipped with the integrated on-board CEBIS computer. In addition, the GPS PILOT and LASER

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PILOT steering systems made steering the combine easier.

With the LEXION, CLAAS established a new premium segment for agriculture. Six years after its introduction to the market, the 10,000th large combine harvester – a 415 h.p. LEXION 480 with rubber tracks and a potential harvesting capacity of 40 t of grain per hour – rolled off the assembly line. Proof of the great success of the high capacity LEXION on all fields across the world.

LEXION 500 and 600 In 2003 the LEXION 500 series represented the successful further development of the top-class combine harvester. Larger harvesting capacities and refined technical systems, such as adjustable rotor flaps for adapting the separation area and a quick stop for frontmounted attachments, made the operator’s work far easier. Only two years later CLAAS launched the

600 series which, with a harvesting capacity of up to 70 t of grain per hour, provided farmers with a further increase in efficiency.

LEXION 700 Series In 2010 production of the largest LEXION 700 combine harvesters commenced. These can travel at a maximum speed of 40 km/h on the road, work with cutterbars up to 12.30 m wide in a soil- and resource-friendly manner, and have high-performance software, which meticulously documents the harvesting process and provides accurate information to the driver.

LEXION 780 With the LEXION 780, CLAAS set a new milestone in the history of combine harvesters in 2013.

Besides a grain tank with a capacity of 13,500 litres, it is equipped with the integrated CEMOS AUTOMATIC driver assistance system

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The LEXION 700, which now also features a 4D cleaning system and an automatic crop flow control system, received the ‘Machine of the Year 2016’ award at the world’s largest agricultural technology fair Agritechnica.

A big thank you to our 50,000 LEXION customers who have put their trust in CLAAS.

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CLAAS celebrate the 50,000th LEXION: Shareholders and employees involved in the LEXION development pose in front of the jubilee combine.

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Contents FEATURE: STRAW CHOPPER .............................. 34-37

50,000th LEXION......................................................... 4-5

Richard Ledger THE NEW LEXION STRAW WALKERS ................... 8-13 FEATURE: VARIO.................................................... 38-41 THE STRAW WALKER............................................ 14-17

Charles Tyler

Barry White FEATURE: LASER PILOT........................................ 42-47 THE NEW LEXION HYBRID ................................... 18-21

Roy and Jolyon Limbrick

FEATURE: APS HYBRID......................................... 22-27

FEATURE: THE EVOLUTION.................................. 48-51

Jonathan and Jack Bentall

Troy Stuart

EARLY ACTION FINANCE OFFERS 2016.............. 28-29

FEATURE: MSS....................................................... 52-55 Roger, David and Stuart Dickinson

FEATURE: TERRA TRAC........................................ 30-33 Robert and Ed Salmon

Evolution

1995 6

1996

APS HYBRID SYSTEM TERRA TRAC iability Rel Ho ne s

1997 STRAW CHOPPER

1998

1999

2002

2004

VARIO CUTTERBAR

LASER PILOT

EVOLUTION

POWER SPREADER

FEATURE: CEBIS.................................................... 56-59

FEATURE: CONTROLLED TRAFFIC – 7XL AUGER....... 80-85

Ian Watson

William and Harry Barton

FEATURE: JET STREAM........................................ 60-63

FEATURE: STEERING...................................................... 86-89

David and Finlay Hay

Carl Driver

FEATURE: CEMOS.................................................. 64-67

20 YEARS SELLING LEXION........................................... 90-93

David and Edward White

Trevor Smith, Salesman at KIRBY

20 YEARS OF LEXION AT A GLANCE................... 68-69

BOOK YOUR SERVICE EARLY....................................... 94-95

FEATURE: DYNAMIC COOLING............................ 70-75

CLAAS FINANCE UPDATE.............................................. 98-99

Robert Barnes and Stuart Beardsell FEATURE: 4D SIEVES............................................. 76-79 Les Anderson and Neil Ramsay

2004

2005

2006

2009

2013

2015

2017

GPS PILOT

JET STREAM

CRUISE PILOT

CEMOS

DYNAMIC COOLING

4D CLEANING

NEW AUGER

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THE NEW LEXION STRAW WALKERS

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WALKING INTO THE FUTURE Tier 4 F Engines CLAAS chooses the engine that is best for each machine. All LEXION 670 to 620 machines are powered by efficient, powerful engines that meet Stage IV (Tier 4) exhaust emissions requirements. Ample reserves of power are ensured with the power output ranging between 435 and 313 hp.

NEW ENGINES: The facts • Mercedes-Benz OM 470 LA (LEXION 670 / 660) • Mercedes-Benz OM 936 LA (LEXION 650 / 630 / 620) • Emissions standard Stage IV (Tier 4) • Optimised combustion process • Improved engine running characteristics • High torque • Low fuel consumption • Optimal power transmission.

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The emission control is achieved by the use of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction), which converts harmful nitrogen oxides in the exhaust flow into pure water and nitrogen.

The urea for this process is stored in an 80 litre tank. EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) is used in conjunction with SCR to meet the requirements.

NEW max unloading Model Hp Grain Tank speeds

LEXION 670

435

11,000L

130 L/s

LEXION 670 TT

435

11,000L

130 L/s

NEW LEXION 670 MONTANA 435

10,000L

130 L/s

LEXION 660

408

11,000L

130 L/s

NEW LEXION 660 TT

408

11,000L

130 L/s

LEXION 650

354

10,000L

110 L/s

LEXION 630

354

9,000L

110 L/s

NEW LEXION 630 MONTANA 354

9,000L

110 L/s

LEXION 620

9,000L

110 L/s

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LEXION STRAW WALKERS 2017

NEW Dynamic Cooling CLAAS LEXION 670 and 660 machines now have the revolutionary dynamic cooling system. This system features a large radiator that is mounted behind the engine compartment in a horizontal position. Cooling air is draw in from the top of the machine and exits from the sides. This exiting air creates a curtain of air that minimises the amount of dust drawn into the cooling system. A large rotating sieve with a diameter of 1.6 metres ensures that there is always sufficient flow of fresh air. Permanent cleaning is achieved by a dust extraction system. This has the benefit of extending cleaning intervals.

All LEXION models are equipped with a variable fan drive. This ensures that the fan is driven at the appropriate speed at all times, improving efficiency.

NEW AUTO CROP Flow Control The CLAAS automatic crop flow monitoring system is designed to detect blockages before they become a problem. This reduces the risk of down time, making harvest safer, more reliable and reduces operator fatigue.

The operator is free to concentrate on other areas of performance while the system monitors all critical parameters.

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LEXION STRAW WALKERS 2017

NEW Chopping and Spreading The new power spreader is mechanically driven, ensuring perfect spreading. The pair of counterrotating spreaders are belt driven, ensuring constant speed running, which in turn ensures consistent quality spreading even under difficult conditions, such as wet, heavy laid or standing straw.

The chopped material and the

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chaff from the cleaning system are caught in motion and accelerated again. This arrangement reduces the amount of power needed with benefits in fuel consumption.

Each spreading rotor has two movable deflectors, these allow the system to be adjusted to suit any conditions, giving a good spread in unfavourable conditions such as high straw volumes, differing straw moisture, strong crosswinds or sloping fields.

When swathing the power spreader folds away and the drive is

completely disengaged, leaving the caff fan to spread.

In chopping mode the straw chopper feeds material directly to the power spreader. Short straw and caff are routed from the sieve pan to the caff fan and then directly to the power spreader.

This can account for up to 25% of the total throughput.

All LEXION models with power spreader can be equipped with two sensors for automatic adjustment of the direction of discharge for the chopped material. The sensitivity of these sensors is adjustable in CEBIS. The

chaff spreader speed can be adjusted to adjust the spreading width.

Automatic crosswind and slope compensation ensure an even spread regardless of conditions.

NEW CEMOS AUTOMATIC CLEANING in CEBIS AUTO CLEANING continuously adjusts the cleaning system and thereby permanently optimises

the machine for the prevailing harvesting conditions. As a result, the machine is able to automatically deliver maximum throughput while maintaining the highest standards of grain and sample quality and keeping fuel consumption to a minimum. All the operator has to do is activate the automatic functions.

NEW CUTTERBARS The new VARIO (680, 620, 560, 500) and CERIO (680, 620, 560) cutterbars now benefit from the features that were previously only available on the larger 930 and 770 variants in order to provide increased throughput, a better crop flow, high reliability, a reduced maintenance requirement, greater flexibility and more comfort/convenience.

NEW AUTO SLOPE When operating on slopes the material in the residual grain separation system tends to gather on the low side. This results in the sieves being loaded unevenly on one side only.

If the machine is operating uphill, the fan speed must be reduced to

prevent grain losses from the sieve pan.

During downhill operation, the fan speed must be increased to maintain the crop flow in the cleaning system and so ensure that the grain is separated.

AUTO SLOPE now adjusts the fan speed to the conditions, the starting point being the fan speed set beforehand by the operator.

PLUS‌

NEW Lighting Packs NEW Access to walkers NEW Threshing Drum Variator NEW MSS Adjustment 13

THE STRAW WALKER Barry White, Lusk, 2016

1998 – LEXION 450 1998 saw the arrival of the first LEXION at Ballough Farm near Dublin.

A 450 with 6m (20ft) header, it was a huge leap forward from the 1980s harvesters that it replaced.

“Those first LEXION combines really were streets ahead of the competition. Everything about them was better – the luxury cab, the way the auto-contour worked, the straw-chopper – the list went on and on,” says Barry White.

“The capacity was phenomenal and more than we really needed. At the time we were growing less than 1,000 acres of cereals and it coped with that comfortably so we started taking on some contract combining work.”

“It was a superb machine. We had it eight years and never had any major trouble with it.”

2006 – LEXION 570+ By 2006 the acreage to cut had grown to over 607 ha (1,500 acres) and the Whites decided that more capacity was required if crops were to be harvested at sensible moisture levels. Duly a 570+ with 7.5m (25ft) header was ordered – the family’s first HYBRID rotary LEXION. “The 570+ was a serious jump in output. The combination of the APS drum and the twin rotors made for a phenomenal pairing – we could comfortably clear 40-50 tonnes an hour in good conditions.

2012 – LEXION 520 After the disastrously wet harvest of 2012, the Whites had a big area of spring-sown cropping to cut and by then the total area had expanded to 690 ha (1,700 acres). There was a definite need for an increase in

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harvesting capacity. Rather than take another step up with a single big machine, the family opted to buy a smaller straw-walker combine to run alongside the 570+.

Local dealer LEINSTER FARM MACHINES tracked down an immaculate three-year-old LEXION 520.

“Buying the 520 wasn’t a difficult decision. We knew the pedigree of strawwalker LEXION combines and what they were capable of. Despite being second-hand, it had only cut 1,000 acres and was in fantastic condition,” says Mr White.

“It’s narrow so is brilliant to get down some of our more difficult lanes and you can really push it on if you need to. It might be the baby of the range but you can still clear 40-50 acres a day with it. It’ll generally do 700-800 acres a year for us.”

By last year the area to cut had increased again and had topped 810 ha (2,000 acres). Successive wet harvests had led the family to think again about the best machine to suit their operation.

“With straw such an important part of our business and with rain through August almost a guaranteed certainty, we decided we needed to look again at a high-output straw-walker machine and swapped the 570 for a 670.”

Barry White

“The MSS straw beater rotor means the walkers aren’t simply a passive means of getting the crop through the machine. It ruffles the straw and flicks any remaining fit grain out so our losses are kept to an absolute minimum.”

Barry White

STRAW WALKER The APS threshing system operates so efficiently that only about 10% of the grains run through the residual grain separation stage in the LEXION. The even flow of straw on the open-bottomed straw walkers with an extreme gradient angle ensures that practically all the grain is separated from the straw.

The MSS Multi Separation System ensuring precise chopping and a wide even spread.

Introduced in 2002 the MSS is still in use today.

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“Our losses are kept to an absolute minimum.”

2016 – LEXION 670 TT “As the biggest straw walker machine CLAAS builds, all the small details and improvements on the 670 mean we’re getting as much out of it as we would an older HYBRID or rotary combine.”

“But the thing that has really impressed us is how smooth they are. Crossing tramlines you don’t feel a bump and cutting on rough ground the header always stays level and stable.”

“The MSS straw beater rotor means the walkers aren’t simply a passive means of getting the crop through the machine. It ruffles the straw and flicks any remaining fit grain out so our losses are kept to an absolute minimum.”

