Tech upgrade for CLAAS ARION

CLAAS has given its ARION 400 utility tractors the high-horsepower treatment by adding a range of technical solutions previously only found in CLAAS' over 140hp category.

These technologies include the HEXASHIFT transmission, CSM headland management and TELEMATICS; as well as CLAAS' newly developed dynamic steering system as an option.

The CLAAS ARION 400 series features six models with engine power ranging from 90 to 140hp. With the expanded variety of configurations, CLAAS hopes to help farmers carry out a wide range of tasks including soil cultivation, forage work and front loader work with greater ease.

HEXASHIFT

The most powerful models in the ARION 400 range (ARION 430 to 460) will now be available with two transmission variants – QUADRISHIFT and HEXASHIFT.

The HEXASHIFT transmission can be used on the road at a lower engine rpm with four automated ranges and, as its name suggests, six power-shift stages.

According to CLAAS, this means less driving noise and a lower diesel consumption. The six power-shift stages allow for a large gear overlap, so that the optimum rpm and driving speed can be selected for each application.

All 24 gears can be changed using the multifunctional lever without having to use the clutch pedal. Alternatively, drivers can select the HEXACTIV power-shift mode that allows the tractor to automatically change gears.

CSM headland management

Another new feature on the CLAAS ARION 400 series is the CSM (CLAAS SEQUENCE MANAGEMENT) headland management system, which is available with CIS colour display.

Several tractor functions such as electronic control units, power lift, engine rpm and PTO shaft can be saved as operating sequences with this system.

A total of four headland sequences with up to 200 steps can be saved and activated using the CSM operating panel in the right side console or the multifunction lever, helping ease drivers' workload.

Dynamic steering system

This optional feature on the ARION 400 models allows the driver to change the number of steering wheel rotations for the same steering lock angle at the touch of a button and adapt it to the specific task.

From stop to stop, the number of steering wheel rotations can be reduced from 4.5 when deactivated, to only one to three rotations.

This makes handling significantly easier, especially with steering-intensive work such as when using a front-loader or at a headland, CLAAS says.

The driver can choose between three different modes for dynamic steering using the CIS colour display.

A steering angle dependent mode can be used for approximately 90 per cent of all work, where the steering automatically accelerates the stronger the turn. In the speed-dependent mode, the steering transmission is automatically reduced as the tractor speed goes above 10km/h. In the third mode, the steering transmission is manually adjusted independent of the speed or steering angle lock.

The dynamic steering system can be quickly and easily activated via a button in the right side console.

TELEMATICS

CLAAS' TELEMATICS system records all central machine data and positions for each application. Previously available only in CLAAS high-horsepower tractor models and combine harvesters, the TELEMATICS feature is now also available on CLAAS' ARION 400 range.

Ongoing work can be monitored and optimised via remote diagnostics. Another advantage, according to CLAAS, is the automatic, field-by-field documentation of all data which can be exported directly into a field record.

Using the system and the data history, operators can compare all machine applications over a period of time to further optimise all tractor work.