Tale of two extremes as CLAAS marks global milestone

CLAAS’ milestone of selling 500,000 combines over the last 88 years was celebrated with a nod to the past and present at the 2024 Henty Machinery Field Days from September 17 to 19.

On display at the CLAAS Harvest Centre was a CLAAS LEXION 8800 with a 12.1m draper front – valued at around $1.3 million and sporting special livery to mark the occasion – joined by a working 1967 CLAAS Columbus header.

“The 8800 CLAAS LEXION we had in Henty has a 700hp engine featuring hybrid threshing technology,” said Landpower Group LEXION product specialist, Jack Jordan-Hill.

“We have produced 70,000 units in Germany, and the special silver and green livery is one of only 13 units in the world.

“It will be used as a demonstration machine this year around Griffith and Echuca alongside nine other demonstrator units across the country.

“And when it comes to the old header, I’ve heard a lot of stories from farmers reminiscing about having to harvest in a certain direction to keep the dust out of their eyes!”

Featuring a 1.5m front, the Columbus is owned by vintage machinery enthusiast, Corowa (NSW) resident Bill Petzke.

A member of the Corowa Historic Vehicle and Machinery Club, Bill said the header had previously been owned by Baker Seeds for harvesting small trial plots.

“Baker Seeds had bought it from a bloke who had it sitting in his shed for 15 years and he in turn had bought it at a clearing sale in South Australia,” he said.

“There were two of the same model; I bought this one and Corowa seed grower Russell Black bought the other.

“I have used it to harvest barley, wheat and oats on my 14-acre block and am harvesting a few acres for other people.”

The 500,000 CLAAS machines sold since 1936 have come out of the company’s German factory in Harsewinkel.