The Whites’ 670 is equipped with the latest generation of VARIO header.

“The straw drops off the back of the walkers into the swath rather than being blown down into the stubble. That means if it gets rained on it dries out so much quicker and, if the crop is green, the fluffy row has plenty of airflow through it to get it fit for the baler as quickly as possible.”

The new combine is the Whites’ first equipped with Telematics and it’s a feature that has proved invaluable in generating a decent picture of exactly how different crops and fields are performing.

“Being able to see exactly what the combine has done on any given day is fantastic. The yield maps are providing us with accurate data on crop performance which is essential for our move towards variable rate fertiliser applications.”

“Our ground tends to be damp and delicate around harvest and so the tracks have been superb in avoiding damage to the soil. Importantly they make the combine that much narrower on the road so farm-to-farm moves are that much easier.”

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“This is our first VARIO and it has been a revelation. Being able to move the cutterbar forwards and back means the crop is feeding in just right all the time no matter what height it is.”

“That’s helped by the bigger auger which makes for a smoother transfer of crop and means there’s virtually no wrapping.“ “But the big bonus is just how quick it is to swap from one crop to another.

Without filler plates to change, it takes me less than five minutes to attach the side knives with a single 13mm spanner and it’s done. In fact it takes me longer to lift them out of the box than it does to fit them.”

Barry White LEXION history 1998 – LEXION 450 2006 – LEXION 570+ 2012 – LEXION 520 2016 – LEXION 670 TT

“We’d spoken to our neighbours who were running other CLAAS kit and they couldn’t speak highly enough of the back-up. We took their advice and never looked back.”

Barry White

Whites Farming Ltd, Lusk, near Dublin Farmed area 485 ha (1,200 acres) plus 324 ha (800 acres contract combining) Cropping

Winter wheat 200 ha (500 acres), barley 162 ha (400 acres), OSR 40 ha (100 acres), beans 20 ha (50 acres)

Soils

Heavy clay loams

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THE NEW LEXION HYBRID

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NEW FOR LEXION 780-740 HYBRID 2017

NEW CEMOS AUTOMATIC FEATURES NEW: Fully automatic grain cleaning.

CLAAS have combined the GRAIN QUALITY CAMERA with AUTO CLEANING and AUTO SEPARATION. The GRAIN QUALITY CAMERA evaluations now have an active influence on the cleaning and separation functions of the CEMOS AUTOMATIC system.

NEW: Straw management integrated in CEMOS DIALOG. CLAAS has introduced a new, convenient adjustment function for SPECIAL CUT. Both the static knife array and the friction concave plates can be pivoted in and out from inside the cab. If the chopping quality is unsatisfactory, CEMOS DIALOG suggests measures to improve it.

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NEW FLEET VIEW The Fleet View app from CLAAS makes it possible to coordinate the grain transport team of a harvesting fleet so that the combine harvesters can keep on working without idle time. The app continuously informs all the drivers in near real time about the positions of the combine harvesters in the fleet and their current grain tank fill levels.

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NEW NEW 7XL unloading auger, compatible with 12M Controlled Traffic Systems.

NEW CUTTERBARS NEW VARIO 1080 and enhanced VARIO 1230 cutterbars feature variable table length, divided header auger and reel.

Designed to match the CLAAS VARIO 1230 cutterbar, the new 7XL auger is a completely new design and features a folding end piece. The folding end piece is 2.11m long and folds through 120 degrees around the back of the combine.

This means that CLAAS is able to offer a complete range of unloading options for CTF, from 12m with the 7XL, or 10.5m with the 4XL and 9.0m with the 3XL. The new 7XL auger has a total unloading reach of 12 metres, so when used in combination with the VARIO 1230 cutterbar, this ensures that the supporting trailer or chaser bin can travel in the adjacent tramline.

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APS HYBRID Jonathan and Jack Bentall, West Sussex, 2016

1996 – LEXION 480

2006 – LEXION 580 TT

Twenty years ago Jonathan Bentall took a big risk. Having taken on more land, he agreed to trial a pre-series LEXION 480 – one of the first HYBRID combines to make it to UK shores.

“With LEXION it’s a pretty simple equation generally – more power equals more output so as CLAAS upped the stakes we benefitted. And it was the same story when our 580 TT arrived in 2006. The key difference was power delivery. Moving from a V6 engine to a V8 meaning that everything was so much smoother. ”

But it was a risk that paid off. It comfortably handled the 500 ha (1,235 acres) it had to cut that first year and to this day a HYBRID LEXION harvests all the crops at Chidham Manor Farm near Chichester (albeit it a much bigger, more sophisticated version).

“We had had CLAAS combines for a very long time and had always been sold on the rotary concept having had Commandors,” explains Mr Bentall.

“We’d been told that we could expect to see an increase in capacity with the new HYBRID concept but weren’t quite prepared for just how a big a step up it would be.”

1997 – LEXION 480 “The second 480 was streets ahead again. It had more power and longer rotors so not only did you gain in output but it did an even better job of separation.”

“The whole concept of having an APS cylinder in front of those twin rotors was genius and was the key to unlocking more capacity.”

“In 1998 we got our first VARIO header. In wheat it astounded me, being able to tweak the VARIO cutterbar position meant it just fed in so much more evenly – it made an incredible difference to output.”

After four years’ service that second 480 was swapped for a third, this time with even more power.

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“And moving to a tracked machine was a revelation. It meant we could always travel, no matter what the conditions, very often without leaving a mark.”

Jonathan Bentall.

“The whole concept of having an APS cylinder in front of those twin rotors was genius and was the key to unlocking more capacity.”

Jonathan Bentall

APS HYBRID FROM 1995 The APS HYBRID SYSTEM – threshing technology from CLAAS – represents the combination of two outstanding technologies: the tangential APS threshing system and the highly efficient ROTO PLUS residual grain separation system.

Only CLAAS integrates both systems in one machine, with APS giving you a significant competitive edge over other systems. Introduced in 1995 and still in use today.

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“It keeps prompting me with ideas for ways of limiting losses and getting more output.”

2008 – LEXION 600 TT “In 2008 we swapped the 580 for a 600 which again brought more horsepower and a jump in output but the biggest improvement was the addition of bomb doors under the rotors.”

Bentall LEXION history

“Being able to control the amount of material dropping onto the sieves was a big factor in gaining capacity. I always started with them wide open to the point that the sieves were getting overloaded and then, using trial and error, started to shut them.”

1996 – LEXION 480

“In combination with longer sieves it meant you could go that bit faster.”

2006 – LEXION 580 TT

2012 – LEXION 770 TT

2008 – LEXION 600 TT

After four years at Chidham the 600 TT stepped aside for a 770 TT and Jack took over in the driving seat.

2012 – LEXION 770 TT

“It was all sorts of clever technology that made the 770 another step on,” explains Jack.

“It was the addition of CEMOS on the 770 that I found most useful. It keeps prompting me with ideas for ways of limiting losses and getting more output. Whether I choose to make the changes is up to me but invariably I see some sort of improvement when I do. More than anything it’s a useful reminder to keep tweaking settings through the day.”

“And with the 770 we also went to proper auto-steering. We’d had LASER PILOT previously which was brilliant for taking the strain out of the job and allowing you to concentrate on what the machine is doing.”

“But going to CLAAS’ GPS steering using our own RTK correction signal has brought another level of accuracy.”

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1997 – LEXION 480 2001 – LEXION 480

Jack and Jonathan Bentall PJ Bentall near Chichester, West Sussex Farmed area 688 ha (1,700 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 350 ha (865 acres), OSR 64 ha (158 acres), spring barley 18 ha (44 acres), winter barley 50 ha (124 acres), peas 125 ha (309 acres), millet 38 ha (94 acres) and 25 ha (62 acres) marshland grass for hay

Soils

Grade 1 and 2 brickearth

Staff

Jonathan and Jack Bentall plus two other full-time

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Jonathan and Jack Bentall, West Sussex, 2016

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EARLY ACTION FINANCE LEXION 780 TT Retail 1230 VARIO cutter bar

LEXION 760 MONTANA £404,900 £65,340

Retail 930 VARIO cutter bar

Total £470,240

£301,290 £47,040

Total £348,330

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£78,373*

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£58,055*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£49,375*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£36,575*

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

LEXION 760 TT Retail 1080 VARIO cutter bar

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

TUCANO 570 £328,270 £60,040

Retail 770 VARIO cutter bar

Total £388,310

£181,160 £39,650

Total £220,810

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£64,718*

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£36,802*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£40,773*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£23,185*

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

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January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

*Finance for business purposes only, terms and and conditions as follows: Subject to acceptance and affordability checks. Payments commence January 2017. Promotion valid from 1 October 2016 to 30 November 2016. Available on new equipment only. The finance product available under this promotion is hire purchase. Full VAT is due on signing. A £150 (inc.VAT) documentation fee will be collected with the first rental. An option-to-purchase fee of £100 (inc VAT) will be collected with the final payment. The customer will own the machine when all payments have been made. Alternative finance options are available, terms apply. Images are for illustrative purposes only. The interest-free offer is subject to a maximum balance to finance of 50% (based on RRP). Minimum deposit 50% +VAT required. Finance provided by CLAAS Financial Services Limited, Northern Cross, Basing View, Basingstoke, RG21 4HL. Registered in England No: 5854271. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Offer applies to UK, excluding ROI.

OFFERS 2016 LEXION 670 TT Retail 930 VARIO cutter bar

Buy EARLY for the very best finance deal.

Only available until November 30, 2016 Call your dealer today.

TUCANO 430 £251,150 £47,040

Retail V620 cutter bar

Total £298,190

£146,240 £32,480

Total £178,720

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£49,698*

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£29,787*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£31,310*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£18,766*

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

LEXION 620 Retail V620 VARIO cutter bar

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

AVERO 240 £163,030 £32,480

Retail C490 cutter bar

Total £195,510

£107,080 £17,860

Total £124,940

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£32,585*

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£20,823*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£20,529*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing

£13,119*

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

*Finance for business purposes only, terms and and conditions as follows: Subject to acceptance and affordability checks. Payments commence January 2017. Promotion valid from 1 October 2016 to 30 November 2016. Available on new equipment only. The finance product available under this promotion is hire purchase. Full VAT is due on signing. A £150 (inc.VAT) documentation fee will be collected with the first rental. An option-to-purchase fee of £100 (inc VAT) will be collected with the final payment. The customer will own the machine when all payments have been made. Alternative finance options are available, terms apply. Images are for illustrative purposes only. The interest-free offer is subject to a maximum balance to finance of 50% (based on RRP). Minimum deposit 50% +VAT required. Finance provided by CLAAS Financial Services Limited, Northern Cross, Basing View, Basingstoke, RG21 4HL. Registered in England No: 5854271. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Offer applies to UK, excluding ROI.

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TERRA TRAC Robert and Ed Salmon, Norfolk, 2016

1997 – LEXION 460 When the first Lexion arrived at Hyde Hall – a 460 – in 1997 it immediately found favour with anyone that got the chance to drive it.

“We had been running CLAAS straw walker machines for years and knew that they would do a decent job in our sometimes tricky grass seed crops.”

“So when the LEXION arrived, the basics of the threshing components held few surprises for us, except for the fact that they just seemed to do a much better job – more throughput and a better sample. But it was the cab and controls that really stood out,” says Robert Salmon.

“From a driver’s perspective it was something else – the joystick was more responsive and the CEBIS computer made fine adjustments so easy.

Moreover the lighting package was a real upgrade – you could work well into the night without constantly straining your eyes.”

2003 – LEXION 560 TT Having done six seasons’ work the 460 was replaced by a 560 TT – another straw walker machine, this time fitted with rubber tracks.

“With the 560 we got even more power which directly equated to more output, particularly because we tend to chop so much of what we cut.”

TERRA TRAC “Noise levels were also reduced but the key difference was TERRA TRAC. Soil structure is our key focus here and the expense of having tracks was easily justified by our ability to travel in less than ideal conditions without doing damage. Having 900mm wide tyres just wouldn’t work with our narrow lanes.”

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“The other unexpected improvement that came with the tracks was how they helped in increasing work rates. Because they provide such a stable platform for the header, you can run faster and lower to the ground.”

2013 – LEXION 770 TT The next upgrade saw the Salmons make the change from straw walkers to a HYBRID rotary – a 2006 580+, followed by a 770TT seven years later.

“The step up in output was phenomenal from the 580.”

