CLAAS CMATIC Geared for Growth
claas.co.uk
Contents CMATIC transmission, the facts ..................... 4 Our customers .................................................. 8 Chris Key, Norfolk .......................................... 10 The CMATIC Advantage 1 .............................. 14 Josh Collins, Cornwall ................................... 16 The CMATIC Advantage 2 .............................. 20 Rory Harrold, Norfolk ..................................... 22 The CMATIC Advantage 3 .............................. 26 Matthew Harrison, North Norfolk.................. 28 The CMATIC Advantage 4 .............................. 32 Nick Philp, Berkshire ...................................... 34 The CMATIC Advantage 5 .............................. 38 Tom Hawthorne, Nottinghamshire ................ 40 The CMATIC Advantage 6 .............................. 44 Andrew Harris, Oxfordshire ........................... 46 The CMATIC Advantage 7 .............................. 50 Jamie Downing Booth, Staffordshire ............ 52 The CMATIC Advantage 8 .............................. 56 John Foley, Co. Carlow .................................. 58 The CMATIC Advantage 9 .............................. 60 John Rowe, Co. Wexford ............................... 62 The CMATIC Advantage 10 ............................ 64 Alistair Kingan, Dumfries ............................... 66 Garry Russell, SW Scotland ........................... 70 The CLAAS Customer Experience Centre ... 74 3
CMATIC transmission, the facts. CLAAS’ CMATIC CVT gearbox is a fully stepless transmission that provides accelerationseamless and betweendeceleration0-50kph. It employs four mechanical ranges overlapped with hydrostatic drive to make breakit’soperatorThere’schangesuninterruptedforinspeed.norequirementforthetoswitchbetweenranges,alldoneautomaticallywithoutanyindrive. The brains behind the CMATIC box are constantly working to maximise the proportion of mechanical drive, always maximummaintainingefficiency.SuperiortransmissioncontrolCompletelysmoothacceleration 4
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There are three simple drive modes:
Choice of operation.
EngineManual.RPMand gearbox ratios are set independently of each other using the hand/foot throttle and CMOTION lever. This is particularly useful where set engine speeds are required for either PTO work or hydraulically-driven implements.
ThePedal.operator simply uses the throttle pedal to accelerate and decelerate, engine and transmission working in harmony to automatically achieve the desired speed the most efficient way possible. Drive lever.
Using the CMOTION multifunction control lever, the operator drives the tractor much like a hydrostatic self-propelled machine – pushing it further forward results in higher speeds, pulling back slows it down. The key difference is that once again engine RPM and transmission ratios are controlled simultaneously to achieve the desired speed, dependent on load.
CMATIC, the advantages. Minimal fuel use CLAAS stepless transmission delivers uninterrupted power for maximum productivity whilst minimising fuel usage. Peak torque during transport For transport the tractor will aim to throttle back engine revs to between 1,300-1,600 RPM once top speed is reached. Not only does that help to cut diesel consumption, but critically it’s as close as you’ll get to peak torque, ensuring the engine hangs on in there when the going gets tough. If RPM start to drop back beyond this point, transmission ratios automatically adjust to keep tractor performance at an optimum. Mechanical power flow from the Hydraulicengine power flow Combined power flow (mechanical + hydraulic to transmission output) Low consumptionfuel Tractor-Implementcontrol stretchAutobrake Power Zero activefunctionstandstill 6
Stretch braking.
There are three drive ranges each offering different levels of responsiveness. From the factory these are set to 0-15kph, 0-20kph and 0-50kph however they are all adjustable to suit the operator’s needs.
Power Zero.
Tractor-Implementpossible: control.
Having a tractor equipped with a stepless transmission means certain innovative functions can be employed that otherwise wouldn’t be
When working with equipment like forage-wagons or balers, the tractor’s forward speed can be controlled according to the amount of crop going into the pick-up.
Using sensors within the CMATIC transmission and engine, the system determines when a tractor and trailed implement travelling downhill are likely to start to over-run. This allows the tractor to pre-emptively apply the trailer brakes, effectively pulling the two machines apart and reducing the risk of jack-knifing.
CLAAS’ active standstill function means the transmission will hold the tractor stationary on slopes, making pulling away under load much safer.
The only other key adjustment is transmission ‘droop’. This setting alters how far the CEBIS computer will allow engine RPM to drop off before transmission ratios are adjusted, to slow the tractor up, allowing the engine to
Unique functions during field and transport work
Irrespectiverecover.ofsettings, any driver can jump on a CLAAS CMATIC tractor and get going without having to adjust a thing.
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With ease of operation at the forefront, CMATIC control is very straightforward and still offers plenty of customisable settings.
Simple settings.
Harrold
Tom
Collins
Philp
Hawthorne 8
Josh
Our customers
Key
Harrison
Matthew
Nick
Chris
Rory
Harris Garry Russell John Foley Jamie Downing Booth Alistair Kingan John Rowe 9
Andrew
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“You dial in your target speeds and the tractor just sorts itself out.”
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Having proved the concept, while the white and green stalwart remained on the fleet, a series of different coloured CVT tractors have come and gone since then. Last year the 8,000-hour prime mover was replaced by a similarly-liveried CLAAS ARION 660, again with a CMATIC transmission.
pecialist slurry contractor Chris Key has long been an advocate of stepless CVT gearboxes having had his first in a 2011 CLAAS AXION 810. The tractor’s CMATIC transmission quickly proved itself for slow speed umbilical application work as well as heavy tanker haulage, bringing extra efficiency and finesse to the business’ operations.
Chris Key ARION 660 CMATIC Near Norwich, Norfolk, May 2022 11
“Off the back of that, CLAAS will be a serious contender when we come to replacing another of our bigger tractors in the next few months.”
DealershipMANNS Dealer back-up
“From a driver’s point of view it’s a beautifully straightforward system to operate. You dial in your target speeds and the tractor just sorts itself out.”
Chris Key, May 2022
Why an ARION 660?
“When we were looking at replacements I wanted something a bit lighter for umbilical work and to act as a general run-around. It needed to be capable of doing any of our jobs, but without hauling unnecessary bulk
“Theabout.660 seemed to tick all those boxes. Weighing in at under 8-tonnes with over 185 hp under the hood, it’s got more than enough power, but critically with the CMATIC CVT it can deliver it smoothly.
“Our 810 was a good all-rounder and it pulled like a train. Its big roomy cab was a favourite with operators and mechanically it was sound even after 8,000 hours hard “Whenlabour.itcame to looking at a replacement, I was pleasantly surprised by just how far CLAAS tractors have moved on in the last ten years. The in-cab technology is up there with anything else and it’s clearly been designed as a driver’s tractor – there’s loads of storage space and it’s a comfortable place to spend long “Morehours.important than that was just how well the AXION had held its money. The trade-in price we were offered for it made buying the 660 an incredibly good deal.
“A neighbour of ours has run one for a good while and it’s been a reliable workhorse. The build quality on these latest CLAAS tractors is solid.”
