Claas launched a new range of mounted and trailed Disc Contour disc mowers this year and they will be on show at the Ploughing. All incorporate what Claas describes as its revolutionary new Claas Max Cut disc mower bed.

The new Max Cut range covers a total of 19 models, from the simplest 2.6m mounted mower up to advanced, ISOBUS compatible, high-capacity triples with cutting widths of up to 9.1m.

Key to the Max cut mower bed design is that it features a wave-shaped leading edge. According to Claas, this means the cutting discs can be mounted as close to the front of the bed as possible. In combination with new, specially formed discs, this means there is a greater overlap between the blades.

Steel plate

The new Max Cut mower bed is made from two pieces of pressed steel plate. These are bolted together instead of welded to achieve a high torsional strength, says Claas.

Extra-wide skids are fitted to the underside of the mower bed to achieve a clean cut and avoid soil contamination. There are also additional wear skids and high-cut skids available as an option.

The satellite drive train of the new Max Cut is permanently lubricated and maintenance-free. Claas has designed it so that in lighter crops it can be run at 850rpm instead of 1,000rpm. Claas says this feature will help reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%.

To fully protect the drive train, each mowing disc is mounted using a Claas safety link module. These incorporate a predetermined breaking point that will shear in the event of a collision. Claas says this is easy to replace as well.

The 19 new Disco models have been divided into five variants – Trend, Contour, Business, Autoswather and Duo. The simpler Trend mower units are operated using the tractor spool valves without any electric control terminal.

The optional individual lifting function is operated using a hydraulic isolator valve. This makes it possible to preselect the mowing units.

Contour series mowers are again operated using the tractor’s spool valves. But the pre-selection is made using the new operator control panel or an ISOBUS control terminal.

Business and Duo mower units utilise load-sensing hydraulics. These are controlled using either the new Operator terminal or the ISOBUS-compatible Communicator II terminal.

This allows the various mower functions to be assigned to the function buttons on the tractor’s multi-function control lever. The Autoswather model series is also controlled using the ISOBUS Communicator II control terminal.

The new range of mowers will be accompanied on the stand by the Claas tractor range.

Arion range

Claas is pushing for more market share in Ireland this year. The updated Arion range has proved to be very popular.

So what has changed in the Arion series? Previously a three-model lineup, the 400 series now has six tractors ranging from 90hp to 140hp. A big change is that the range no longer uses John Deere power. This time, CNH provides power with an FPT 4.5-litre, four-cylinder engine. The engine meets Tier 4 final emission regulations so it is ahead of some of the competition out there. AdBlue is required on this engine as it is built by CNH.

Claas has married the engine to its own engine management software, producing un-boosted power to a maximum of 140hp in the Arion 460 on test. The Arion 400 series boasts the cast structural sump that Claas uses on its bigger tractors. The result is a tighter turning circle because there are no chassis rails, and loader brackets can be bolted directly to the engine framework. This also allows for the tractor to come with front linkage.

Drive to the axles is through the 16 forward/16 reverse speed quadrshift transmission. Alternatively, on CIS models there is an option for Quadractiv, in which gear and range changes are all made automatically.

The larger 600 series Arion models range from 140hp to 184hp. These tractors are aimed at larger farmers and contractors. Karol Duigenan of Claas Ireland said the customers find the range very comfortable to drive. The tractor is available with Claas’s own continuously variable Cmatic transmission and the Cebis control terminal. This range is powered by John Deere engines which use EGR valve technology to meet the emission regulations.

New Claas tractor testing facilities

Claas has installed two new test-benches at its testing and validation centre in Trangé, France, close to the company’s factory in Le Mans.

This unit will supporting the two existing test-benches at the company’s research centre in Vélizy-Villacoublay, near Paris. The two new €6.5m installations consist of a driveline test-bench for performance testing and optimisation of the entire drive system from the engine, transmission and hydraulics through to the software, and a four-post test-bench for assessing and improving machine durability, reliability, comfort and design.

A project can involve more than 40,000 hours of field testing, with up to 7,000 hours allocated to a single prototype. Field testing remains an essential part of the process, but the new setup allows more than 20 different suspension settings to be tested in less than two days for the complete adjustment of the front axle, which allows the company to eliminate some of the more complicated field tests.

Working around the clock, seven days a week, the two new test-benches will help reduce the time required for endurance testing, simulating 10 years of tractor life in just four weeks.

Installed in a new 12m-high building, each test bench is mounted on an earthquake-proof floor pad built using 950t of concrete and 60t of steel. Mounted on air cushions, at peak load up to 2.9 megawatts are needed to operate the facility, which roughly corresponds to the energy requirements of a small town of 1,000 residents.

The new driveline test-bench allows testing up to a total power load of 2,500kW (up to 500kW per wheel and one power take-off shaft) to be carried out on tractors from the Axos through to the Xerion. The hydraulic rams on each test-bench provide a lift capacity of 100t, which means the facility can also test combine harvesters, forage harvesters and balers.