“But the single biggest feature that impacted on output of the 770 over 580+ was the introduction of JET STREAM sieves. You could keep upping the fan speed without chucking grain over the back.”

Robert Salmon

“…the key difference was TERRA TRAC. Soil structure is our key focus here and the expense of having tracks was easily justified by our ability to travel in less than ideal conditions without doing damage.”

Robert Salmon

TERRA TRAC FROM 1996 CLAAS has offered its proprietary TERRA TRAC system for over 20 years and there are now countless TERRA TRAC drives in use around the world. The CLAAS TERRA TRAC has proven itself in practical use in the most challenging conditions time and time again. With GEN II introduced in 2003 and GEN III in 2010, TERRA TRAC now comes in several sizes and types to fit all requirements.

Minimum ground compaction and transport width.

Maximum road speed, comfort and cutterbar performance.

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“Every new LEXION is a step up.”

2016 – NEW LEXION 780 TT This season the Salmons have taken another step up again – this time a 780TT with pre-series 1230 VARIO header.

“The new combine has got a serious appetite. The new simple straight six motor has got heaps more torque – I can run it at 106% engine loading and it just doesn’t die,” explains Ed Salmon.

“It is significantly better on fuel than the 770 and the power boost means I no longer have to back off the stick for unloading so output never drops off.”

“All these little things add up to have a big impact on output, especially if they limit downtime. I now have much more cutterbar travel with it even when fully extended for rape.”

“But the big bonus is that it is a true 12m cut which fits perfectly with our controlled traffic system. We’ve also got the new folding auger which can reach the chaser-bin when it’s running up the adjacent tramline. It means in the field we can work in a sensible order, always keeping the auger on the field side with the chaser bin never leaving the sprayer tramlines.”

With such a big volume of crop coming in at one time, the 780 TT’s beefed up straw chopper has also proved its worth.

But that extra capacity isn’t all down to engine power. The 780TT has the latest generation CEMOS Automatic to ensure it’s kept at maximum capacity at all times.

“With fixed crocodile teeth paddles the spreader is much less lumpy and more even across the full width and beyond. Being belt-drive rather hydraulically-powered, it seems to sap a lot less power too.”

“We had CEMOS previously but it didn’t have much impact because the limiting factor was engine power. Now that’s sorted we can really make the most of CLAAS’ technology.”

The other big factor for making a success of Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) has been the move to ultra-accurate GPS steering.

“I now have the confidence in cereals to leave the computer do all the settings changes – it’s amazing to see on the screen how much it is constantly altering. It does take some setting up but having patience and allowing it to learn for itself you really see the benefit. With CRUISE PILOT set for grain loss sensing and CEMOS automatic set for maximum throughput it is a perfect combination. With the 4D system you can see the bomb doors opening and closing and it just seems to be able to keep the sieves clean all the time.”

“We get out to check behind the combine many times a day to make sure the system is working and the ground is always clean.”

The pre-series header immediately proved a success when it arrived.

Without plates to fit and remove when switching between crops, changeovers now only take a matter of minutes.

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“We’ve used LASER PILOT on the 460 and 560, it was a huge improvement to our efficiency when we first had it, simply by ensuring we had the header full at all times.”

“We had run RTK for a number of years and it was the next step to go to controlled traffic. But to go to CTF we needed even more precision to make sure every machine runs in the same wheelings year-after-year. With RTK autosteering the combine is always on track so that the chaser-bin can run in exactly the right place too.”

Salmon LEXION history 1997 – LEXION 460 2003 – LEXION 560 TT 2006 – LEXION 580+ TT 2013 – LEXION 770 TT 2016 – LEXION 780 TT

Robert and Ed Salmon NE Salmon Ltd, near Dereham, Norfolk Cropped area

1,964 ha

Cropping 2016 Winter wheat 649 ha, winter barley 209 ha, spring barley 99 ha, spring beans 270 ha, grass seed 46 ha, spring linseed 153 ha, OSR 361 ha, forage maize (for AD) 42 ha, forage rye (for AD) 9 ha, malting rye 39 ha, sugar beet 30 ha plus another 58 ha let out for potatoes and onions Soils

Predominantly clay loams with a small proportion of lighter sandy soils

Staff

Robert and Ed Salmon plus four others full-time and casuals at harvest

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STRAW CHOPPER Richard Ledger, Kent, 2016

1997 – LEXION 460 Having run a total of ten different LEXION combines over the last 20 years, Richard Ledger has had plenty of opportunity to get to know the industry’s leading combine range.

The first machine to arrive at Little Mongeham in 1997 was a 460.

“At the time of the launch we were farming about 2,000 acres and so needed a fairly high capacity machine to cover the ground,” explains Richard Ledger.

“Of course we were seeing a less obvious benefit in limiting compaction and it provided a much more stable footprint for the wider header.”

The other key improvement came with the straw chopper. A beefed up rotor drive and hydraulically-powered spreaders meant it could consistently throw an even mat across the full working width – particularly important on a farm were every field is chopped.

2006 – LEXION 600 TT

“I felt a walker machine could probably keep going longer in wet conditions and that was more important to me at the time than overall output.”

2006 saw the arrival of the Ledgers’ first 600 TT and with it a whole raft of improvements.

Just a few years later the Ledgers had taken on more ground and were farming nearly 1,130 ha (2,800 acres) – there was a definite need for more harvesting capacity.

“The 600 had a much bigger tank and more power and had a huge amount more capacity. Much of that was down to the move to JET STREAM sieves – being able to keep them cleaner meant you could push the combine that much harder.”

2001 – LEXION 480 TT “For simplicity of harvest and logistics we wanted to stick with one combine to do the lot and, having seen what the HYBRIDs were capable of, we went for a 480.”

“It was a revelation – my concerns about dealing with damp straw proved unfounded and what it was capable of was phenomenal.”

“But other than its output, the main difference was the fact it was running on tracks. The expense was easily offset by the benefit of making travelling on the road so much easier.”

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“Initially we had a 9m header but the combine was travelling way too fast – it needed slowing down so we went for a 10.5m cutterbar for the next one.

But what I really wanted was a 12m to fit with our 36m tramlines and help keep traffic to a minimum.”

“In 2009 my wish was granted and we were given a pre-production 12m VARIO to try. It was brilliant but of course that then pushed the spreader to its limits.”

Richard Ledger

“I was particularly pleased when I learnt the next generation – 700s – were to get a completely new chopper unit. We had one on our 770 in 2012 and it was far more capable of sending chopped straw and chaff out to 12m.”

Richard Ledger

STRAW CHOPPER FROM 1997 From the rotors, the straw moves directly to the chopper, the intensity of which can be varied depending on the conditions. The finely chopped material is subsequently fed to the power spreader.

Introduced in 1997 and still in use today.

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“We’ve had CLAAS combines since the early 1990s and they’ve always been streets ahead on sample quality – that’s why we’ve stuck with them.”

2013 – LEXION 780 TT Another step up came in 2013 with a 780TT. “Aside from the extra capacity, CLAAS had clearly put a lot of thought into minimising downtime to keep overall output up.”

Richard Ledger Little Mongeham Farms near Deal, Kent Farmed area 1,820 ha (4,500 acres) Cropping

Staff

Winter wheat 1,068 ha (2,640 acres), OSR 487 ha (1,203 acres), beans 155 ha (383 acres), linseed 85 ha (210 acres) Richard and James Ledger plus two others full-time

“The new cleaning and cooling package was a big improvement.

Previously we’d had to stop twice a day to blow out the air cleaner.

Now we’re doing it every few days.”

2015 – LEXION 780 TT “On our latest machine we’ve also gone for CEMOS Automatic.

Even with a really good operator in the seat we can see the advantage in sample quality and losses.”

“We run it in auto all the time but fine tune settings according to what we’re seeing through the day. Combined with Cruise Control, it means we’re getting maximum output and optimum quality at all times.”

Ledger LEXION history 1997 – LEXION 460 1998 – LEXION 460 2001 – LEXION 480 TT 2003 – LEXION 480 Evo TT 2006 – LEXION 600 TT 2007 – LEXION 600 TT 2009 – LEXION 600 TT 2012 – LEXION 770 TT 2013 – LEXION 780 TT 2015 – LEXION 780 TT

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VARIO Charles Tyler, Rutland, 2016

1998 – LEXION 450 Having run CLAAS straw walker combines for decades at Red Hill Farm, the Tyler family continued the theme with their first LEXION in 1998, buying a 450 with 25ft header.

“Our first LEXION was a completely different beast from what we’d been used to with the DOMINATOR,” explains Charles Tyler.

“The new cab was a revelation especially with the CEBIS computer dealing with all the machine settings. More impressive was just how quiet it was with the engine moved to behind the grain tank.”

The 450 did seven harvests comfortably cutting between 565-650 ha (1,3961,606 acres) a year. Having taken on an extra 405 ha (1,000 acres) in 2005, the family decided a bigger machine would be required and that season a 580 arrived fitted with TERRA TRACs.

2005 – LEXION 580 TT “We needed more capacity and the 580 certainly met our ambitions in that department. It was a massive step up and output was more than enough, enabling to cut as much crop as we could at its driest.”

“Going to the HYBRID system from a straw walker was an easy transition. We have never had an issue with straw quality and the swaths it leaves are perfect for the baler.”

“Aside from the extra output, going to tracks was a complete revelation.

It gave us a huge advantage climbing our steep banks and gave a much smoother ride for the header. On top of that we weren’t leaving a mark, leaving the soil in better condition for the following crop.”

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Charles Tyler

“The VARIO concept was one of the biggest selling points for the LEXION when it came in 1998. We’d just moved to direct-cutting our oilseed rape and it quickly became an essential tool we couldn’t do without.”

Charles Tyler

VARIO CUTTERBAR FROM 1998 VARIO cutterbars from CLAAS are synonymous with the best cutterbar table adjustment system in the market. With its new models, CLAAS has made systematic enhancements to its proven VARIO cutterbar range year after year.

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Tyler Farms Ltd, near Oakham, Rutland Farmed area 1,335 ha (3,300 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 526 ha (1,300 acres), OSR 222 ha (550 acres), spring beans 162 ha (400 acres), winter barley 142 ha (350 acres) plus 283 ha (700 acres) permanent pasture

Stock

1,850 mule ewes plus 150 purebred Charollais ewes

Soils

Medium clay loams through to limestone brash

Staff

Charles and Richard Tyler plus three others full-time and three extras at harvest and lambing

“All the way through with LEXION HYBRID we’ve seen small changes that have all added up to significant increases in output,” Charles Tyler

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“This new generation brings some big improvements.”

2012 – LEXION 760 TT More capacity came with a 580+ five harvests later and then, with the acreage tipping over the ha 1,011 (2,500 acre) mark in 2012, that was changed for a 760.

“All the way through with LEXION HYBRID we’ve seen small changes that have all added up to significant increases in output,” says Mr Tyler.

“The 760 was another step on again and the way it dealt with the straw was a big improvement. The POWER SPREADER could throw chopped straw right out to the full 35ft cutterbar width and seemed to sap less power – important given that we now chop nearly all our crops.”

2016 – LEXION 770 TT This year the 760 was superceded by a 770 TT equipped with a pre-series 10.8m VARIO header.

“The VARIO concept was one of the biggest selling points for the LEXION when it came in 1998. We’d just moved to direct-cutting our oilseed rape and it quickly became an essential tool we couldn’t do without.”

“This new generation brings some big improvements.

Most significantly the quick attach side-knives and the lack of filler plates means downtime is a fraction of what it was when switching between crops.”

“The combine itself has a whole raft of improvements too. The swinging rear axle steers so much better than the 760 and being able to fit much taller, narrower tyres makes it handle better on the road.”

“Having the JET STREAM sieve cleaning working in combination with the bomb doors for 4D slope compensation seems to make a big difference. When you look at CEBIS it is constantly altering fan speed – much more than you’d imagine.”

“That boosts output by keeping the sieves clear as does Cruise Control. The combine’s always going at maximum capacity and work rates are no longer so dependent on the operator – he’s got more time to tweak settings and eat his sandwiches!”

Tyler LEXION history 1998 – LEXION 450 2005 – LEXION 580 TT 2010 – LEXION 580+TT 2012 – LEXION 760 TT 2016 – LEXION 770 TT

Why LEXION? “We started out with CLAAS combines many years ago and received excellent service from year one,” explains Mr Tyler.

“The LEXION was a true European machine. Unlike big American-built rotaries, it could handle heavy, damp crops.”

“APS had proved to be a huge step with the straw walker DOMINATORs we’d had before and the leaps in output just kept coming from there.”

