Tractor, harvester IT comes of age
Over the last halfdecade, digital technology has appeared to be the “must-have” for tractor and machinery companies, who believe that bringing IT to tractors and farming will offer its customers huge benefits.
The patent for a knotter to bind straw was granted to Claas in 1921, and to this day it remains part of the company logo.
That knotter was used on stationary balers in the early years and became part of the company’s first pick-up baler in 1934. Claas recently its 300,000th machine, a Rollant 454 Uniwrap round baler.
In 1958, Rheinhold, son of founder August Claas, built a factory at Metz, SE France, as the home for Claas forage equipment, particularly balers.
Now 400 employees turn out 5000 balers a year, badged Rollant, Variant and Quadrant. The factory produces 21 different models, sold to 100 countries.
These harvest 25 different crop types: old standards such as wheat, barley and oat straws, cotton in South Africa, peanut haulm for cattle feed in America, flax in Eastern Europe and the likes of miscanthus and reed canary grass in France.
The 300,000th machine will be used for promotional purposes.
