Claas
German family-owned agricultural machinery manufacturer best known for combine harvesters, forage harvesters and tractors.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Claas is a German agricultural machinery manufacturer headquartered in Harsewinkel, North Rhine-Westphalia. The family-owned company is particularly associated with combine harvesters and forage harvesters, and has developed into a broad agricultural technology group supplying machinery, attachments and digital farming systems. Its principal product areas include combine harvesters, self-propelled forage harvesters, tractors, balers, mowers, rakes, tedders, silage trailers, wheel loaders, telehandlers and related harvesting equipment. The business traces its roots to 1887, when Franz Claas established a workshop in Clarholz making milk centrifuges and later agricultural implements. The formal company foundation followed in 1913, when August Claas registered a straw-binder manufacturing operation. After the Claas brothers moved production to Harsewinkel in 1919, the company began exporting to neighboring European countries. Its first major strategic identity was established through harvesting technology: development of a Claas combine began in the early 1930s, and the company introduced a combine designed for European harvesting conditions in 1936. The SUPER combine family, launched after the Second World War, became an important foundation for postwar growth. Claas expanded beyond combines through forage-harvesting acquisitions and factory investments. The purchase of Josef Bautz AG in 1969 and the acquisition of Speiser in 1970 strengthened its mower, tedder, windrower, loader-wagon and forage-equipment capabilities. In 2003, the company acquired a majority interest in Renault Agriculture, giving it a full tractor range and adding the Le Mans production facility to its industrial network. The XERION, AXION and ARION ranges subsequently became central parts of the tractor business, while the LEXION became the company’s best-known combine family. Since the 1990s, Claas has built a global manufacturing and sales footprint. It established or expanded operations in India, the United States, Russia, China, Argentina and other markets, with major production and engineering sites in Germany, France, Hungary, the United States, India, Argentina and Russia. The company describes itself as a European leader in combine harvesters and a global leader in self-propelled forage harvesters. Its machinery is sold through international subsidiaries, dealers and service networks. Product development increasingly combines mechanical engineering with automation, machine connectivity and farm-management information technology. The company opened an electronics development center in Dissen in 2017, reflecting its emphasis on digital agriculture. The LEXION, TRION and EVION combine families cover different farm sizes and harvesting requirements; the JAGUAR serves the forage-harvesting market; and the tractor portfolio extends from lower-power models to the high-output XERION. Claas also offers tracked-machine technologies such as TERRA TRAC, intended to improve traction and reduce soil compaction. The company remains privately held and family influenced. Jan-Hendrik Mohr became chief executive on 1 April 2023. Claas reported approximately 4.9 billion euros in turnover for fiscal 2025 and around 11,650 employees worldwide according to the cited reference material; approximately 77.6 percent of sales were generated outside Germany. Claas continues to face the ordinary cyclical, technological and regulatory pressures of agricultural equipment manufacturing, as well as reputational scrutiny over its continued Russian operations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
History
The Claas story began in 1887, when Franz Claas established a business in Clarholz producing milk centrifuges. Around the turn of the century, the workshop broadened into agricultural implements, including straw binders and cutting equipment. In 1913, Franz’s son August formally registered a business making straw binders. His brothers Franz junior and Bernhard joined during the following year, and Theo later became a partner in 1935. After the First World War, the family moved production to Harsewinkel in 1919 and acquired a former hard-stone factory. Harsewinkel became the company’s enduring industrial center and the base from which Claas began exporting to the Netherlands, France and Belgium. Combine-harvester development started in 1930. A European combine designed around local harvesting conditions followed in 1936, entering volume production in 1937. Approximately 1,400 units were built before wartime conditions stopped production in 1943. The company’s wartime history includes production of military equipment for the Nazi administration and the use of 336 forced laborers. August Claas was arrested by Allied forces in 1945. In 2001, the company contributed 500,000 Deutsche Mark to a compensation fund. After the war, Claas resumed agricultural machinery production, and the SUPER combine was introduced in 1946. More than 65,000 machines from the SUPER family were produced before the line ended in 1978. Postwar expansion added locations and capabilities. A Paderborn factory was established in 1956, while a French baler plant in Metz was added in 1961. Helmut Claas joined the business as managing director for engineering in 1962. The acquisition of Josef Bautz AG in 1969 and Speiser in 1970 made forage harvesting a major strategic pillar. Helmut Claas became chairman of the management board in 1978. From the 1990s onward, Claas expanded internationally through manufacturing, sales and engineering locations. It established operations in India in 1993, the United States in 1999, Russia in 2005, and China during the 2010s. The 2003 majority acquisition of Renault Agriculture expanded Claas into standard tractors and gave it access to the Le Mans factory. The company’s combine business reached a reported 400,000th machine in 2003. In 2011, a LEXION 770 reportedly harvested 675.84 tonnes of grain in eight hours, a performance recognized by Guinness World Records. The company continued investing in production, product platforms and digital technology. Its Dissen electronics development center, opened in 2017, supported work in agricultural digitalization. Current combine families include the large LEXION, the mid-range TRION launched in 2021 and the smaller EVION introduced in 2023. JAGUAR forage harvesters, XERION and other tractors, balers and grassland equipment complete the core portfolio. Claas remains privately held and internationally oriented. Harsewinkel is still the headquarters and a major production center, while Bad Saulgau, Le Mans, Metz, Törökszentmiklós, Omaha, Columbus, Krasnodar, Sunchales and Chandigarh support production, engineering, logistics or sales. The company continues to operate in Russia despite sanctions and the war in Ukraine, a decision that has generated criticism concerning human rights, supply-chain obligations and possible indirect support for Russia’s mobilization system.
- 2023
EVION range launched
[1]The EVION 400 series is introduced for smaller combine-harvesting operations.