“We’ve also got a much greater amount of knife travel even out at full extension and the preset transport position is a nice touch.”

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LASER PILOT Roy and Jolyon Limbrick, Gloucestershire, 2016

1996 – LEXION 420 The Limbrick family have a very special relationship with CLAAS combines.

Having run a MEGA 204 through the early 1990s, they elected to trial a preproduction LEXION 420 in 1996. Badged as a 480, it was a difficult secret to keep and word got out that there was something a bit different cutting crops at Home Farm, Sherborne that year. Under the skin it was a strawwalker machine, but it shared the new VX cabin and controls with its bigger HYBRID cousins.

“The cab and computer were a huge step on from what we’d had before,” explains Roy Limbrick. “You could alter so many settings simply through the control screen, and having the Quantimeter with printer was a really useful feature for record keeping.”

“But it was comfort that was the biggest difference – everything was so much quieter with the experimental Perkins engine moved to behind the grain tank.”

2003 – LEXION 440 Evolution While the 420 did nine years service with the Limbricks, Jolyon’s experience with LEXION was widened further by going to drive a 460 for a neighbouring contractor.

“Of course the most noticeable change over the 420 was the increase in output – with an extra walker width, a 25ft header and loads more power, it had heaps more capacity.”

But it was with the 440 Evolution introduced in 2003 that things really started to alter. In theory it was a lesser machine but it had certain new features that made it more than capable.

LASER PILOT FROM 1999 LASER PILOT – Optical steering system. Introduced in 1999 and still in use today.

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“It was the 22ft VARIO header that was the stand-out feature. Being able to slide the knife out and back depending on the crop, had a huge effect on the whole machine’s output.”

“Being able to adjust the aggressiveness of the MSS beater really helped in limiting losses over the back of the walkers.”

2007 – LEXION 570C More acres saw Mr Limbrick’s employer make the move to a LEXION 570C in 2007 which took harvesting capacity into a completely different league.

“With two huge rotors in the back, the 570 had so much more separation ability – it required a completely different mindset.”

“The 570C’s 25ft VARIO header came with LASER PILOT which was just brilliant – I wouldn’t want to drive another combine without it.”

“It means the header is always full even in the dust and in the dark. It also means I can keep going longer without getting as tired and I can concentrate on fine-tuning things which naturally translates into a better sample and more output.”

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“A completely different beast.”

In 2006 Jolyon returned to Home Farm full-time and three years later he and Roy decided they would take the combining back in-house.

With some 283 ha (700 acres) of arable cropping, they didn’t feel they could justify the outlay on a brand new machine, but were keen to stick with a LEXION HYBRID having seen just what the concept was capable of.

2010 – LEXION 570+ TT Working with their local dealer – MILL ENGINEERS (CLAAS Western) – they tracked down a mint condition 570+ TT – a 2007 model with a 9m (30ft) VARIO header.

“It’s the first combine we’ve owned since that original 420 but it’s a completely different beast. In honesty it’s massively over capacity for what we need but that buys us time and saves us money. We are now safe in the knowledge that we can always cut crops when they’re dry, to the point that we have now sold our dryer.”

Limbrick LEXION history

“The 570+ is all about output – it’s got that big CAT C13 engine and larger grain tank which means it matches our 18t trailers comfortably.

The addition of 3D sieves means we don’t get losses on the banks and can keep the stick pushed right forward.”

2000 – LEXION 460 (contractor machine)

“The POWER SPREADER genuinely blows straw to 30ft and beyond.

It’s got more than enough capacity to counteract side-winds.”

“Moving to a tracked combine has brought numerous advantages for us. On the road it’s much less of a lump, which is a definite bonus on our narrow Cotswold lanes.”

“And of course on our sloping ground it’s so much better for hill-climbing – it doesn’t leave a mark, even when it’s wet on our steepest land.”

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1996 – LEXION 420

Roy and Jolyon Limbrick TR Limbrick and Son, near Burford, Gloucestershire Farmed area 364 ha (900 acres) Cropping

Milling wheat 100 ha (247 acres), OSR 100 ha (247 acres), spring barley 70 ha (173 acres), winter barley 30 ha (74 acres), spring beans 24 ha (59 acres) – remainder down to permanent pasture and long-term grass

Soils

Cotswold stone brash

Stock

70-head suckler cow herd

Staff

Roy and Jolyon Limbrick

2003 – LEXION 440 Evo (contractor machine) 2007 – LEXION 570 C (contractor machine) 2010 – LEXION 570+ TT

“We’ve had superb back-up from our local MILL ENGINEERS (CLAAS Western) depot. They have had a huge part to play in us sticking with CLAAS combines.”

“With my experience of LEXION, the capacity they can offer and the back-up we’ve had, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”

Jolyon Limbrick

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Roy and Jolyon Limbrick, Gloucestershire, 2016

“The 570+ is all about output – it’s got that big CAT C13 engine and larger grain tank which means it matches our 18t trailers comfortably. The addition of 3D sieves means we don’t get losses on the banks and can keep the stick pushed right forward.”

Jolyon Limbrick

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THE EVOLUTION Troy Stuart and Keith Pinsent, Devon, 2016

When Devon contractors Troy and Roy Stuart were looking at buying their first combine back in 1997, the LEXION had only just appeared on the scene. Already running CLAAS balers and grass kit, they had confidence in the quality of the product and the back-up they would receive from local dealer HAMBLYS.

1997 – LEXION 450 “We ran the two 450s alongside each other for two years but it was a logistical headache to manage. I wanted to move to one combine to cover the lot and I knew a HYBRID LEXION had the capacity to do it but rotaries didn’t have a good reputation here in the South West because of their tendency to smash straw and inability to work in damp crops.”

2000 – LEXION 480 “But we took the plunge and bought a 480 in 2000. Pretty quickly we proved the doubters wrong. Set up right it could produce as good a swath as a straw-walker machine and we had no drama with cutting in the wet.

A lot of our customers were cautious initially but by the end of that first season everyone was convinced – we could cover the ground quickly, cutting crops at their optimum.”

“Going to the HYBRID required a completely different mindset. It was a massive increase in tonnes per hour harvested and so we had to reorganise ourselves to get the logistics right – it’s no good having a high output harvester if you can’t cope with the grain coming off it.”

Aside from the way the combine separated grain from the straw, the 480 had one other revolutionary feature that transformed the harvesting operation for the business – TERRA TRAC. “Going to rubber tracks brought massive benefits, the key one being hillclimbing ability. Banks where previously we’d only been able to combine

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downhill we were suddenly able to cut in a sensible manner, sometimes halving the time it took us to harvest. Of course it cut the compaction damage we were doing, in the less than ideal conditions the Devon climate has to offer, and it cut our transport width which is a big issue for us.”

“But the unexpected benefit was the extra output TERRA TRAC brought.

Because the whole combine was that much more stable across uneven ground, the header was steadier and we could push on faster.”

“The capital outlay on tracks was a big chunk of the purchase price but that was easily offset by the uplift in the second-hand value of the machine, putting all the other benefits to one side.”

2003 – LEXION 480 EVOLUTION TT So three years later the first HYBRID was swapped for a 480 Evolution.

“The Evo brought with it the single biggest improvement we’ve seen on any combine. Variable Rotor Speed (VRS) revolutionised how we handled the straw. Being able to fine tune it through the day stopped any over-threshing when the crops got really dry so we could maintain consistent straw quality and avoid over-loading the sieves. It’s amazing the range of adjustment you’ll go through in a day.”

2004 – LEXION 580 TT It was around this time that the Stuarts started growing grain maize which stretched the combine’s workload right into November. Clocking those extra hours, it was decided to swap the 480 Evo for a 580 TT. “We opted for JET STREAM sieves on the new combine which proved a real bonus,” explains driver Keith Pinsent.

“With JET STREAM we got heaps more output simply because everything was kept so much cleaner.”

Troy Stuart

“The Evo brought with it the single biggest improvement we’ve seen on any combine.”

Troy Stuart

n o i t u l o Ev EVOLUTION FROM 2002 The Evolution bought with it a whole raft of new features to improve output including the renowned MSS on the straw walker models and as standard LASER PILOT, VARIO and VRS on the HYBRIDs, taking harvesting capacity and output to a new level.

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“We’re doing a better job of producing a decent sample at the same time as increasing our daily output.”

2006 – LEXION 600 TT

A real driver’s machine

The next step was to a 600 TT which as well as extra power and capacity brought improved oil flow.

“It’s now a real driver’s machine. The CEBIS computer screens and menus are so much easier to navigate and being able to adjust the amount for crop dropping onto the sieves with the bomb doors from the seat had made my life easier and means we’re doing a better job of producing a decent sample at the same time as increasing our daily output.”

“We found the hydraulics became so much more responsive which was brilliant when tweaking settings on the header and coming in and out of work.”

The first 600 TT was followed by a second two years later and then in 2011 the first 770 TT arrived.

2011 & 2015 – LEXION 770 TT “The 770 was another step up again with a whole bundle of extra features. With suspension and 34kph road speed, the second generation TERRA TRACs made a huge difference given how much roadwork we do. They meant less time on the road and therefore more time in the field.”

A number of other key features gained favour with Mr Pinsent who now is on to his second 770 TT, this time with DYNAMIC COOLING and tight-turning rear axle.

“The way the rear beam can swing means CLAAS has managed to fit much taller 34in diameter rims. That has massively reduced rolling resistance on soft ground which makes a huge difference in grain maize. On top of that, the combine now turns much tighter on the headlands.”

“The horizontal radiators and clever pre-cleaner are a big improvement. With such a huge volume of crop going through the machine previously we were having to blow out a couple of times a day. Now we’re doing it once a week.

That means downtime is cut so time in the field really is time clearing crop.”

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Stuart LEXION history 1996 – LEXION 450 1998 – LEXION 450 2000 – LEXION 480 2003 – LEXION 480 Evolution TT 2004 – LEXION 580 TT 2006 – LEXION 600 TT 2008 – LEXION 600 TT 2011 – LEXION 770 TT 2015 – LEXION 770 TT

Stuart Partners Ltd, near Exeter, Devon Farmed area 850 ha (2,100 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 320 ha (790 acres), OSR 160 ha (400 acres), grain maize 30 ha (74 acres), forage maize 110 ha (270 acres) Rye 90 ha (222 acres). 240 ha (600 acres) of contract combining

Soils

Predominantly clay loam but varying through to sand

Staff

12 full time plus 3 more at peak times – includes general contracting business

“Over 20 years the combines have proved reliable and when anything has gone wrong it’s been quickly sorted.”

Troy Stuart

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MSS

Roger, David and Stuart Dickinson, Northumberland, 2016

MSS FROM 2002 The MSS Multi Separation System ensuring precise chopping and a wide even spread.

Introduced in 2002 the MSS is still in use today.

“It was improved even more with the MSS rotor running above the walkers – that made a big difference in separating out difficult grain.”

The Dickinson family are no strangers to LEXION combines. Over the last 20 years they’ve had a grand total of 13 different models – both straw walker and HYBRID rotaries.

Covering a vast area that stretches from the Scottish borders in the north down to the Tyne valley in the south, the Northumbrian contracting business concentrates its activities on arable operations and, as such, currently runs three high output CLAAS combines – a 760 TT, a 750 TT and a 600 TT. “We’ve had CLAAS combines for 42 years and strongly believe they’re the best machines for our kind of work,” says Roger Dickinson.

1997 – LEXION 460 “When the LEXION first appeared on the scene in 1996 we were keen to put our name down for one but had to wait a year for the straw-walker versions to arrive.”

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“At the time the HYBRID concept was unproven and with our typically heavy, damp crops we wanted to stick with what we knew. With APS pre-separation, CLAAS walker combines were leagues ahead of the competition.”

“With the new cab, CEBIS settings computer and the engine moved to behind the grain tank, all of a sudden operator comfort had just taken a huge leap forward. Added to that, moving from a 450mm diameter drum to a 600mm one meant it had a huge separation area so output leapt as well.”

“That was improved even more with the MSS rotor running above the walkers – that made a big difference in separating out difficult grain.”

J O Straughan Ltd, near Morpeth, Northumberland Contract services All arable work incl. stubble-tostubble contracts, cultivations and drilling, baling, grass, maize and wholecrop silage Cropping

Winter barley, OSR, spring barley, winter oats, winter wheat and spring beans – acreages vary widely, year-to-year

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2003 – LEXION 480 Evolution (580 pre-series) A series of five 450s and 460s worked alongside each other for five years clearing customers’ crops but in 2003 everything changed with the arrival of the first HYBRID machine.