Farm Facts Aylsham Slurry Services Ltd, near Norwich, Norfolk Machinery ARION 660 Work undertaken All slurry tasks – tankering and umbilical Staff Chris Key plus three others full-time.
Why a CMATIC gearbox?
“What really drew us back to having another CLAAS tractor was the service we get from our dealer –MANNS. With their new depot at Fransham they’re superbly equipped and their team of fitters and storemen really know what they’re talking about.
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“With the CMATIC CVT it can deliver power smoothly.”
“Despite only having the one CLAAS tractor I feel like a valued customer. The relationship is a really strong one to the point where I consider our salesman –Simon Bloomfield – a close personal friend.”
Why CLAAS tractors?
“Since then we’ve had all colours of the rainbow – all with stepless transmissions – and it’s proved that the CLAAS CMATIC box is as good as anything out there on the market.
“The AXION 810 was our first tractor with a CVT gearbox and it proved how beneficial that sort of transmission can be for our type of work.
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The CMATIC advantage CMATIC transmission, for when you need maximum efficiency, output and reliability from your machine, no matter what the task, it’s the most versatile transmission choice. We have highlighted the top 10 features throughout this brochure. Top 10 14
Advantage CMOTIONdrivestick 15
WithdriveCMOTIONstickahighleveloffunctionality and driver ergonomics, the CMOTION drive stick has been a fundamental feature of our LEXION combines for many years and more recently has come as standard on our forage harvesters. Introduced to the CLAAS tractor range in 2011 with the launch of the AXION 900 series the joystick is now standard on our tractor range.
Josh Helen Collins
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plus six others full-time and another three part-time. 16
“On both of our home farms we’d had all shapes, sizes and colours of tractors,” explains Josh. “So when we started to expand the contracting business, taking on a retiring operator’s round in 2018, we had a pretty good idea of what we wanted. I’d had a lot of experience with CLAAS equipment previously and consequently knew how good the back-up was from our local dealer HAMBLYS. That immediately put CLAAS in pole position when it came to choosing our tractors.”
Almost of equal importance was keeping operators happy – the firm’s prime-movers needed to be comfortable, reliable machines for the men in the seat to get the most from them.
aving set up contracting just four years ago, Josh and Helen Collins knew from the start that their choice of tractors would be critical in guaranteeing the success of their business both from a performance point of view and taking cost of ownership into account.
“Effectively we’re burning 5% less diesel for every acre.”
Collins AXION & ARION CMATIC Tractors, Near Truro, Cornwall, May 2022 Farm Facts JJ & HE Collins near Truro, Cornwall Machinery AXION 830 x 3 AXION 810 ARION 650 ARION 640 and ARION 630 x 2 CLAAS JAGUAR 950 CLAAS TORION 1511 CLAAS LEXION 450 Work undertaken Grass, wholecrop and maize silage Slurry – umbilical and tankers Baling – round and big square Combining, ploughing, cultivations and drilling Staff Josh and
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“It’s this sort of technology that means we’re running a more efficient business.” Josh Collins, May 2022 18
“When it comes to reliability we’ve had very few issues. Having run the AXION 920 with a CMATIC box for 6,500 hours without any serious bother, we had confidence in the transmission.
“A CVT box is constantly sweettotransmissionadjustingratiosfindthatspot.”DealershipHAMBLYS
“On any given day our CMATIC tractors will cover around 5% more ground than those with a mechanical gearbox, but will still use the same amount of fuel. Effectively we’re burning 5% less diesel for every acre.
“If we have a breakdown, I know we’ll have someone out to look at the machine within an hour, and if it can’t be sorted in the field HAMBLYS will organise a replacement straight away. No other manufacturer can offer that.
“The other big factor in going down the stepless route is operator comfort and convenience. Because we’ve grown the business fairly rapidly, we’ve had drivers come to us used to CVT boxes who wouldn’t want to go back. A big part of our job is keeping the guys in the seat happy. CLAAS’ CMATIC transmission will comfortably match the competition when it comes to fieldwork performance.”
“Having the new CEBIS touchscreen controller in the tractors makes set-up so much easier. Being able to simply press the relevant part of the tractor outline on the screen to bring up the right menu, means you’re able to instantly access the right page without “Istopping.likethe shared layout with the forager’s computer and the way the ISOBUS controls are so well integrated into the screen.
“We really like the HEXASHIFT powershift box that’s in the ARION. It really suits the running around work like pulling tankers and trailers.
“The next move was to buy a second-hand ARION 650 which also proved to be a brilliant performer – that cemented our view that we were going down the right route with CLAAS. And when I sat down and did the sums, the cost of ownership was a good deal cheaper than anything else.
“There are huge numbers of CLAAS tractors out working across Cornwall so consequently all HAMBLYS depots have a decent range of parts and the fitters really know what they’re doing.
“But it’s not just about the hardware – we get sound business advice from both the dealer and CLAAS UK. It feels like they want to see us prosper, so have helped us structure our finance packages in such a way that we’re able to slowly build equity in the kit over time.”
“It’s this sort of technology that means we’re running a more efficient business and allows us to calculate our true running costs.”
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“But more importantly than that is the ability to record specific tractor performance for each task. With fuel prices as volatile as they are, I can go into each tractor’s performance monitor and see exactly what they’ve been using for each job. That way I can bill the customer accordingly.
Why CMATIC?
“It was primarily down to back-up but we also had an AXION 920 on our home farm and initially that moved across to the new business, acting as our main cultivations tug and buck-raking tractor, roles which it comfortably handled.
“However the CMATIC in the bigger tractors is a game changer when it comes to fieldwork. We do a lot of contract cultivations work for a big veg grower and we’ve seen huge output and efficiency gains by going to the CVT box.
“We run with full service contracts and buy 8,000-hour warranties so that we precisely know our running costs for the full life of the machine. CLAAS was head and shoulders above the rest on this.”
Back-up
Why CLAAS tractors?
“I’m convinced that it’s all down to the transmission controller constantly working to find the right balance between work rates and efficiency. A CVT box is constantly adjusting transmission ratios to find that sweet spot. No matter how good the operator, a machine with a mechanical driveline just can’t achieve that.
CEBIS Touchscreen
Of the eight tractors in the Collins fleet the three largest – AXION 830 – are equipped with stepless CMATIC transmissions.
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The CMATIC advantage CMATIC settings Fully configurable for any task coming your way, with pre-sets which allow you to set up for maximum economy, maximum power or the unique modes for fixed engine speed, when running with the PTO.Advantage All settings configurablefully 21
Rory Harrold ARION 650 CMATIC Near Holt, North Norfolk, May 2022 22
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“When we had a CLAAS CMATIC on demo we quickly realised it had a number of key benefits over what we’d had before.”
roducing some 10,000 four-string bales of hay, haylage and straw every year alongside a 142 ha arable enterprise, Norfolk grower Rory Harrold needs dependable machinery that will get the job done with precision. To that end, last year he took delivery of a CLAAS ARION 650 equipped with a stepless CMATIC CVT gearbox.
