Claas launches a ‘more efficient’ Lexion combine harvester
Steve Reeves, Claas Harvest Centre’s product manager — Lexion, says the 8000/7000 was more productive, more efficient and easier to operate than ever before.
IT MAY not have been the likeliest place to launch a combine harvester, but when Claas took the covers off its new Lexion 8000/7000 on a windswept wharf on Port Phillip Bay it symbolised the German ag giant’s machine had literally just arrived Down Under.
After a worldwide unveiling earlier this month, Claas’s Australian distributor Landpower gave its Claas Harvest Centre dealers and media the opportunity to see the Lexion 8000/7000 close up.
Steve Reeves, Claas Harvest Centre’s product manager — Lexion, said the 8000/7000 was more productive, more efficient and easier to operate than ever before.
“This is not a new series — it’s effectively a new machine,” Mr Reeves said.
“Every aspect has been re-engineered to meet the needs of today’s grain producers — increased efficiency and ease of operation and reduced downtime and operating costs.”
Claas claims the new series delivers 10 per cent more capacity than its existing 700 range, which it says is acknowledged as the world’s most productive and efficient combine harvester.
Mr Reeves said its APS Synflow Hybrid threshing system smoothly accelerated crop flow to 20m/sec across all concave areas, meaning 70 per cent of separation occurred before the crop even reached the twin longitudinal rotors.
Claas has increased the diameter of the threshing drum by 26 per cent to 755mm and the feed drum by 37 per cent to 600mm.
“We’ve gone from eight to 10 thrashing bars on the new series’ drum, and paired with the new drum, we’ve got the new feeder drum,” Mr Reeves said.
“The feeder drum’s job is to take that material and transition into our twin rotors for separation. So this drum has gone from 382mm to 600m — a huge increase in capacity.
“The capacity of the residual grain separation has increased by 20 per cent.
“Combined, these improvements optimise crop flow and separation efficiency while reducing power requirement.”
Grain holding and unloading capacity have also been significantly increased to a maximum of 18 tonnes and 180 litres/second respectively.
The first three models in the series — the 7600, 7700 and 8700 — are fitted with the a 12.5l six-cylinder Perkins 2206D engine, which delivers a maximum power of 461hp, 524hp and 571hp respectively.
The 8800 model is equipped with a 15.6 L six cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM 473 LA engine delivering 653hp.
All engines are equipped with Dynamic Cooling and Dynamic Power.
“Dynamic Cooling is an on-demand variable drive cooling system that reduces power requirement by 26hp,” Mr Reeves said. “The horizontal cooling system creates a ‘curtain’ that prevents dust from rising.
“Dynamic Power is an advanced engine management system that automatically adjusts power output to field conditions for maximum fuel efficiency.
“This system has been proven to deliver fuel savings of up to 10 per cent.”
On-board technology includes the Cemos Auto machine optimisation system, which Claas claims continuously reviews and automatically adjusts the threshing, cleaning and separation settings for maximum throughput, grain quality and fuel efficiency.
Mr Reeves said the Cemos Auto could improve output by up to 20 per cent compared to the manual operation.
“All machines feature Telematics as standard,” he said.
“This GPS tracking and data transmission system can be used for machine optimisation, harvesting logistics, fleet management, remote diagnostics and documentation.
“For example, your service team can access your machine’s data to enable remote diagnosis and service scheduling.”
Models can be equipped with either the new Claas Convio draper front or the Vario variable cutterbar, which are both available in 13.8m, 12.3m and 10.8m operating widths.
The Lexion 8000/7000 can be equipped with 635mm, 735mm and 890mm Terra Trac tracked assemblies, or wide diameter tyres (2.15m front and 1.75m rear) for maximum traction and comfort.
Mr Reeves said pricing for the series has yet to be finalised with the current exchange rate expected to affect the final sales tag.
The Lexion will make its Australian debut at next month’s Henty Machinery Field Days. For more details, visit claasharvestcentre.com
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