“We needed more output and were offered the opportunity to run a preproduction 580, badged as a 480 Evolution.”

“It was a phenomenal step up. With the biggest walker machine – a 460 Evolution – we were averaging 35-38 tonnes an hour in wheat. With that first HYBRID machine, that rocketed to 65-70 tonnes.”

“But what really surprised us was that we didn’t pay for that output in straw quality. There was a lot of straw in the swath but it wasn’t smashed to pieces. The change from saw-tooth rotors to pegs made them even kinder on delicate, dry straw.”

2007 – LEXION 600 TT The next significant development came with the arrival of a TERRA TRACequipped 600 in 2007.

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“The 600 brought even more capacity helped by a more powerful engine and JET STREAM sieve cleaning. But it’s not all about threshing. Having tracks meant we were treading so much more gently – very important when we’re often harvesting in less than ideal conditions. They brought several key advantages: they are smooth in the field and keep the whole machine stable on the headland.”

“With their longer footprint hill-climbing is better and on the road, being narrower, moves between farms are so much easier. But critically it added to our ability to keep travelling in the wet – we’ve run 4wd for a long-time which is essential but with tracks as well, it means we can keep cutting when other combines are parked up.”

2014 – LEXION 760 TT That 600 was joined by another in 2008 and a 750 TT two years later. In 2014, following seven harvests, it was swapped for a 760 TT. “Although the 760 is a narrow bodied machine, it can match the output of the 600,” says Stuart Dickinson.”

“Much of that is down to CEMOS – I use it in full auto mode nearly all the time. You can watch it constantly adjusting the fan, sieves, bomb doors, etc… and see the difference in the sample. It can react so much faster than I could ever hope to.”

Dickinson LEXION history 1997 – LEXION 460 1998 – LEXION 450 1999 – LEXION 460 2000 – LEXION 460 2002 – LEXION 460 Evolution 2003 – LEXION 480 Evolution “And it’s better on the straw too.

Without CEMOS running you can unintentionally start to batter the straw. With it automatically tweaking things as conditions change through the day we always get a decent swath. You’ve just got to trust the technology.”

“And it’s the same with GPS. We’re running CLAAS S7 controllers which are dead easy to set up and have some good features. Without the combination of steering and CRUISE PILOT we simply couldn’t get the capacity out of these machines.”

“The header is always kept full and we leave nice, neat lines of straw up the field so the it looks like a professional job too – that’s very important when you’re contracting.”

Why LEXION? “We had had DOMINATORs for years before the first LEXION turned up and had always had great back-up from both CLAAS UK and RICKERBY. If we ever need help I can get on the phone and speak direct to people that really know what they’re talking about.”

“CLAAS recognise that as well as being a business transaction, it is a partnership between them and us. They understand that we’re in

business to do the best possible job for our customers, just as they are.”

“On top of that the reliability and durability of the LEXION is unbeatable. Every one seems to outlast the previous machine. When you look at the total tonnage going through each harvester before they are changed it grows every time.

They’ve got more capacity and they’re built to last.”

2004 – LEXION 570 2006 – LEXION 580 2007 – LEXION 600 TT 2008 – LEXION 600 TT (current machine) 2010 – LEXION 750 TT (current machine) 2014 – LEXION 760 TT (current machine)

“CLAAS recognise that as well as being a business transaction, it is a partnership between them and us. They understand that we’re in business to do the best possible job for our customers, just as they are.”

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CEBIS Ian Watson, Lincolnshire, 2016

1995 – Pre Series LEXION 480 In 1995 an unusual looking machine arrived at Louth Park Farm. Delivered under the cover of darkness, it was a prototype version of the machine that is now the market leading combine in the UK – the LEXION. “It was supposed to be a big secret but of course word soon got round and we had to get pretty good at side-stepping people’s awkward questions.”

“Compared to what had gone before the 480 was an absolute animal. And it looked the part too. People stood and stared. More importantly it was a real operator’s machine, even down to how easy it was to hitch up the header – from a driver’s perspective it was the bee’s knees.”

“The CEBIS computer really was the icing on the cake in that department.

Being able to adjust everything from the seat meant you weren’t getting dust down the back of your neck and you were spending less time setting up.”

“Following the stubble burning ban, the UNISPREADER was a godsend.

We could properly fling chopped straw to the full header width.”

“In the threshing department it was like nothing we’d ever seen before – a massive hike in output. It was a true replacement for two combines or even three.”

2002 – LEXION 480+ In 2002 that was exactly what happened. That first LEXION and the remaining Commandor were both swapped in for a 480+ which was tasked with clearing 1,010ha (2,500 acres) singlehandedly.

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“Having been blown away by the first LEXION, the second was another step on. There was so much more grunt from the Caterpillar V8 engine and the UNISPREADER driveline seemed to sap less power.”

“It also came with a VARIO header which was another huge improvement. It meant we could start direct cutting our oilseed rape, and having that extra depth to the table meant in any crop we could keep the flow of material into the combine so much more even.”

2004 – LEXION 580 Two years later, with more acres to cut, the 480+ was replaced by a 580 with a 9m (30ft) header.

“Just when you thought the LEXION couldn’t get any better, CLAAS brings in a whole raft of extras that just seem to boost capacity year-on-year.”

“The 580 had even more oompf and an appetite to match the 30ft header.

The cab was much quieter, the climate control worked faultlessly and CEBIS became even easier to navigate.”

2008 – LEXION 580+ Four years on the 580 was swapped for a fresh 580+ which quickly earned a reputation as something of a record-breaker.

“Suddenly we had even more power and capacity. JET STREAM sieves just revolutionised the job. Immediately they slashed losses allowing us to up the pace.”

“It turned out to be the most reliable combine we’ve ever owned.

We thought that was it – it just couldn’t get any better.”

“The CEBIS computer really was the icing on the cake in that department.

Being able to adjust everything from the seat meant you weren’t getting dust down the back of your neck and you were spending less time setting up.”

Ian Watson

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Ian Watson, Farmcare near Louth, Lincolnshire Farmed area 2,225 ha (5,500 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 470 ha (1,160 acres), winter barley 150 ha (370 acres), spring barley 190 ha (470 acres), spring wheat 51 ha (126 acres), OSR 205 ha (506 acres), combinable pulses 100 ha (247 acres), vining peas 700 ha (1,730 acres) plus management of a further 700 ha (1,730 acres) of vining peas

Soils

Predominantly heavy clays

Staff

Ian Watson plus five others full-time plus another three casuals at harvest

“CLAAS just seems to have thought of everything both for the man in the driving seat and the guy back in the office.�

Ian Watson

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“The details make the difference.”

2012 – LEXION 760 TT “When it came to changing again four year later we were really sorry to the see 580+ go.”

But what replaced it – a 760 TT – proved no disappointment.

“The 760 was our first TERRA TRAC machine. We’d seen the difference tracks could make on pea viners in limiting compaction and it made sense for the combine to go that way, especially given its bigger grain tank.”

“It was a huge improvement on the road too. It was smoother, faster and narrower making field changes less of a chore – a big bonus given that our farms are spread across a 30 mile area.”

“Having LASER PILOT on both ends of the header has been a big boost in ensuring the combine is running at maximum capacity all the time. And a spreader that blows material out to the full cutting width is essential blackgrass has become such a major issue that we now treat the combine as the first cultivation pass. The need for a decent, consistent chop of straw and even spread is critical.”

“But it’s all the small details that make the difference. Fitting a compressor and airline to blow-off the engine bay and the longer discharge spout to limit the amount of rape that gets blown away when it’s windy all help to make a difference. CLAAS just seems to have thought of everything both for the man in the driving seat and the guy back in the office.”

Watson LEXION history 1995 – LEXION 480 2002 – LEXION 480+ 2004 – LEXION 580 2008 – LEXION 580+ 2012 – LEXION 760 TT

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David Hay

JET STREAM David and Finlay Hay, Perth, 2016

JET STREAM FROM 2005 The JET STREAM cleaning system is designed especially to work with the ROTO PLUS residual grain separation system. A dual ventilated step ensures intensive pre-cleaning while the multi-stage turbine fans, which can be adjusted continuously from the cab, create the necessary air flow.

“JET STREAM meant we had even more cleaning capacity and the bigger grain tank made logistics that much easier with the chaser bin.�

David Hay

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That trio of combines did five seasons’ service at Easter Rhynd Farm but with the cropped area growing to over 1,620 ha (4,000 acres) a change was required.

2005 LEXION 580 TT “We kept the original 450 which was still in mint condition and going strong but made the bold move of going to one 580 to replace the two 460s.

Its appetite lived up to expectations - it could comfortably clear the same tonnage in a day as the double-act that preceded it.”

2003 – LEXION 450 Often when you inherit someone else’s kit you end up with machines that you’d rather not be running, but occasionally you get a gem! For Perthshire grower David Hay that proved to be the case 14 years ago.

“I was pushing to grow the business with contract farming agreements and one farm we took over in 2003 had a four year-old LEXION 450,” he explains.

“It was a real step forward in technology and operator comfort. Everything was just that bit more sophisticated than what we’d had before, from the yield monitor to the header auto-contour.”

“It immediately convinced me that we wanted more of the same so bought a bigger 460 to run alongside it. At that time it was the highest output straw walker combine on the market so we knew we’d be able to cover the ground. And it didn’t disappoint, but the following year our acreage grew again and so we hired a third LEXION – another 460.”

“Being tracked it trod a much lighter footprint and could just cruise up and down the banks where we’d struggled with traction previously. Being narrower, on the road it was fantastic too – a big factor given that we cover 25 farms across an 18 mile area.”

The 580’s improved sieve cleaning was a big boost to output as well.

With more wind-speed the separation area stayed cleaner allowing the Hays to gain more output from the combine. Going from straw-walker machines to the LEXION’s HYBRID rotary threshing system took a bit of a change of mindset.

“You needed to pay attention to the speed of the twin rotors in the 580 to avoid over-threshing the straw as the crop dried out through the day. If not you could overload the sieves and then you’d lose some of that monster output,” says Finlay Hay. “But that wasn’t an issue because we got such excellent operator training from CLAAS. Nearly every year we go back to keep up to date.”

By 2009 the business had topped the 2,020 ha (5,000 acre) mark and it was decided that the ten-year-old 450 was probably being stretched to its limits.

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“It was a serious step-up. Immediately we were impressed.”

2009 – LEXION 600 TT By 2009 the business had topped the 2,020 ha (5,000 acre) mark and it was decided that the ten-year-old 450 was probably being stretched to its limits.

“We like to keep our machinery immaculate and our original LEXION was still in fantastic order so we were offered a really good trade-in price. We swapped it for a mint condition, three-year-old 600 TT.” “It was a serious step-up. Immediately we were impressed.

Having so much more power than the 580 meant it would fly past it in the field, despite them both having 30ft headers.”

“JET STREAM meant we had even more cleaning capacity and the bigger grain tank made logistics that much easier with the chaser bin.”

2013 – LEXION 780 TT Four years later, with the 580 approaching its eighth birthday and the acreage constantly creeping up, it was decided it should be retired. Filling its boots was a rangetopping 780 TT with 12m (40ft) header.

“The 780 gave us a huge increase in capacity – that was the first year we didn’t have to call in any extra help to finish up.”

“Amazingly it isn’t any thirstier than the 600. With a 10ft wider header the tonnage coming off it per hour is about 25% more but it’s using the same amount of fuel.”

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“We’re putting a lot of that down to the improved efficiency we’re getting from using CEMOS. We’re using it as a driver assistant in combination with Cruise Control. We’ll take on board its suggestions and inevitably we end up with a better sample and extra output.”

“The other big improvement is the straw chopper. Going to the POWER SPREADER on the 600 was much better in getting an even distribution across the 30ft cut width and the 780 is better again. It can genuinely fling it out to 40ft – that’s no mean feat.”

Hay LEXION history 2003 – LEXION 450 2004 – LEXION 460 2004 – LEXION 460 2005 – LEXION 580 TT 2009 – LEXION 600 TT 2013 – LEXION 780 TT

“Amazingly it [the 780 TT] isn’t any thirstier than the 600. With a 10ft wider header the tonnage coming off it per hour is about 25% more but it’s using the same amount of fuel.”