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“It’s Rorysippingliterallydiesel.”Harrold,May2022 24
“One of the things I really appreciate about the 650 is how simple it is to set up. The CEBIS touchscreen computer is really straightforward to use – I can just flick to the right menu page, tweak the appropriate settings and push on.
“At under 7-tonnes with an 185 hp motor under the hood it’s got all the poke we need. It’s ideal for our trailed sprayer. Using liquid fertiliser, we can be forced to travel when the ground is a bit tender, the light footprint of the ARION makes all the difference.
Why CLAAS? “Really it’s all down to back up. MANNS are just brilliant to us. We’ve always run CLAAS combines so we know they’ve always got parts on the shelf and decent people to solve any issues.
“I particularly like the RoryIfine-tuneeasilysequencing.headlandprogrammableturnIcansetitandthingsasgoalong.”Harrold,May2022FarmFactsG&RHarroldnearHolt,northNorfolk Farmed area 344 ha Cropping Winter barley 57 ha Spring barley 28 ha Sugar beet 28 ha 202 ha grassland for hay and haylage Staff
“Our previous tractor was a different shade of green, it also had a stepless CVT and that proved the concept, particularly for speed-sensitive jobs like baling and pulling a trailed beet harvester.
“When it came to changing our previous tractor, I looked at a number of different options, but really liked the 650’s combination of size, power and weight.
Why an ARION 650?
“In the summer it spends a good deal of its time with front and rear mowers hitched on. Given its power, it’s remarkably agile on the headlands. When it comes to other power-hungry work it never struggles – it does all the baling, ploughing and drilling and just keeps plodding on, no matter what conditions are like.”
“I particularly like the programmable headland turn sequencing. I can easily get it set just as I want it and fine-tune things as I go along.”
Harrold. DealershipMANNS 25
“But when we had a CLAAS CMATIC on demo we quickly realised it had a number of key benefits over what we’d had before. With a part-loaded sprayer there is no surging on the road. It is much smoother to pull away and much more precise when inching up to an implement – that’s critical from a safety point of “Onview.the road it is just brilliant – once you’re up to speed the engine drops back to 1,200 rpm with a gentle hum meaning that it’s literally sipping diesel.” Is it easy to use?
“CLAAS has got an incredibly strong pedigree with combines and it’s now heading that way with tractors.” Rory Richard
Why a transmission?CMATIC
and
Auto stretch brake With the addition of the auto stretch brake feature on the CMATIC transmission, the tractor can automatically apply the trailer air brakes for the operator in various different situations, reducing fatigue and wear on the Thetractor. advantageCMATICAdva ntage stretchAutobrake 26
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arming a stone’s throw from the north Norfolk coast, the Harrison family have a broad range of cropping and consequently need a tractor fleet to suit a wide range of different roles. CLAAS machines have long formed the backbone of the business and in the last five years the move to stepless CMATIC transmissions has brought greater efficiency to the operation.
“The stepless transmission means you’re always going at the right pace.”
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HarrisonMatthew AXION 930, 870 & ARION 660 CMATIC Near Blakeney, Norfolk, May 2022 29
“We’ve run CLAAS tractors for decades and before that had Renaults, so we’ve got a long history with Le Mans-built machines,” explains Matthew Harrison.
Why transmissions?CMATIC
“We have a couple of tractors with HEXASHIFT powershift gearboxes and they’re perfectly good as allrounders – real stalwarts for transport work. But you’d never do as good a job with them in the field as you would with our CMATIC tractors.”
“You just set your target speed, adjust the engine droop settings and let the CMATIC gearbox sort the rest out.”
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“Our second CMATIC tractor was our 930. Its operator is very focused on getting the most out of the machine and is constantly fiddling with the settings to fine tune it. The stepless CVT box means you’re able to find the optimum balance between output and fuel use –ultimately we’re covering more acres in a day while burning less diesel.
“If we have a problem we know we can pick up the phone at any time – evenings or weekends – and someone will be on hand to help us. And, if the issue can’t be sorted straight away they’ve always got a back-up machine in the yard for us to borrow – we even get a courtesy tractor when ours go in for “Onservicing.theback of that nearly all our machinery is green and white – mowers, rake, baler and combine.
“We like them for their robust build, comfort and reliability. But crucially from a financial point of view they stack up. Each time we look at anything else the price to change is significantly more than a CLAAS. “More important than any of that is the back-up we get from our dealer – MANNS. Our relationship with them is really strong, from the storemen through to the sales guys and fitters.
“Our 2017 AXION 870 was our first CVT tractor and it changed everything about the way our machinery is operated. It’s our main drilling tractor and for that it is perfect – you just set your target speed, adjust the engine droop settings to suit the terrain and soil conditions and let the CMATIC gearbox sort the rest out. Then if you need to tweak things as you’re going along it’s simple.
“Our most recent addition is an ARION 660 CMATIC. It’s responsible for the lion’s share of the potato work –de-stoning, planting and harvesting. There was never any question that it would be anything other than a CVT – the stepless transmission means you’re always going at the right pace.
Matthew Harrison, 2022
Why CLAAS tractors?
Farm Facts LG Harrison and Son near Blakeney, north Norfolk Farmed area 810 ha Machinery AXION 930, 870, 810 ARION 660 and 630 CLAAS LEXION 750TT Livestock 50 x Sussex suckler cows plus followers Cropping Spring barley 240 ha Winter wheat 120 ha Winter barley 135 ha OSR 50 ha Sugar beet 70 ha Potatoes 60 ha Remainder in permanent pasture and land under HLS conservation schemes Staff Matthew and Philip Harrison plus another 3 full-timers.DealershipMANNS 30
“In short, the kit’s good, the prices are generally right and the back-up can’t be beaten.”
“You’d never do as good a job with a HEXASHIFT in the field as you would with our CMATIC tractors.” Matthew Harrison, May 2022 31
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The advantageCMATIC Advantage Tractor-ImplementTractor-Implementcontrol Control When working with equipment like forage-wagons or balers, the tractor’s forward speed can be controlled according to the amount of crop going into the pick-up. 33
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“On the road the CVT gearbox is just a pleasure to drive. From a comfort point of view these machines are simply fantastic.”
o improve productivity and efficiency, one Berkshire contract farming business has switched completely from powershift gearboxes to CLAAS CMATIC CVTs. Nine years ago Philp Farming took delivery of its first CLAAS tractor – an AXION 940. Equipped with a stepless transmission, the 385 hp prime mover quickly established itself as a smoothworking, efficient performer both in the field and on the road. For six years it worked alongside another cultivations tug of a different colour, equipped with a powershift gearbox. When that tractor was due for a change, there was little debate – its replacement would be another CLAAS CMATIC, this time an AXION 830.
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Nick Philp AXION 940 & 830 plus ARION 660 CMATIC Near Maidenhead, Berkshire, April 2022 35
“We’ve had CLAAS combines since the early 1980s and know just how well the gear is put together. More important than that, we’re looked after by our local dealer – OLIVERS – incredibly well, whether it’s sales, service or parts. It’s that last bit that’s critical – the storemen are key and they really know their business.
