Claas Balers Turn 30
Claas built its first variable chamber round baler - the Variant 100 - in 1996, so 2026 marks 30 years and the fifth generation of the Variant name, recently complemented by the new Cerex Series introduced in 2025.
While many operators prefer mower/conditioners, German manufacturer Claas suggests than many still want to achieve high daily outputs and knock grass down quickly.
This has led to the company launching a new top model to its mower range, dubbed the Disco 1010, that offers a maximum working width of 9.9m, when paired with a the 3.4m front unit, or 9.7m with a more typical 3200F.
Rear overlap is adjusted by moving the position of the support pivot pins, while a sub 4m transport width is achieved by ‘Vector’ folding, using the hydraulic breakaway rams to tilt the mowers rearward to a 120-degree position.
Hydraulic end guards also keep transport dimensions tight by reducing the overall height on the 2.3 tonne rear mowers.
While the ‘Vector’ feature is not required on the smaller 8300 (8.10/8.30m) and 9500 (8.90/9.10m) models, they also benefit from design tweaks, such as the main gearbox being positioned 75mm rearwards to produce a flatter PTO angle between tractor and mower. In addition, this repositioning has also straightened the driveline out to the laterally mounted mowers.
Designed to allow safe operation safe operation and transport with tractors of 150hp/ four-cylinder class, the MAX CUT mower bed, can be operated at a PTO shaft speed of 850rpm, offering a diesel saving of up to 20 percent. Looking at the bed more closely, on the DISCO 1010, each mower bed has nine contra-rotating mower discs, while the wave-shaped, one-piece base plate is made of 5mm thick steel profile and creates a dirt-removing tunnel effect in connection with the skids.
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Class Disco 1010 folds while travelling. |
Designed to ease routine maintenance, on all DISCO disc mowers built after 2022, the caps and mower blades of the anti-clockwise rotating mower discs are also painted red.
As a result, replacement blades can be immediately assigned to the appropriate mower discs. The practical blade box is divided into three compartments for red and black replacement blades and used blades.
Like the two smaller working width models, the DISCO 1010 COMFORT can be parked both in the working or transport position after attaching the supports supplied.
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