Finlay Hay

Messrs Charles Hay, near Perth, Scotland Farmed area 2,630 ha (6,500 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 880 ha (2,175 acres), OSR 280 ha (690 acres), winter barley 170 ha (420 acres), spring oats 330 ha (815 acres), spring barley 100 ha (247 acres), turnips 45 ha (111 acres), potatoes 280 ha (690 acres), vining peas 320 ha (790 acres) – remainder down to grass and EFA/set aside

Soils

Heavy clay through to flyaway sand

Staff

David and Finlay Hay plus two others full-time and five part-time

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CEMOS

David and Edward White, Wiltshire, 2016

1997 – LEXION 460 The first CLAAS combine to arrive at Manor Farm in Berwick Bassett was a LEXION 460 in 1997. At the time the White family were cropping about 400 ha (1,000 acres) and it was hoped the newcomer would match that area comfortably.

“The straw-walker 460 matched the output we needed on paper and it was no disappointment in the field – it had plenty of capacity for our acreage at the time.”

“But what really made the difference was the back-up. The service we got from MILL ENGINEERS (CLAAS Western) was just superb – something we weren’t used to. And that continues to this day. Our fitter – Jimmy Oldroyd – knows his way around a LEXION like no-one else and we can call him up at any time of day or night and he’ll be here to sort any problems.”

Within three years of the first LEXION arriving at the farm, the cropped acreage had grown to almost 810 ha (2,000 acres). To cut that an increase in harvesting capacity was going to be required. Cue the 480.

2001 – LEXION 480 “Going to the 480 was a serious leap in output. It was staggering really – we were filling the trailers about 30% faster than before. In fact we set our record with that combine – in 2003 we cut 1,000 tonnes of wheat in a 20-hour day.”

“But the transition to a HYBRID rotary from a straw walker machine was easy – we had no particular issues with straw or cutting damp crops.

Having the VARIO header was a complete revolution in rape which is always an awkward crop to cut. Suddenly it became whole lot easier, being able to vary the cutterbar position. Now we play with it the whole time, especially in laid crops.”

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“The second generation CEMOS Automatic we’ve got on the 780 is something else. It’s brilliant – we run it in auto all the time and, in combination with Cruise Control, it means we’re getting so much more out of the machine.”

Edward White

Edward White

CEMOS FROM 2009 CEMOS Is the CLAAS umbrella term for all the systems which optimise machine performance. There are two types of CEMOS: driver dialogue based (introduced in 2009) or AUTOMATIC (introduced in 2013).

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DG White, near Avebury, Wiltshire Farmed area 1,436 ha (3,550 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 627 ha (1,550 acres), winter OSR 445 ha (1,100 acres), winter barley 364 ha (900 acres), downland permanent pasture 121 ha (300 acres), wild bird cover 28 ha (70 acres)

Soils

Predominantly medium clay loams with some shallow chalk downland

Staff

David and Edward White plus two other full-timers and three others part-time at harvest

“We stick with CLAAS for two reasons – the LEXION has the capacity to match our acreage but most importantly it’s the service that sells them. All machines will have breakdowns but if they’re well backed up, that’s what counts.”

David White. Photo: davidwhitephotos.com

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2004 – LEXION 580 After three seasons’ work the 480 was superceded by a 580 which did a further three harvests before being swapped for a 600 TERRA TRAC. “Variable speed rotors on the 580 meant we weren’t having to get out to swap belts to alter how hard we were thrashing the straw, so downtime was reduced and our work rates consequently went up,” says Edward.

2007 – LEXION 600 TT “The 600 was another big step up from what we’d had before. Previously it was often overloaded sieves that would limit our output but with Jet Stream we could keep everything that much cleaner so we could run that much faster.”

“Being able to adjust the bomb-door rotor cage flaps of course helped massively with that, limiting the amount of chaff dropping onto the sieves.

From the day we got that combine we were able to keep going better by altering them constantly through the day. For us it’s all about getting across the acres.”

“Tracks brought a heap of different benefits, primarily in improving our hillclimbing ability. But equally as important, even with a 10 tonne tank load we weren’t making a mark – limiting soil compaction is a big priority for us. TERRA TRAC also meant the machine was that much narrower on the road so transport became less of an issue.”

2016 – LEXION 780 TT A 770 TT followed the 600 TT in 2011 and this season that was replaced by a LEXION 780 TT with pre-series 1230 VARIO header.

“Rather than pure engine power or threshing capacity, it’s now clever technology that is pushing throughput. Our 770 had first generation CEMOS which worked well in making suggestions for how to get more from the combine.”

“Even with an operator with 40 years’ experience in the seat, it didn’t necessarily change what he was doing but just confirmed he was doing the right things.”

“But the second generation CEMOS Automatic we’ve got on the 780 is something else. It’s brilliant – we run it in auto all the time and, in combination with Cruise Control, it means we’re getting so much more out of the machine. You can see it’s altering the sieves, fan speed and bomb doors all the time and we’re getting a much better sample as a result.”

The AUTOSTOP blockage avoidance system has proved another big bonus.

“I’ve had several occasions late at night in green-stemmed rape this season where I would have stuffed the whole combine up but the auto cutout kicks in just in time.”

“Everything at the front end just stops, the APS concave drops and the blockage passes straight through in seconds – it’s fantastic and has saved us hours in downtime already this harvest.”

“It feels like things have really been thought through from a driver’s perspective, even down to the chopper. Being able to swap between chopping, swathing and transport from the cab, without having to clamber under the back and get dust down your neck, is a real pleasure.”

The pre-production header has added to that, helping to limit time out of the seat.

“Being able to swap between crops without having to add fill-in plates now takes just 20 minutes whereas it was over an hour previously. In fact we can get it down to ten minutes if we’re not using lifters and the sideknives are a doddle to fit. It’s a true 12m cut and whether we’re using LASER PILOT or CLAAS’ easy to set up GPS steering, the header’s always kept full.”

White LEXION history 1997 – LEXION 460 2001 – LEXION 480 2004 – LEXION 580 2007 – LEXION 600 TT 2011 – LEXION 770 TT 2016 – LEXION 780 TT

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20 YEARS OF LEXION

Evolution

1995

1996

APS HYBRID SYSTEM TERRA TRAC i a b i l i t y Minimum ground l e Unique to CLAAS. Combining R the APS threshing system compaction, reduced and the highly efficient ROTO H o transport width, n es PLUS residual grain separation improved t y stability system. and cutterbar performance.

Le g a c y

68 20

00

200

002 2003 2004 1 2 20 0

5

2

1997

1998

1999

2002

2004

STRAW CHOPPER

VARIO CUTTERBAR

LASER PILOT

EVOLUTION

From the rotors, the straw moves directly to the chopper, the intensity of which can be varied depending on the conditions.

Optimum crop flow thanks to the VARIO cutterbar and the twin rotor HYBRID SYSTEM ensures impressive throughput rates.

Optical steering system. The machine is automatically guided along the crop edge with a precision of 10 to 20 cm.

The Evolution bought with it a whole raft of new features taking harvesting capacity and output to a new level.

POWER SPREADER Mechanically driven, ensuring perfect spreading. Automatic crosswind and slope compensation.

CLAAS technology at a glance

2004

2005

2006

2009

2013

2015

2017

GPS PILOT

JET STREAM

CRUISE PILOT

CEMOS

4D CLEANING

NEW AUGER

Integral component of the combine.

Actively controls the combine’s steering hydraulics with the highest level of accuracy.

The JET STREAM cleaning system is designed especially to work with the ROTO PLUS residual grain separation system. A dual ventilated step ensures intensive pre-cleaning while the multistage turbine fans, which can be adjusted continuously from the cab, create the necessary air flow.

Automatic forward control. Automatically controls the harvesting speed for the best results on the basis of the engine load.

The CLAAS umbrella term for all the systems which optimise machine performance. There are two types of CEMOS: driver dialogue based or AUTOMATIC.

DYNAMIC COOLING

The 4D-cleaning system is a module within CEMOS AUTOMATIC. It comprises the 4D function to control the rotor flaps and AUTO SLOPE to adjust the fan speed.

NEW 7XL unloading auger, compatible with 12M Controlled Traffic Systems.

Creates a curtain of air that minimises the amount of dust drawn into the cooling system.

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DYNAMIC COOLING Robert Barnes and Stuart Beardsell, Bedfordshire, 2016

The Barnes family really know their LEXION combines. For the last twenty years CLAAS’ flagship model of the time has been the weapon of choice at Roxhill Manor Farm.

“Year by year there were subtle improvements, always accompanied by more power. Each new machine we had seemed to be better than the last.”

1996 – LEXION 480

“With the Evo models we saw even more output with the move to Caterpillar engines.”

“We’ve been completely sold on the CLAAS HYBRID rotary concept since day one. Since the first one arrived here in 1996 we haven’t looked back. While the basic principles have remained the same we’ve seen huge leaps forward in output and operator comfort as the LEXION has evolved over time,” says Robert Barnes.

“Those first machines really stood out as something different – they were way ahead of their time. Being able to control everything from the cab was huge step forward, particularly being able to tweak sieve settings. CEBIS was like nothing else on the market.”

“But it was sheer capacity that won us over – at the time we were cutting 3,500 acres a year and the HYBRID set-up made that possible with two machines comfortably.”

“A 25ft header was a must to cover the ground but the real difference was in having the UNI SPREADER. At last we had a chopper that could evenly distribute straw and chaff across the full working width.”

2002 – LEXION 480 Evolution The Barnes family were so convinced by the LEXION HYBRID principle that within a couple of years they were running two 480s and by 2004 had three on the books – two of them Evolution models.

“CLAAS might have stuck with the 480 model number for almost a decade but under the skin it was a different beast to how it first started out,” says Mr Barnes.

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2005 – LEXION 580 TT By 2005 the business had grown to cover more than 2,300 ha (5,700 acres) using a trio of 580 TTs to do the harvesting.

“The 580 was a real turning point for us. Having variable rotor speed meant we could get so much more out of the combine simply by tweaking settings through the day. That meant we weren’t smashing straw and overloading the sieves. Consequently we could keep going at maximum output and still maintain a decent sample.”

“They were also the first machines to be fitted with track suspension. That made a huge difference to maintaining header stability on rough ground especially as cutterbar widths grew.”

2007 – 2 x LEXION 600 TT Running three high output combines proved to be something of a logistical nightmare. Consequently when CLAAS announced it would be introducing a new flagship LEXION with an even greater output, Mr Barnes immediately put his name down for a pair.

“When the 600 arrived on the scene we knew that was the route we needed to go down. We were cautious that it was a big ask for two combines to clear almost 6,000 acres but we took the plunge and swapped out three 580s for two 600s.”

“Dynamic cooling made a big difference too. The new horizontal radiator package kept everything so much cleaner. Whereas previously we were blowing them out twice a day – it was then needed just twice a season.”

Robert Barnes

DYNAMIC COOLING FROM 2013 Introduced in 2013, DYNAMIC COOLING creates a curtain of air that minimises the amount of dust drawn into the cooling system.

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Barnes and Son Ltd, near Bedford Farmed area 2,020 ha (5,000 acres) plus another 810 ha (2,000 acres) of contract combining Cropping

Winter wheat 1,416 ha (3,500 acres), oilseed rape 607 ha (1,500 acres), winter barley 405 ha (1,000 acres), spring barley 81 ha (200 acres), spring beans 202 ha (500 acres), etc. remainder peas, linseed and quinoa

Soils

Boulder clays through to light sand

“The new cutterbar is just superb for crop changeovers, it now takes me ten minutes to whip the side-knives off.�

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Stuart Beardsell

“We had a pair of wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

“We weren’t disappointed either. There was a monstrous increase in capacity. As ever we got more horsepower, but the improvements were much more sophisticated than that.”

“JET STREAM sieve cleaning just meant everything under the rotors was kept so much cleaner than before, so the sheer volume of material going through the combine could be that much greater.”

“The rotor and cage design improved too. We opted for the new anti-wrap version – a big improvement for us, growing quite a bit of linseed.”

2012 – 2 x LEXION 770 TT A further four 600 TTs followed that first pair but by 2012 the area to cut had grown again and more harvesting capacity was required. Duly the two LEXION combines on duty at the time were swapped for a brace of brand-spanking 770 TTs, although under the skin they were something a little bit special.

“We had a pair of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Although they were badged as 770s, under the panels they were actually a pre-production 780s,” explains farm manager Stuart Beardsell.

“They were another step on again. They were significantly more fuel efficient and the hydraulics were just so much more responsive so that the header AUTO CONTOR was able to react so much faster.”