“It’s brilliant for jobs like fertiliser spreading, but also on the road the CVT gearbox is just a pleasure to drive. From a comfort point of view these machines are simply fantastic – you could quite happily live in any of our tractors!”
“Our guys actively want to drive CLAAS kit. They see it as a premium product, take pride in using it and look after it accordingly.
The transmission gets top marks from both seasoned operators and less experienced drivers alike – all able to get the most from the CMATIC-equipped tractors.
Driving down running costs
“Our main guys will access the various settings menus to tweak gearbox settings and really push for that extra acre-per-litre,” says Mr Philp. “But when I jump on, I just let the tractor run with the factory settings and the computer works it all out for itself. And, in combination with our move towards no-till, that’s had a huge impact on our overall diesel use per acre. Draft requirements are reduced and the CVTs mean the tractors are never stretched and screaming their nuts off – it’s a whole lot more refined.”
“With all their staff we have strong personal relationships – we’re not treated like a number and if something needs sorting we just pick up the phone, talk to someone and we can consider it problem solved.”
Farm Facts Philp Farming Ltd, near Maidenhead, Berkshire Farmed area 1,200 ha Machinery ARION 660 and AXION 940 & 830 CLAAS LEXION 770 Cropping Winter wheat 600 ha Spring beans 120 ha Spring wheat 120 ha OSR 100 ha Winter barley 100 ha Spring peas 40 ha Spring oats 20 ha Spring barley 16 ha Staff Nick and David Philp plus two full-timers and one extra at Dealershipharvest.OLIVERS 36
“Weighing in at 8 tonnes and being able to boost to over 200 hp the 660 is a genuine pocket-rocket and has surprised us by just how versatile it is. This Spring it’s been pulling our 6 m tine drill – that just wouldn’t be possible with a tractor of this size with a conventional gearbox.
“Having clocked 5,500 hours, the 940 had proved a solid, reliable machine and critically was ultra efficient both in terms of fuel use and daily outputs. On that basis we were able to take a step down in power, swapping 310 hp for an AXION 830 with just 235 hp under the hood. It proved a good decision, saving us yet more fuel and limiting our impact on the soil, having moved to a much less intensive crop establishment regime, mixing no-till and min-till where we Firmlycan.”convinced by the value in CLAAS’ CMATIC gearboxes, when it came to sourcing a light weight all-rounder last year, Mr Philp had little hesitation in selecting an ARION 660 furnished with the timeproven stepless transmission.
Convinced by CMATIC “The 940 proved to us that CVT gearboxes are not only the way forward for primary cultivations and drilling tractors, but also for other work too. In fact they make these big lumps a whole lot more versatile.
“Its versatility is going to prove very useful in driving down our machinery running costs. We’re hoping it will be able to take on a lot of the work of the bigger tractors, reducing the workload for the nine year old 940 and, hopefully, extending its working life accordingly.
Why CLAAS tractors?
“The 940 proved to us that CVT gearboxes are not only the way forward for primary cultivations and drilling tractors but also for other work too.” Nick Philp, April 2022 37
Power Zero CLAAS’ active standstill function means the transmission will hold the tractor stationary on slopes, making pulling away under load much safer. Advantage Power Zero activefunctionstandstill 38
The advantageCMATIC 39
ith over 2,300 ha of Winter and Spring cropping to get in the ground, Flawborough Farms’ two main cultivations tractors need to be capable of getting the job done, but not at any cost.
The Nottinghamshire business runs a 509 hp CLAAS XERION 5000 alongside a 445 hp AXION 960 TERRA TRAC. As the two biggest tractors on the fleet they’re tasked with the lion’s share of the fieldwork. But they have one other feature in common – they’re both fitted with CMATIC stepless gearboxes, making them both productive and highly fuel efficient in the critical roles.
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“Having three cruise speeds at the nudge of a button just makes it a pleasure to operate.”
Tom Hawthorne AXION 960 TT CMATIC Near Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, May 2022 41
By having the ability to back off the throttle when the power isn’t needed the stepless gearbox concept makes a huge amount of sense.” That experience gave the Hawthornes the confidence to turn to CLAAS for their secondary tillage tug.
The team at our dealer – CLAAS EASTERN – is just amazing. They really cannot be beaten for the service they give us.
Why a CMATIC stepless transmission?
“Having looked around at virtually every option we decided the XERION offered pretty much exactly what we needed, particularly pairing a CVT transmission with a 500 hp motor,” explains Tom. “Immediately it proved itself in that first season, saving us something in the region of 18,000-22,000-litres in diesel over our previous power-shift four-track tractor.
Why CLAAS tractors?
“We run a CLAAS combine, a SCORPION telehandler and our main cultivations tug is the big XERION 5000. Of course at some point, like any machine, tractors can give trouble. But the difference is that we know we’ll have someone who knows what they’re doing out to sort the problem within a couple of hours.
“The way the AXION 960 delivers its power to the ground is really impressive. The CVT gearbox is a big improvement over anything we’ve had before. It’s much more refined and has more than enough functionality to match the sophistication of any other high-horsepower tractor. “For hard-pull fieldwork the overlaps in the gearbox mean it uses a much greater proportion of mechanical drive – rather than hydrostatic. That’s what makes CLAAS CMATIC tractors so much more efficient in the field compared with the competition.
“When it comes to set-up, the new colour touchscreen is super easy to use and simple things like having three cruise speeds at the nudge of a button just make it a pleasure to operate.”
“Morecontender.important than that is the back-up we get.
“Having had all makes and models over the years, we really like CLAAS’ high-horsepower offering, particularly because they’ve had a stepless gearbox over 500 hp the longest. That track record gives us confidence in the product. When we were looking to change our big tractor they were the only real
Flawborough’s current front-line prime mover is a CLAAS XERION 5000. It produced some pretty astonishing results when it first arrived.
The simplicity of the CEBIS control set-up provides the AXION 960 with an extra level of versatility, enabling operators of all abilities to get the most from the tractor. When hooked up to the drill long-serving, ultraexperienced drivers can delve deep into the menu screens to tweak transmission settings and get the tractor running to their liking. Conversely when the big half-track is hitched up to the chaser bin with a less proficient harvest student in the seat, it can be set to run in full auto mode, allowing the computer to take over, always aiming for maximum efficiency.
“In 21 years of running CLAAS kit we haven’t ever been let down. Knowing that they could back us up with a single combine doing over 2,000 ha a year we had no worries about the tractors. They’ll throw everything at us just to keep us going. There’s always a back-up machine on standby. That’s worth a huge amount.”
FlawboroughFarmDealershipCLAASEASTERNFactsFarms near Nottingham Farmed area 2,380 ha Cropping Winter wheat Winter barley Winter rye SpringOSR beans Soils Predominantly heavy clays Staff Tom Hawthorne plus another 2 office-based family members (partners), 3 full-timers plus another 3 at harvest.Spring peas Spring barley Spring wheat Spring linseed Forage maize 42
“Immediately it proved itself in that first season, saving us something in the region of 18,000 - 22,000 litres in diesel.” Tom Hawthorne, May 2022 43
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Minimal fuel use With CLAAS stepless transmission you’re always in the right ratio for the job, maximising productivity and minimising fuel usage. The advantageCMATIC Adva ntage Low consumptionfuel 45
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Andrew Harris
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aving run CLAAS tractors for decades, when Oxfordshire grower Andrew Harris decided to scale back his arable operation, he was keen to increase efficiency with a move to CLAAS CMATIC transmissions. Not only has this lead to improved productivity, but has made for far more relaxed days in the seat.
