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The Variant, and Cerex model, each featuring a special design to mark 30 years.
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.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, the company’s French baler plant at Metz-Woippy has built one Variant, and one Cerex model, each featuring a special design, incorporating the cream-white side panels, inspired by the earlier Variant 100 and 200 generations, alongside a ‘30 Years’ logo in the iconic Claas seed green.
The ‘30’ that forms part of the logo consists of three round bales of different diameters, reflecting the anniversary’s theme and the technology of variable compression chambers.
While one of the special machines will be on display at the visitor centre in the French plant for one year, the second unit is headed to the Claas headquartered Technoparc in Harsewinkel. For the next 12 months, all Variant and Cerex models built in Metz will carry small anniversary stickers on the side panels and the tailgate.
With a long association with baling, Claas established its very first patent for a knotter billhook in 1923, with the assembly continuing to be part of the company’s logo since. Over the years
the company has introduced memorable names such as Markant, Rollant, Variant, Quadrant and more recently, Cerex.
Having developed and manufactured balers for 95 years, 65 have been spent at Metz-Woippy, with the company having built and marketed more than 400,000 balers worldwide, including over 30,000 variable-diameter round balers examples.
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