“DYNAMIC COOLING made a big difference too.

The new horizontal radiator package kept everything so much cleaner. Whereas previously we were blowing them out twice a day – it was then needed just twice a season.”

2016 – 2 x LEXION 780 TT This harvest a pair of new 780 TTs arrived at Roxhill Manor Farm, one fitted with a prototype 1230 VARIO header.

Barnes LEXION history

“The new cutterbar is just superb for crop changeovers,” says Mr Beardsell.

1996 – LEXION 480

“It now takes me ten minutes to whip the side-knives off. On the other combine it takes a couple of guys forty minutes to pull out the filler-plates and set it back to cereal settings.”

1997 – LEXION 480

It’s in the cab that the biggest changes have taken place.

2002 – LEXION 480 Evo

“Everything has become that little bit slicker. CRUISE PILOT works so well you can even use it in auto on the headlands, setting its own pace. It’s smoother and more responsive.”

2003 – LEXION 480 Evo

“We moved CEMOS across from our first 780s too.

It’s a really useful tool for making settings suggestions and then looking to see the effect. Generally if you do what it recommends you’ll see an increase in output or improvement in sample.”

“The other big thing is 4D sieves. Using the bomb doors to throw grain uphill on the sieves is a genius idea. We’re not on massively steep land here but even so you can see the effect even on the smallest side-slopes.

2000 – LEXION 480 2001 – LEXION 480

2004 – LEXION 580 TT 2005 – 2 x LEXION 580 TT 2007 – 2 x LEXION 600 TT 2008 – 2 x LEXION 600 TT 2010 – 2 x LEXION 600 TT 2012 – 2 x LEXION 770 TT 2016 – 2 x LEXION 780 TT

“On the power front, the new straight six engine seems hang on in there longer. Power delivery is smoother and it’s noticeably quieter.”

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Robert Barnes and Stuart Beardsell, Bedfordshire, 2016

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“Everything has become that little bit slicker. CRUISE PILOT works so well you can even use it in auto on the headlands, setting its own pace. It’s smoother and more responsive. It’s a really useful tool for making settings suggestions and then looking to see the effect. Generally if you do what it recommends you’ll see an increase in output or improvement in sample.”

Stuart Beardsell

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4D SIEVES Les Anderson and Neil Ramsay, Berwickshire, 2016

2000 – LEXION 480 A move to streamline the harvest operation 16 years ago at Borders arable business, Hamish Morison Farming Ltd, saw two combines replaced by one high output machine - a LEXION 480.

“With 1,000 acres of arable cropping at the time we couldn’t really justify two combines but needed the capacity given the catchy harvest weather we tend to get in this part of the world,” says farm manager Les Anderson.”

“Previously there wasn’t a machine on the market that could guarantee to cut that area in such a tight window. But when CLAAS introduced the HYBRID rotary concept that changed. We waited a few years to see how the LEXION combines would perform and then took the plunge for harvest 2000 with a 480 with 25ft header.”

It immediately proved its worth, comfortably clearing the acreage in that first season. And, despite reservations, there were no issues with the straw.

“Rotary combines had a bad reputation around here for smashing up the straw and struggling when things got damp. But the LEXION didn’t fail in either area.”

“It took a completely different approach to set up compared with a straw walker machine but we had fantastic help from our dealer RICKERBY. The swaths of straw it left were great for the balers – we had no complaints from the contractors despite their initial concerns.”

“But the most impressive stand-out feature about that first LEXION was its appetite. Its internal workings were so cleverly engineered to maximize the square footage of separation area, nothing else on the market at the time could match it.”

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“Whereas previously I would adjust fan speed myself going up and downhill, with 4D it’s all done automatically.”

Les Anderson

Les Anderson

4D SIEVES FROM 2015 The 4D-cleaning system is another module within CEMOS AUTOMATIC. It comprises the 4D function to control the rotor flaps and AUTO SLOPE to adjust the fan speed.

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“CLAAS has continuously developed the LEXION to keep pace with our increasing demands. Year-on-year it just keeps getting better.”

Les Anderson

Hamish Morison Farming Ltd, near Earlston, Berwickshire Farmed area 1,010 ha (2,500 acres) Cropping Winter wheat 342 ha (845 acres), winter barley 155 ha (383 acres), OSR 150 ha (370 acres), spring barley 115 ha (284 acres), potatoes 20 ha (50 acres), energy beet 20 ha (50 acres), spring wheat 13 ha (32 acres), 101 ha forestry, 30 ha EFA – remainder down to permanent pasture for free range hens Stock

80,000 free range layers

Soils

Predominantly sandy loams

Staff

Les Anderson and Neil Ramsay plus four others fulltime, lorry drivers and fulltime manager for 10,000 ton grain plant

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2004 – LEXION 580 TT

2016 – LEXION 770 TT

After four seasons work, the acreage had grown and the 480 was swapped for a 580 TT.

By 2016 the cropped area had risen to over 820 ha (2,026 acres) and another boost to harvesting capacity was required so a 770 TT was ordered.

“On the threshing front the big change was Variable Rotor Speed. Being able to simply tweak the rpm from the cab rather than getting out to swap belts meant the combine was always doing the best possible job with constant adjustments through the day as crop conditions changed.”

“Moving to the 770 was a bit like going back to familiar territory. We were back to a wide-bodied machine. Really it’s like having a 580+ with JET STREAM – an ideal combination.”

2009 – LEXION 580+ TT Five years on, the 2004 model was swapped for a 580+ with 9m (30ft) header.

“Where we’d had a 25ft VARIO previously, that extra width made a huge difference. We were doing the same forward speed but covering 20% more ground,” says farm foreman and LEXION operator Neil Ramsay.

“We’d never had an issue with power in the previous machine but the 580+’s engine was a step on again and that’s what made the difference to output.”

2014 – LEXION 760 TT “In 2013 we had a 760 TT in on demo alongside the obvious competition but nothing could match the LEXION for the big, often damp crops of straw we get in the Scottish borders.”

“The others pushed to keep up but to match the CLAAS’ output they were losing more grain out over the back. The decision was simple – stick with what we knew was best.”

“With the 760 the pace had picked up again. JET STREAM sieve cleaning made a huge difference to the sample we could achieve when running flat out.

Importantly fan speed adjustments became much more responsive – small alterations resulted in big differences in the proportion of grain in the returns.”

“But there’s more to it than that. Whereas previously I would adjust fan speed myself going up and downhill, with 4D it’s all done automatically.”

“And it’s a similar story with the bomb-bay doors on the rotor concave opening up to throw grain to the uphill side of the sieves. Although you don’t know it’s happening, we’re seeing fewer losses on side-slopes as a result so we can push on faster.”

“From a driver’s point of view the whole set-up is just fantastic. The combination of auto-steering and CRUISE PILOT make a huge difference.

We’ve always had LASER PILOT which worked brilliantly but on this latest machine we’ve gone to CLAAS ’ GPS steering. Being properly integrated makes all the difference.”

“CRUISE PILOT on this new machine is spot-on. I engage it and the speed immediately picks up and output rockets. Constantly altering depending on load, it allows me to concentrate on all the other important settings.”

Anderson LEXION history 2000 – LEXION 480 2004 – LEXION 580 TT 2009 – LEXION 580+ TT 2014 – LEXION 760 TT

The 770 TT is equipped with the latest generation of 10.8m (35ft) VARIO header which has attracted particular praise.

“The whole header is so much more robustly built to cope with its wider cut. Having three sets of sensor bands across the width makes contour following much more accurate and avoids bull-dozing.”

“The split reel, bigger auger and twin knife drives means it runs so much more smoothly and being able to get the full range of knife movement without filler plates is brilliant.

Changeovers take just a few minutes now.”

2016 – LEXION 770 TT

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CONTROLLED TRAFFIC William and Harry Barton, Nottinghamshire, 2016

Following the launch of straw walker LEXION combines in 1997, the Barton family watched their performance on neighbouring farms with interest over the next two harvests.

Farming over 1,012 ha (2,500 acres) at the time, William Barton could see that these new machines were matching CLAAS’ bold claims for capacity and, despite being relatively new to the market, were also proving to be reliable in the field.

1999 – LEXION 460 “From the day the first LEXION appeared around here it gained a good name for output and reliability. Those were the two key factors for us and so we decided to take the plunge and signed up for a 460 with 25ft header,” explains William.

“Despite our initial caution about what it was capable of, it exceeded our expectations. All the clever electronics made it a real driver’s machine.

We’d never seen anything like the CEBIS computer – being able to tinker with all the settings from the cab on the go meant we were doing a much better job.”

“If we saw returns start to rise we could just tweak the electronic sieves to get them back to sensible levels – all those little things added up to make for big output.”

2004 – LEXION 580 A second 460 followed the first and then in 2004, as the cropped area climbed to over 1,090 ha (2,700 acres), the Bartons decided to make the move to HYBRID threshing.

“We were at the limits of the 460’s abilities and needed more output so we bought a 580 with 30ft header.”

“The increase in capacity was huge. And despite concerns from our straw customers, the swath the twin rotors produced was absolutely fine for the balers.”

2005 – LEXION 580 TT The next LEXION was another 580 but this time kitted out with TERRA TRACS. “We’d had a couple of wet harvests and could see the damage the combine with the big header was doing. We were convinced that tracks were the right way to go and pretty much immediately we were proved right. That season the rains came down and our machine was the only combine in the area that was able to travel. The tracks paid for themselves in one year.”

“Since then we’ve been completely sold on the concept. We’re always striving to keep the soil in the best possible condition and have moved to controlled traffic for that reason.”

“But the benefits are bigger than that. On the headland the combine doesn’t have to slow down to turn because the tracks keep it so much more stable.”

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Harry Barton

“This year we’ve gone to full-on RTKcorrected GPS Pilot to keep the LEXION on track for controlled traffic. It’s so much more accurate. Using that in combination with CRUISE PILOT takes the automation on to another level.”

Harry Barton

CRUISE PILOT FROM 2006

GPS PILOT FROM 2004

Automatic forward control. Automatically controls the harvesting speed for the best results on the basis of the engine load.

Integral component of the combine. Actively controls the combine’s steering hydraulics with the highest level of accuracy.

Introduced in 2006 and still used today.

Introduced in 2004 and still used today.

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2011 – LEXION 770 TT In 2011 the 580+ TT was swapped for a 770 TT with a (35ft) header and third generation TERRA TRACs.

We were skeptical at first but you can see it blowing the chaff and straw away from the next bout of crop.”

“The 770 was a much more sophisticated, refined machine. It had the CEMOS settings suggestions computer and a new CEBIS display which was much improved. The new suspended tracks were a pleasure on the road,” says Harry Barton.

From a driver’s point of view the technology-packed cabin scores particularly highly.

“Most importantly it had heaps more output – we averaged 60t/hour in that first harvest. Much of that was down to JET STREAM – with so much more airflow we could keep the sieves that much cleaner and keep the combine running that much faster.”

2016 – LEXION 780 TT But even with such output, the 770 couldn’t match the pace of growth of the Bartons’ business. By last harvest the acreage had grown to over 1,415 ha (3,500 acres) and something with an altogether bigger appetite was required. Duly the five-year-old Barton 770 TT was changed for a new 780 TT kitted out with pre-production 7XL folding unloading auger and 12.3m LEXION VARIO header.

“We’ve been working towards full controlled traffic for a number of years and the new combine made it all possible. With the over-size unloading auger we can drop grain into the chaser bin on an adjacent tramline every time so it never runs off the existing wheelings.”

“The new chaff spreader is a major improvement – it’ll genuinely fling material out to the full header width and the auto wind compensation feature really works.

“We’ve had LASER PILOT for years and it’s amazing how it takes the stress out of the job. Because you’re not concentrating all the time on keeping the header on track, you can spend more time tweaking things to get the most out of the combine.”

“This year we’ve gone to full-on RTK-corrected GPS PILOT to keep the LEXION on track for controlled traffic. It’s so much more accurate and can faithfully follow curved headlands. Using that in combination with CRUISE PILOT takes the automation on to another level.”

But it’s the combination of improved fuel consumption and extra output that really counts in the 780’s favour.

history

1999 – LEXION 460 2002 – LEXION 460 2004 – LEXION 580 2005 – LEXION 580 TT 2007 – LEXION 580+ TT 2011 – LEXION 770 TT 2016 – LEXION 780 TT

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“Using the Telematics app on my phone and the office computer I can really closely monitor the combine’s performance. That’s brilliant for harvest logistics. From the real-time mapping I can see when it’s cutting headlands to anticipate spikes in grain moisture and divert loads accordingly,” explains Harry.