ARION 660 CMATIC Near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, May 2022 47
“The real beauty is that it’s such a relaxed drive and so simple to operate.”
Why a CMATIC gearbox?
Why an ARION 660?
“But times have moved on and CVTs can now offer extra efficiency and just a more comfortable day in the seat. My last tractor – an ARION 650 CMATIC –did 4,500 hours without missing a beat so there was no doubt that its replacement would have the same
“The new CEBIS touchscreen has made a huge difference in making adjustments to how the tractor is set up. Having run CLAAS combines for decades I was used to the old familiar click-clack CEBIS controls but this new version really is a step on.
“It’s really user friendly and easy to swap between the different run screens depending on what job you’re “I’vedoing.also got the S10 GPS screen which I swap between the tractor and combine. It’s a ten minute job and means I can genuinely justify the outlay on ultraprecise steering.”
“For years we ran HEXASHIFT powershift boxes in our tractors which proved pretty bomb-proof and did the job just fine.
“I started out down the route of CLAAS tractors 20 years ago when we were farming a much bigger area, purely off the back of having run CLAAS combines. The back-up is superb and the build quality is just brilliant – nothing rattles and bangs, it’s all just bolted together properly.
Why CLAAS tractors?
“It’s a set-and-forget system that means the engine and gearbox are always running in harmony.”
“The real beauty is that it’s such a relaxed drive and so simple to operate.” How easy is it to set up?
Andrew Harris, May 2022
“Itransmission.lovethefact that I just get in, select my pre-set cruise speed and let the tractor sort things out for itself. It’s a set-and-forget system that means the engine and gearbox are always running in harmony with revs and transmission ratios constantly adjusting to match the load. It’s really clever stuff that makes my operation so much more efficient – that’s critical when margins are increasingly squeezed.
TotalFarmWESTERNDealershipCLAASFactsFarmLtd,near Faringdon, Oxfordshire Farmed area 202 ha Cropping Winter wheat 100 ha Winter barley 50 ha Spring barley 20 ha Spring beans 20 ha Spring linseed 10 ha Machinery ARION 660 CLAAS LEXION 650 Staff Andrew Harris full-time plus one other at harvest. 48
“With the 660 pumping out over 200 hp and weighing under 8 tonnes CLAAS have come up with a really punchy performer with the perfect power-to-weight “Thatratio. means for top-work like spraying, rolling and fertiliser spreading I’m not dragging unnecessary weight around, but if I do need a bit more traction for jobs like cultivating and drilling I can just hitch the weight block or press on the front linkage.”
“Our dealer – CLAAS WESTERN – have been absolutely brilliant to me over the years. When I first started out contract farming, they supported me like you wouldn’t believe. I wasn’t always able to buy new kit but they looked after me just the same as anyone else. If we had a breakdown, they were in the field straight away and if it needed more time, they’d have a back-up machine straight out. It’s the same story today.”
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Adjusting engine Transmission‘droop’‘droop’ is a key adjustment. This setting alters how far the CEBIS computer will allow engine RPM to drop off before transmission ratios are adjusted, to slow the tractor up, allowing the engine to recover.
The AdvantageadvantageCMATICEngine‘droop’adjustment 51
CLAAS machinery has formed the backbone of the fleet at LJ Plant and Sons for decades. Today equipmentwhite-and-greendominatesthe yard with tractors, combines, balers and grass kit all supplied by Staffordshire dealer MORRIS CORFIELD. Having run tractors of all colours over the years, the business took delivery of its first CLAAS – an AXION 810 – back in 2006. Since then the numbers have grown steadily to the point that there are now six on the fleet, the latest arrivals being an ARION 660 and an AXION 850. What sets these new tractors apart is a shift to stepless CMATIC CVT transmissions, everything previously having been equipped with CLAAS’ time-proven HEXASHIFT powershift gearboxes. “The theparticularlythesmootherwastransmissionCMATICCLAASsomuchthancompetition,onroad.” Farm Facts LJ Plant and Son near Eccleshall, Staffordshire Farmed area 162 ha grass, winter barley and maize; 300 sheep Work undertaken Silage, baling, all arable operations and groundwork Machinery ARION 630, 640, 650 and 660 AXION 810 and 850 CLAAS JAGUAR 950 CLAAS TUCANO 580 TUCANO 440 x 2 Staff Richard Plant, Jane, Jamie, Sally and Mark Downing Booth plus 5-6 others at peak times. 52
DowningJamie Booth ARION 660 & AXION 850 CMATIC Near Eccleshall, Staffordshire, May 2022 53
“That said, technically they’ve come on a long way in the last ten years and can match most of the competition when it comes to sophistication.
“Over the years we’ve moved towards more and more CLAAS tractors because we like their rugged simplicity. They’re well-built, straightforward machines that anyone can jump on and drive, not decorated with unnecessary gadgets that you really don’t need,” explains Jamie Downing Booth.
“Less technically-minded drivers can just get on the tractor and still get the most out of it, because it just sorts things out for itself, always working to get the right balance between work-rates and fuel use.”
“And on the QUADRANT baler it’s a breeze. I’m not having to constantly think about approaching banks or heavier swaths – the tractor just sorts it out for itself, always working to maintain the same pto speed.
“On the back of that we’ve just taken delivery of another CMATIC tractor – an AXION 850 in gunmetal grey which looks smart and, critically, will further improve the efficiency of what we do, covering more ground with less fuel.”
“Our salesman Norman Duppa has become a close family friend and we feel like we’re a part of the CLAAS family too.
Jamie Downing Booth, May 2022 the road or in the field. It’s more relaxing for me and the tractor seems to run better. I will use the different gearbox modes for different jobs and will tweak settings as needed, but the beauty of the system is that you don’t have to.
“It’s proved to be brilliant. The tractor itself feels to have more go in it, presumably because its effectively always in the right gear and is never struggling.
“The back-up is simply amazing. Modern machinery has become so complex that you inevitably get break-downs whatever the colour. The difference with CORFIELDS is that you know they’re working as hard as they can to get you back up and running whether it’s a weekend or evening.
“Their service guys are just brilliant and generally they’ll have any parts we need on the shelf. If a machine is out of action for a few days we know there’s always a standby in their yard we can borrow – no one else can match them for that.
“As a contractor it’s fantastic to have that peace of mind – CORFIELDS understand the importance of keeping us going, so we can keep our customers
How do you get on with your dealer?
happy.”DealershipMORRISCORFIELD
Why CMATIC gearboxes?
Why CLAAS tractors?