- 2023
New chief executive takes office
[1]Jan-Hendrik Mohr becomes chief executive on 1 April.
- 2021
TRION range launched
[1]Claas presents the TRION combine family for the middle segment of its harvesting portfolio.
- 2011
LEXION harvesting record
[1]A LEXION 770 harvests 675.84 tonnes of grain in eight hours, according to the cited reference.
- 2003
Renault Agriculture majority acquisition
[1]Claas expands into standard tractors through a majority stake in Renault Agriculture.
- 1969
Bautz acquisition expands forage equipment
[1]The acquisition of Josef Bautz AG strengthens Claas’s forage-harvesting capabilities.
- 1946
SUPER combine enters production
[1]Postwar agricultural production resumes with the SUPER combine family.
- 1936
European combine introduced
[1]Claas launches a combine designed specifically for European harvesting conditions.
- 1919
Production moves to Harsewinkel
[1]The Claas family acquires a former factory in Harsewinkel, which becomes the company’s principal industrial site.
- 1913
Formal company foundation
[1]August Claas registers a straw-binder manufacturing business, the formal beginning of the Claas company.
Products and positioning
Premium, technology-led agricultural machinery with particular strength in harvesting performance, reliability, automation and professional farm productivity.
Combine harvester · 1995
LEXION
Claas’s flagship combine family, positioned for large-scale grain harvesting. The range combines high-capacity threshing and separation systems with large grain tanks, wide headers, automation and optional TERRA TRAC tracked running gear. The LEXION has been produced since 1995 and represents the company’s most prominent harvesting-technology platform.
Combine harvester · 2021
TRION
A combine family introduced in 2021 for the central part of the Claas harvesting portfolio. It was developed to replace larger TUCANO models and selected smaller LEXION-related offerings, with 700, 600 and 500 series covering differing capacities and farm requirements.
Combine harvester · 2023
EVION
The EVION 400 family serves the smaller combine segment. Introduced in 2023, it replaced the former AVERO and smaller TUCANO applications and is intended for farms seeking a compact machine with Claas harvesting technology.
Self-propelled forage harvester
JAGUAR
Claas’s self-propelled forage-harvester platform for chopping grass, maize and other forage crops. The range is supported by Claas forage-harvesting engineering and components from the Bad Saulgau site, and is central to the company’s strong position in the silage-chopper market.
Tractor
XERION
The largest Claas tractor family, recognizable for its four equal-sized wheels and high power. XERION tractors are aimed at demanding traction, transport and large-farm applications and sit above the AXION and ARION ranges in the portfolio.
Tractor
AXION
A high-power conventional tractor family spanning the AXION 800 and AXION 900 series. Certain AXION 900 models can be specified with TERRA TRAC tracks instead of rear wheels, helping reduce soil compaction and improve ride characteristics in appropriate field conditions.
Tractor
ARION
A mid-range tractor family covering the ARION 400, 500 and 600 series. It serves mixed farms and general agricultural work with power outputs below the AXION and XERION lines.
Forage and hay equipment
Balers and grassland equipment
Claas produces balers, mowers, tedders, rakes, windrowers, loader wagons and related equipment. Metz is a major baler manufacturing site, while Bad Saulgau develops and produces forage machinery and attachments.
Controversies
2025
Continued Russian operations during the Ukraine war
Claas continued operating a factory in Krasnodar and an office in Moscow after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Critics have argued that ongoing activity may create human-rights, sanctions, supply-chain and reputational risks, including concerns about indirect support for Russian mobilization requirements.
1943
Wartime production and forced labor
During the Second World War, Claas produced military equipment for the Nazi administration and employed 336 forced laborers. The company later contributed 500,000 Deutsche Mark to a compensation fund in 2001.
Brand decisions
2025
Maintain operations in RussiaStrategyBackground
Claas continued to operate in Russia despite the invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions.
Action taken
The company maintained production at Krasnodar and an office in Moscow, with reported employment exceeding 2,000 people in the country.
Aftermath
The decision drew criticism over possible human-rights and legal exposure and placed the company under continuing reputational scrutiny.
2023
Introduce the EVION 400 seriesProduct launchBackground
The smaller combine segment required a successor to the AVERO and smaller TUCANO ranges.
Action taken
Claas unveiled the EVION 400 family for compact harvesting applications.
Aftermath
EVION replaced the former AVERO and smaller TUCANO positioning within the combine portfolio.
2021
Launch the TRION combine familyProduct launchBackground
Claas needed a contemporary middle-range combine platform between its larger LEXION machines and smaller offerings.
Action taken
The company unveiled TRION 700, 600 and 500 series machines, using Cummins engines according to the cited reference.
Aftermath
TRION became a principal replacement for larger TUCANO models and selected earlier smaller combine products.
2003
Acquire majority stake in Renault AgricultureM&ABackground
Claas was historically strongest in harvesting equipment and sought to broaden its agricultural machinery range.
Action taken
The company acquired a majority interest in Renault Agriculture and entered the standard-tractor business.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the product portfolio and connected Claas with tractor production at Le Mans, France.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Claas acquires a minority shareholding in AgXeed[3]
Claas acquired a minority shareholding in Dutch agricultural robot start-up AgXeed, with the stated aim of cooperating on the development and commercialisation of autonomous agricultural machines.
Reported
Claas reports record 2020 sales[4]
Claas announced record sales of €4.042 billion in its 2020 financial year, up 3.7% from the prior year.
Reported
Claas wins three Machine of the Year awards[5]
Claas won three Machine of the Year awards at this year's Agritechnica for its Lexion 8000/7000 series harvester, Jaguar 990 forage harvester and the DataConnect interface developed with John Deere, CNH Industrial and 365 Farmnet.
Sources5 sources
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