“But what it really highlights is just what the 780 is capable of. In the winter wheat we were cutting 170 acres/day, burning 10-15% less diesel than the 770 and yet we’ve been clearing the ground 10-15% faster than before. The improvement in our harvesting efficiency is phenomenal.”

Barton and Co, near Gainsborough, Nottinghamshire Farmed area 1,415 ha (3,500 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 425 ha (1,050 acres), winter barley 283 ha (700 acres), OSR 283 ha (700 acres), spring beans 212 ha (525 acres), spring barley 105 ha (260 acres), spring wheat 107 ha (265 acres)

Soils

Predominantly medium to heavy clay loams

Labour

William and Harry Barton plus three fulltimers and another two at harvest

“The back-up from CLAAS is by far the best in the business, our dealer MARSH is really good. CLAAS always look after us – if we get in trouble we can rely on them to help us out.”

William Barton

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William and Harry Barton, Nottinghamshire, 2016

NEW AUGER – 2017 “We’ve been working towards full controlled traffic for a number of years and the new combine made it all possible. With the over-size unloading auger we can drop grain into the chaser bin on an adjacent tramline every time so it never runs off the existing wheelings.”

Harry Barton

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Driver Farms, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Farmed area 1,200 ha (2,965 acres) Cropping

Winter wheat 50%, oilseed rape 25% remainder in winter beans spring beans, spring barley and spring oats

Soils

Chalky boulder clays

Staff

Carl, Felicity and Adam Driver and regular self-employed specialists at peak times year on year.

“Since we had our first LEXION in 2001 we’ve had LASER PILOT auto-steering which quickly became an essential.”

Carl Driver

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STEERING Carl Driver, Suffolk, 2016

Keeping combines on the straight and narrow has been a key element in improving efficiency for over a decade at Driver Farms in Suffolk. But the move to controlled traffic farming (CTF) in the last couple of years has seen ultra-accurate steering become an imperative.

2001 – LEXION 470 “Since we had our first LEXION in 2001 we’ve had LASER PILOT auto-steering which quickly became an essential,” explains Carl Driver.

“Not only does it keep the header full all the time with the obvious impact on efficiency but it massively cuts out the fatigue of constantly concentrating on a spinning reel and cutterbar. Once we’re cutting we try to avoid stopping the combine at all costs, so being less tired means you can keep going that much longer.”

2004 – LEXION 570 After running two 570’s with CLAAS’ unique laser-guided steering, in 2009 things became a whole lot more precise.

2009 – LEXION 600 “When we ordered our LEXION 600 we decided we would swap to CLAAS GPS PILOT steering. All our tractors were using similar RTK-corrected technology and, as the key machine in the whole operation, it made sense for the combine to be running on the same track.”

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“The S3 controller did a good job for us and the fact that we were able to easily swap it across to our first 780 in 2013 was a real plus point.”

2013 – LEXION 780 “The S3 controller did a good job for us and the fact that we were able to easily swap it across to our first 780 in 2013 was a real plus point. With RTKcorrection it provided pin-point precision and for the first time we were able to start accurately mapping yields.”

But things rarely sit still at Brittons Farm and two years later big changes were afoot with a move to limiting the amount of machinery travelling across the business’ land.

2016 – LEXION 780 CTF We’d seen a number of big operations moving across to controlled traffic and when you thought about it, it made sense – why run across all the ground, potentially causing compaction issues where there needn’t be any?”

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“So last harvest we hired a 12.3m VARIO header from CLAAS to test the concept here on our land. We were already running a 12m drill and cultivators so it fitted well.”

“But having ultra-accurate steering on the combine was crucial to the whole system. As the heaviest piece of kit in the fleet we needed to make sure it never strayed off the permanent wheelings.”

To ensure that, the business invested in a new LEXION 780 with purposemade 7XL unloading auger capable of dropping grain into trailers running along adjacent tramlines. At the same time the original S3 terminal was swapped for a colour touchscreen S7 controller.

“The clearer, bigger screen was a huge improvement and having a single smaller box in the cab means less clutter. But most importantly we are now able to easily transfer A-B lines across from Gatekeeper on the office iMac and the box stores that data alongside boundary data, etc…”

“It’s then simple to call up that information and use it when you reach the field. Where the S7 is really good is running on a curved track – it’s even good enough to leave the combine to steer itself around the opening headland bout. It works a treat.”

“Where the S7 is really good is running on a curved track – it’s even good enough to leave the combine to steer itself around the opening headland bout. It works a treat.”

Driver LEXION history 2001 – LEXION 470 2004 – LEXION 570 2009 – LEXION 600 2013 – LEXION 780 2016 – LEXION 780 CTF

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20 YEARS SELLING LEXION Trevor Smith, KIRBY, Leicestershire

Based on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, KIRBY salesman Trevor Smith has been selling LEXION combines since they first appeared in 1996. In fact, over the last 20 years he’s sold over 180 flagship CLAAS combines.

EVOLUTION OF THE LEXION

“With the launch of the LEXION HYBRID concept in 1996 everything changed in the world of harvesting.”

“The 400-series LEXION served us well for eight years and of course little tweaks along the way meant they became more refined over that time.

Then in 2004 the first 500-series machines started to arrive. They were fundamentally the same under the skin but had more power and more output.”

“Combining the APS drum upfront with the twin rotors at the back you had forced separation all the way through. You were no longer reliant on gravity to do the work as you were with straw walkers.”

“But the biggest shock came with the introduction of the 600 in 2006. It really was an animal. Everything was bigger – elevators, augers and rotors, and of course it had more horsepower.”

“The concept had clearly been well thought out and because of that it quickly proved itself in the field. Output went up from 20t/hour to over 40t/ hour. It made the salesman’s life easy – it sold itself.”

“In truth, with only a 9m header at the time we didn’t have a cutterbar to match the 600’s appetite and you had to run it at a ridiculous pace to try and keep the threshing gear full. That was solved the following season with the arrival of the 10.5m VARIO.”

“…the biggest shock came with the introduction of the 600 in 2006. It really was an animal.”

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“Four years later we got to see the next generation – the 700. The cab was wider, deeper and had more glass and the CEBIS computer had been redesigned – with hotkeys it became so much easier to navigate on the move.”

“The 700s also had the third generation TERRA TRACS which better suspension and DYNAMIC COOLING. That was a real revolution.”

“It made the salesman’s life easy – it sold itself.”

Trevor Smith

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HOW THE JOB HAS CHANGED “When the LEXION first appeared on the scene 20 years ago my current patch was being covered by three or four salesmen – now it’s all down to me. Much of that is down to the fact that the machines sold are now so much bigger and hungrier that one combine now cuts the acreage that two or three were doing back then.”

“It’s all about a drive for efficiency. As smaller farms have been amalgamated into bigger units, the LEXION’s capacity has grown to match those bigger acreages.”

“But having single machines responsible for such big areas really ramps up the pressure. If anything goes wrong there’s now much more urgency to get it sorted. Because of that we now stock an even greater range of parts and our stores staff have had to become so much more switched on.”

“From a salesman’s perspective the single biggest change has been the mobile phone. We’re now contactable all the time wherever we are. That means we can instantly react to any issues that come in – it’s all about providing immediate customer service.”

“But at the end of the day one thing remains the same – the job is all about relationships. It’s more than just a business arrangement – my customers are much more like friends. It’s all built on trust.”

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“But at the end of the day one thing remains the same – the job is all about relationships. It’s more than just a business arrangement – my customers are much more like friends.”

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CLAAS Service

THE EARLIER

POST HARVEST OFFER

WINTER OFFER

Book in before 1st Dec 2016

Book in between 2nd Dec 2016 and 1st Mar 2017

Speak to your local dealer now for the very best service option for you.

Speak to your local dealer now for the very best service option for you.

Planning ahead to save you money.

Complete peace of mind.

Our aim with this package is to offer you an efficient, cost effective service, whilst at the same time reducing the demands on our service departments at peak times of the year. It requires your co-operation to allow our engineers to complete the work required, any time between now and next Spring, either on your farm or at our premises.

During the winter service, the sound investment that you’ve made in a CLAAS product, will benefit from the continual commitment we make to technical training and support. This will mean you receive the best level of service from our experienced technicians; all of whom pursue professional qualifications devised by CLAAS UK.

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iability l e R

YOU BOOK – THE BETTER THE PRICE SPRING OFFER Book in after 1st Mar 2017

Speak to your local dealer now for the very best service option for you.

Genuine Parts, Genuine Service.

Our Service department uses CLAAS genuine parts and recommended lubricants according to machine model and specification during winter services. All CLAAS parts have been specially selected to ensure maximum performance of your machine.

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CLAAS FINANCE UPDATE At CLAAS Finance, we pride ourselves on a flexible approach to help finance your next CLAAS purchase.

1. Hire Purchase - Puts you in complete control. You decide how much deposit to set down and how long the contract lasts. We can structure the agreement to match your business cashflow. At the end of the contract, you own the machinery.

A recent investment in machinery survey conducted by MHA Accountants early this year, showed interesting results.

2. Finance Lease - Keeps your rental payments low.

Finance Lease helps customers avoid a large upfront deposit by spreading the VAT cost over the term of the agreement.

Payments can normally be offset against taxable profits too, making Finance Lease an efficient option.

Only 8% of respondents cited tax planning as the main reason for machinery purchases, with most (58%) looking for increased efficiency and 21% buying as part of a planned replacement policy.

Tellingly, only 12% were buying because of business expansion. As the plans for Brexit start to unravel and with business confidence gradually increasing, what better time to invest in CLAAS machinery with improved efficiency?

CLAAS are continually investing in their machines to increase efficiency and therefore the profitability for your business. With the recent cut in Base rate by the Bank of England, what better time to invest and take advantage of our low rate finance promotions.

Your options CLAAS Finance is backed by BNP Paribas, the largest European bank with an excellent track record in the Agriculture sector. We offer three finance products to support your business’ objectives. Each product is based on regular payments to suit your budget, but offers different benefits to suit your financial circumstance.

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3. Operating Lease – Reduces risk to your business. If you don’t wish to own the machinery at the end of the agreement, simply return the equipment to your supplying dealer.

A knowledgeable team CLAAS Finance has nationwide coverage across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, with 14 experienced field-based staff. Every Regional Finance Manager of CLAAS Finance has excellent product knowledge and financial expertise and is on hand to visit and discuss our finance solutions. We’re experienced in asset finance, so we understand the need to make rapid decisions and ensure your business benefits from the most appropriate solution. Our Regional Finance Managers are here to make your purchase of machine from a CLAAS dealer, seamless and hassle-free.

For all enquiries, please contact salesoffice@claasfinance.com or call 01284 778344 for a quotation.

Visit us as www.claas-finance.com

EARLY ACTION FINANCE OFFERS 2016 LEXION 780 TT

LEXION 760 TT

LEXION 760 MONTANA

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

£78,373*

£49,375*

£64,718*

£40,773*

£58,055*

£36,575*

LEXION 670 TT

TUCANO 570

LEXION 620

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

£49,698*

£31,310*

£36,802*

£23,185*

£32,585*

£20,529*

TUCANO 430

AVERO 240

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

0 + 3 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 0%

£29,787*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

£18,766*

£20,823*

0 + 5 annual payments commencing January 2017 at 1% paf / 2.25% APR

£13,119*

Buy EARLY for the very best finance deal.

Only available until November 30, 2016 Call your dealer today. claas.co.uk

*Finance for business purposes only, terms and and conditions as follows: Subject to acceptance and affordability checks. Payments commence January 2017. Promotion valid from 1 October 2016 to 30 November 2016. Available on new equipment only. The finance product available under this promotion is hire purchase. Full VAT is due on signing. A £150 (inc.VAT) documentation fee will be collected with the first rental. An option-to-purchase fee of £100 (inc VAT) will be collected with the final payment. The customer will own the machine when all payments have been made. Alternative finance options are available, terms apply. Images are for illustrative purposes only. The interest-free offer is subject to a maximum balance to finance of 50% (based on RRP). Minimum deposit 50% +VAT required. Finance provided by CLAAS Financial Services Limited, Northern Cross, Basing View, Basingstoke, RG21 4HL. Registered in England No: 5854271. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Offer applies to UK, excluding ROI.

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Take early action and order your new combine now for the very best deal.

Contact your dealer or call CLAAS today. claas.co.uk