“It’s really improved my work when mowing – It can just tweak speeds 1 km/hour at a time rather than the 4-5 km/hour jumps it got previously. Consequently I’m getting more out of the tractor.
Compared to other colour tractors we’ve got, they’re a good deal smoother and more comfortable too. Most importantly, the back-up we get from MORRIS CORFIELD far exceeds anything else on offer.”
“The amount of CLAAS kit we run on the fleet has steadily grown over the last 20 years purely on the back of the service we get from our dealer MORRIS CORFIELD. It’s now got to the point where virtually everything comes from them – tractors, combines, balers, foragers and all our other grass equipment.
“I will use the different gearbox modes for different jobs and tweak settings, but the beauty is that you don’t have to.”
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“Interestingly we always thought our ARION 650 HEXASHIFT was pretty good on fuel, going two days between fill-ups. The 660 CMATIC will easily do that with plenty in reserve.
“Whenever I can, I use the pre-set cruise speeds – on
“Over the years we’ve had 15 or 16 CLAAS tractors with HEXASHIFT gearboxes which have been pretty much bomb-proof. But recently we’ve been looking at ways of improving efficiency and have trialled various different makes with CVT boxes. “In those demos we found the CLAAS CMATIC transmission was so much smoother than the competition, particularly on the road. So when it came to ordering my next tractor – a 185 hp ARION 660 –we went with the CVT box.
“The tractor itself feels to have more go in it, isinbecausepresumablyit’salwaystherightgearandneverstruggling.” Jamie Downing Booth, May 2022 55
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Advantage
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Peak torque during transport
For transport, the tractor will aim to throttle back engine revs to between 1,300-1,600 RPM once top speed is reached. Not only does that help to cut diesel consumption but critically it’s as close as you’ll get to peak torque, ensuring the engine hangs on in there when the going gets tough. If RPM start to drop back beyond this point, transmission ratios automatically adjust to keep tractor performance at an optimum.
The advantageCMATIC Peak torque during transport
John Foley AXION 870, & 830 CMATIC Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, May 2022 Farm FarranafreneyFactsFarming Ltd, Co.Leighlinbridge,Carlow Machinery 2 x AXION 870 CMATIC 1x AXION 830 CMATIC LEXION 7400 Cropping Winter wheat Winter and Spring barley SpringOSROats beans Staff John Foley, brother Tom Foley and William Walsh at peak times. 58
“With all three tractors now running similar controls, you get to know how to operate them to get the best of their abilities.”
“We’ve seen how CLAAS tractors have really moved with the times. Each one we’ve had has been nicer again. With little changes and improvements, they are just getting better all the time.”
Partnered with a new, larger 6,000-litre sprayer and a bulk spreader which can hold up to 10 tonnes of fertiliser, it is now always on top of the job.
“The CMATIC transmission just adds to the comfort, reducing the stress and workload. You never have to think about changing gears as the tractor is constantly doing this for itself. I just set the target speed and it runs to the maximum pre-set engine revs which I tend to set at 1,900 to 1,950 rpm.
All three AXION tractors have the CEBIS terminal, the newest 830 with the touchscreen version. The ISObus-compatible display is also used to operate the spreader and sprayer, with the application map shown on the larger S10 terminal and the machine controls on the CEBIS screen.
“I have known Maurice Kelly from KELLYS of Borris for a long time and there is a lot of trust there. They have a great deal of experience with the products they are selling and with their scale will never see you stuck.
DealershipBorris.”KELLYS
Why CLAAS tractors?
W hen it came to getting a third tractor to meet an CLAASwhatdecidedgrowerworkload,expandingCarlowJohnFoleytoseehislocaldealer had to offer. The main duties for the new tractor would be spraying and spreading fertiliser on the arable enterprise, while two other tractors would tackle the cultivations and drilling as well as the bulk of the haulage work.
Why CMATIC?
The experience of owning and running the CVTequipped 870 meant there was no debate when it came to changing the business’ powershift ARION 650. Earlier this year it was replaced by an AXION 830, also fitted with a stepless CMATIC box.
“Both screens are just so intuitive to use with little prompts to help you – you don’t need to read the manual to operate these tractors. I can easily assign the different functions to the F-keys so I never have to take my hand off the CMOTION joystick.
“You shouldn’t be married to one service provider, but it is hard to beat CLAAS machines and the service from KELLYS of
“The ease of use has to be the biggest benefit of the CMATIC box.” 59
“We have run various CLAAS combines for a good few years, so CLAAS tractors were certainly worth a look. I needed something that was value for money as this tractor would be staying on its narrow wheels all year round pulling a trailed fertiliser spreader and sprayer, the other two tractors would do the heavy Sowork.”in2015 the first CLAAS tractor – an ARION 650 HEXASHIFT– arrived on the farm and has performed admirably. When it came to replacing one of the other more powerful tractors, the decision was an easy one – another CLAAS and the first AXION, an 870 with CMATIC stepless transmission. This has since been joined by another 870 to pull the wider cultivators and drill that demanded more power.
“The ease of use has to be the biggest benefit of the CMATIC box and you are always running at the right speed. Even with different operators, the tractor always works the way you want it to and you can change the ranges and settings while the tractor is under “Workingload.together, the CVT gearbox and GPS autosteer mean less fatigue allowing the quality of work and implement settings to become your primary focus – the tractor practically drives itself.”
“The smoothness of the CMATIC transmission has already proved to be a real benefit when spreading fertiliser, as it smoothly slows down when approaching the headland giving the spreader time to maintain the rate and the same when returning back to work. I can easily flick between range one for the headland turn and range two when back in work and get quickly back up to 16 km/hr.”
CEBIS Touchscreen
The advantageCMATICAdvantageTELEMATICSanalysis60
By
connected
Get Using TELEMATICS you’ll be able to assess and evaluate your data online in real time or retrospectively, to see the true performance of your machine. analysing TELEMATICS data you can ensure that your CMATIC tractor is being used to its full potential, resulting in fuel savings and improved work time, cutting your hourly work costs and optimising DataConnectefficiency.willfurther assist with the recording, documentation and processing of your full fleet operation, even when machines are from other manufacturers.
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John Rowe ARION 530 CMATIC Kilmore, Co. Wexford, May 2022 Farm Co.BallyclearyFactsFarm,Kilmore,Wexford Farmed area 200 ha supporting 230 cows plus followers Staff Lar, John and Mark Rowe and Ciarán Busher Cropping Grassland 140 ha Maize 12 ha Cereals 48 ha Machinery 2 x ARION 530 CMATIC CLAAS SCOPION 741 CLAAS DISCO 4000 CLAAS LINER 2700
aving bought one 145 hp ARION 530 with stepless CMATIC gearbox in 2016, the Wexford-based Rowe family subsequently added another of the same three years later. Initially a switch to dairying seven years ago prompted a requirement for extra power and refinement – something the first tractor really impressed with. But the second has taken that a step further.
When initially looking at new tractors, Lar and Mark Rowe headed to the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show to create a shortlist. While there they got speaking to a salesman from CLAAS dealer KELLYS of Borris who put forward the ideal candidate – an ex-hire ARION 530 CMATIC. With their interest piqued, the family visited the dealership for a test drive and were “Iimpressed.hadread good reports on the ARION in the press and the level of specification was very high. Being a four-cylinder, the 530 is a tidy size for around the yard, but it is still heavy enough when you are in the field,” says John Rowe. “I took it for a drive up a steep hill with an empty 20 tonnes trailer and it was just so quiet, I couldn’t believe it was doing 50 km/hr at just 1,300rpm.
“And when it comes to heavier fieldwork it’s just as good. The front linkage makes it really easy to add weight when it is needed for jobs like discing.”
Why CLAAS tractors?
“Although we hadn’t dealt with them before we knew KELLYS had a reputation for good service, and it has since proved to be impeccable,” says John. “In fact we have bought several other CLAAS machines from them since the first 530 including a SCORPION 741 telehandler. It is a brilliant machine and is that much quicker it is clocking up a lot less hours than the handler it replaced. We’ve also bought a DISCO 4000 which has really speeded up mowing.”
Off the back of the performance of the 2016 ARION, the Rowes purchased another 530 CMATIC in 2019. Again an ex-hire unit, the key difference is that it is on narrower tyres so it can be used for spraying and it is fitted with an FL120 front loader with the stepless transmission, getting a massive thumbs up for handling work.
H
“One of the key jobs for the 530 is to pull our 3,500 gallon slurry tanker. Spreading with a dribble bar it’ll comfortably run at 9 km/hr.
Is the newer one better?
Why a CMATIC stepless gearbox?
“CLAAS is improving the software all the time, and there was one big update done when the first tractor was nearly two years old. We always thought the 530 was a good tractor, but this new package transformed it inside out – it is brilliant.”
“No matter what the job, you don’t get out of the cab as tired, so hopefully we will get some extra years out of dad as he does most of the tractor work!”
Convinced by the 530’s performance and the fact that the 800-hour ex-demo unit was almost the same price as a HEXASHIFT powershift model with the same hours, a deal was done and the first ARION CMATIC tractor arrived at Ballycleary Farm in Wexford in 2016. It has since clocked around 1,000 hours a year.
“There is not much between the two tractors, just little improvements here and there. The newer one does have more low down grunt, but they are both really, really strong performers, clocking around 1,000 hours a
“Theyear.CEBIS screen is so easy to use – it is just like a big smart-phone so anyone can just jump on and go. That said, there’s heaps of information such as fuel use, etc.. at your fingertips.”
“The four-point cab springing and front axle suspension makes it really comfortable. It would be very hard to go back to a non-CMATIC tractor. Even on the diet feeder, it proves its worth. Our dry cow ration contains a lot of straw which means it doesn’t always feed out consistently so you have to vary the forward speed which you can do easily without having to ride the clutch.
DealershipKELLYS 63
“Since we bought the 530 we have switched to a contractor for the baling but do all of the rest of the work. Basically if it is a job one man can do that can saves time and money then we will tackle it ourselves.
“Setting up the dairy herd meant a greater requirement for baled silage. As well as more power, that meant we needed a tractor that was faster on the road as 80% of our grass is grown on an out-farm that is eight miles away,” explains John.
Why an ARION 530?
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The ExtendedExtendedadvantageCMATICWarrantyWarrantywillgiveyoucompletepeaceofmind when it comes to fixing your machines costings, protecting you against unexpected bills. With regular maintenance from highly qualified CLAAS service engineers and the use of original CLAAS parts, Extended Warranty costs are fixed for 8,000 hours or 8 years, and can be factored in to your annual budgeting. This takes away the element of risk, so you can concentrate on what really matters; getting the job done.ExtendedAdvantageWarranty 65
GORDONS, which it has had a relationship with for more than seven decades.
A
For Kingan Farms, run by Alistair Kingan, his wife Suzi and parents Margaret and Russell, this dealer relationship has resulted in a whole raft of CLAAS equipment purchases over the years, including foragers, combines, grassland equipment and tractors.
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Based on the Solway Coast at New Abbey near Dumfries, the farm’s machinery fleet is put to good work across its three sites, totalling 1,500 acres.
have driven other brands of tractors with CVTs but I prefer the CLAAS.”
Predominantly a beef finishing enterprise, Kingan Farms’ portfolio also includes renewables and contracting ventures, along with a holiday cottage letting business.
“I
“We’ve been running CLAAS machinery in all the time we have dealt with GORDONS,” says Alistair. “As the CLAAS product range has grown over the years, we’ve kept adding CLAAS machinery to our fleet which now includes three CLAAS ARION tractors – a 660 CMATIC, 550 CMATIC and a 510 HEXASHIFT.”
s winners of the 2019 Scottish Beef Farmer of the Year award, Kingan Farms is a business where detail matters. As such, the operation pays close attention to its partners and suppliers – one of which is local CLAAS dealer
Alistair Kingan ARION 660 & 550 CMATIC New Abbey, Dumfries, May 2022 67
“Since getting the CMATIC 660, I don’t think I’d want to drive anything else now – it’s just so unbelievably user-friendly. Everything is well laid out and it is super comfortable,” explains ARION 660 operator, Ryan “WithLittle. the CVT gearbox there’s no jumpiness – it is really smooth. It makes life so much easier – you don’t have to use any pedals, I tend to operate it mainly via the stick. I have driven other brands of tractors with CVTs but I prefer the CLAAS.
“The CEBIS touch screen makes it easy to setup the transmission to your preferred driving style or to the job. You can’t really go wrong with it – it’s got everything you need at your fingertips.”
“I can’t fault the service and backup we get from GORDONS. I’m proud of our family business and I believe GORDONS has the same mentality, attention to detail and passion for the job. It’s a relationship we’ve had for more than 70 years and I don’t see that stopping any time soon,” says Alistair.
“Historically, it was foragers which made up the mainstay of our CLAAS machines. We then progressed onto combines and more recently tractors,” says Alistair.
“Fully on-board with getting the most out of the machines, our operators will set the tractors up to work at their fullest potential. Because of this, the CMATIC tractors are easier on fuel compared with previous powershift tractors.”
Why CLAAS tractors?
“For these jobs, the CMATIC CVT offers much greater control over speed. Although previous tractors with powershift gearboxes did do the job, the seamless CMATIC gearbox means every task requires that much less effort and concentration from the man in the seat.
Farm
Abbey, Dumfries, Scotland Work undertaken Main business – Beef finishing. Other businesses: Renewables, contracting, holiday cottages Cropping 300 ha cereals used as feedstock Machinery ARION 660 CMATIC ARION 550 CMATIC ARION 510 HEXASHIFT JAGUAR 850 forager LINER 2600 rake VOLTO 800 tedder LEXION 520 LEXION 5400 Staff Alistair Kingan, wife Suzi and parents Margaret and Russell plus four full timers – Gordon McKenna, Murray White, Michael Clingan and Ryan GORDONSDealershipLittle 68
“It was the type of work that the tractors do – fertiliser spreading, spraying, drilling, mowing and baling –which prompted our shift to stepless transmissions,” says Alistair.
“We also make use of CLAAS TELEMATICS, which is particularly useful for monitoring machine location and fuel levels, helping us plan jobs. GORDONS also have access to the system and will use it to plan servicing, monitor any error codes and diagnose any issues.”
“Wepurchase.gotour
How do you rate your dealer backup?
The move to CMATIC gearboxes has proved popular with Kingan Farms’ team.
“The main reason for choosing CLAAS is down to our dealer, GORDONS, and the confidence we have in them. Equally as important is the feedback from our operators, which often determines which tractors we first CLAAS tractor in 2009 – an ARION 640. Compared to those previous generations, these latest ones are leagues ahead – comfort, looks, build quality and ease of operation have all improved massively,” says Alistair.
“I really rate these latest CMATIC tractors and when Alastair asks me what I want next, there’s no doubt it’ll be a CLAAS.”
Why transmissions?CMATIC
“Even the backup we get from CLAAS UK and Germany is fantastic. Many years ago we had something go wrong with a forager and they sent a taxi with the parts to get it going again – that’s just outstanding service.” Facts New
Kingan Farms,
“Since getting the CMATIC 660, I don’t want to drive anything else now – it’s just so unbelievably userfriendly.” Alistair Kingan, May 2022 69
“It was the great backup of our forage kit by local CLAAS dealer, GORDONS, which gave us the confidence to try out CLAAS tractors,” explains Garry.
perating from its base just outside of Dumfries, GTR Contracts offers a wide array of services, covering agriculture, forestry and Establishedconstruction.in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Garry and Tanya Russell, the firm now operates nationwide, with work taking them across the UK. On the agricultural contracting side the business offers a full forage harvesting service as well as grass re-seeding and slurry application. As such, it is an operation which demands a lot from its machinery, which in many cases has to cope with a year-round workload. The machinery fleet features a growing line-up of CLAAS tractors sourced from local dealer GORDONS.
“It is the move to CMATIC gearboxes that has improved our work-rates and efficiency, which for us as contractors is a huge bonus.”
O
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Among this are six ARION 600 models, two AXION 800-series machines and one AXION 960. Over half of these are specified with the CLAAS CMATIC continuously variable transmission option.
Why CLAAS tractors?
“Our first – an ARION 620 – arrived in 2013, was quickly followed by another 620 and an AXION 920 in “Now,2015. with a predominantly CLAAS fleet, it allows our operators to easily switch between tractors. Most machines are equipped with CLAAS’ top-spec CEBIS control package which includes the touchscreen terminal and CMOTION control lever. This enables greater fine-tuning of the tractor, enabling our drivers to really get the most out of them.”
Garry Russell AXION 960, 800s and ARION 600s CMATIC Near Dumfries, South West Scotland, May 2022 71
The latest CMATIC tractor to join the fleet is a special edition CLAAS AXION 870, complete with gun-metal grey metallic paint job. Piloted by operator Rory McKinnon, it scores particularly highly for the ease of “Forset-up.each job I do with the tractor, I will create a profile through the CEBIS terminal, which I can save and then recall each time I do that task, saving a lot of time.”
“When mowing, for example, I set engine ‘droop’ so that the PTO will not drop below 900 rpm,” says Rory. “When the revs do start to drop, it is the CMATIC transmission which automatically ‘backs off’, to maintain PTO speed and therefore the quality of work. This enables me to simply set a cruise speed and just leave the tractor to sort itself out.”
“You can pretty much drive the transmission how you like – on the pedal, via the CMOTION lever, or simply set a cruise speed. You can also tweak the upper limit of each of the three virtual ranges, allowing you to match the transmission to the job you are doing.
As well as the tractors themselves, it is CLAAS’ customer service which impresses, says Garry.
Why stepless transmissions?CMATIC
Settings can include hitch position, spool-valve flow rates and timings, plus engine and transmission settings – it’s these last two that are critical in boosting productivity while maintaining a high standard of work.”
“As well as our local dealer, the reliability of the CLAAS network means we are backed up wherever we go in the country. And, should we need any specialist help we have a good relationship with CLAAS UK.
Dealer Back Up
What makes you keep buying CLAAS tractors?
“Compared to a powershift transmission, CMATIC is much more controllable and easier to use. With a powershift, for the likes of mowing, you’re on the clutch pedal quite a lot at headlands. With the CMATIC, you can just back off smoothly and then pick the speed back up again.
“We’ve now got five tractors fitted with the CMATIC CVT box. From a productivity point of view they are much more efficient, allowing the operators to concentrate on the job at hand, rather than having to worry about managing the engine and gears.”
“Over the nine years we’ve been running CLAAS tractors, the backup from GORDONS has been second to none.
The transmission control page also provides several operating modes which can be tailored to each job.
bonus.”DealershipGORDONSFarmFactsGTRContractsnear Dumfries, South West Scotland Work undertaken Silage, slurry and grass re-seeding, civil engineering, plant and machinery hire, haulage, concrete and ground works Machinery AXION 960 AXION 870 AXION 830 Staff Garry and Tanya Russell, plus 65 others incl. management and administration staff, peaking at about 80 people during busy periods. ARION 660 ARION 620 and ARION 650 x 4 72
“Any issues we’ve had over the years have been dealt with promptly. And if the problem cannot be solved straight away, there’s always a machine on hand to keep us going, which for us as contractors, and also our customers, is tremendous service.”
“Similarly, for umbilical slurry work, reeling pipes in and out requires slow speeds. For this, CMATIC gives you that controllability. Even for the likes of hitching up to implements, it makes inching so much easier.”
“Over the last nine years with CLAAS tractors, we’ve been really impressed with them. With every new purchase, you can always see an improvement, whether it’s new features, software developments or greater comfort.
“One example is CLAAS TELEMATICS which proved a really useful tool in managing the fleet. You can simply access it via a smart phone app, allowing us to easily track machines, monitor work-rates and check fuel use. Especially for field work, it really helps us plan our “Overjobs.” and above these small features, it is the move to CMATIC gearboxes that has improved our work-rates and efficiency, which for us as contractors is a huge
“Due to the varied workload, all of our tractors work most days and will typically clock up about 2,000 to 2,500 hours per year. With that, dealer service is massively important to us.
Rory
McKinnon, Operator at GTR, May 2022 73
“For each job I do with the tractor, I will create a profile through the CEBIS terminal, which I can save and then recall each time I do that task.”
The CLAAS Customer Experience 74
The CLAAS CXC is now fully open to Ifcustomers.youwouldliketotest drive a CLAAS CMATIC tractor we can offer you the opportunity to do just that at our unique Customer Experience Centre at Saxham, Bury St. Edmunds. Here you’ll be able to drive a range of our CLAAS CMATIC tractors in a simulated working environment.
Centre (CXC)
The CXC is adjacent to the CLAAS UK headquarters and as part of your visit we will include lunch in Seasons, our on-site restaurant, and a tour of the UK facilities. Simply contact your local CLAAS dealer for more details.
claas.co.ukCLAAS CMATIC – Geared for Growth
