www.claas.co.uk

CLAAS

Winter 2010Tractortimes

THE JOURNAL FOR PROFESSIONAL TRACTOR USERS

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New XERION tops 500hpSince its launch four years XERION sales have nowexceeded 1000 units and one of the highlights of therecent Agritechnica Show was the launch of two newadditions to the XERION range, the largest of whichboasts a power output in excess of 500hp.

The two new models, the XERION 4500 and the XERION5000, offer maximum power outputs of 483hp and 524hprespectively and like the smaller XERION 3300 and XERION3800, they offer a unique degree of flexibility and performance,making them the ideal machine for a wide range of contractingand farming operations.

As high horsepower arable tractors, these two new modelsoffer a number of distinct benefits over similar poweredarticulated ortracked tractors ofa similar power.

The XERION willbe the first tractorin this powersegment to featurea CVTtransmission,which will offerusers far greaterflexibility than theFull Powershift transmissions normally found on tractors thissize.

The XERION is also the first tractor this size to have amaximum travel speed of 50kph, and for road and field workthe four-equal sized wheel design will provide a far greaterlevel of operator comfort and handling than has been seenbefore in tractors in this horsepower class. Four wheel steeringalso allows for compact headland turns without scuffing andprovides excellent and safe handling on the road.

Working in combination with the CVT transmission, the enginemanagement system is designed so that the XERION can beoperated at lower engine speeds, so saving fuel.

Optimum ground contactCentral to the XERION design is a full frame chassis, fromwhich the major components are suspended. This allows theXERION to absorb far greater weights than a conventionaltractor. Where additional weight is required to better balancethe tractor, and so improve traction, there is the option to addanything from 13,400kg to 24,000kg to the front or back, or tothe wheels as required.

The four equal sized wheels provide maximum contact area toenable exceptional levels of grip, minimal wheel slip and

reduced compaction. The XERIONs can be fitted with tyresranging in size from 2050mm (800/70 R38) up to 2160mmdiameter (710/75 R42), but still retain an overall width below3.0 metres. There is also the option of a larger 900/60 R42tyre, which results in an overall vehicle width of 3.30 metres.

Drive to the two steered axles is through a well proven, heavyduty, ZF Eccom 4.5 constantly variable transmission (CVT)with a maximum travel speed of 50kph.

24-volt electricsA particular feature of these two new models is that they areequipped with both 12-volt and a 24-volt electrical systems.The power is generated by separate alternators and thetractors are fitted with one battery for the 12v system and twofor the 24v circuit.

Aside from being used to start the engine and power the worklights, the 24-volt system will enable equipment manufacturersto utilise electric motors in place of complex hydraulic systems.This will reduce the number of hydraulic connections neededand so make implement connection to the tractor far simpler,allowing for far greater simplicity and accuracy of operation.

For powered implements, there is the option of a 1000rpmPTO, which is driven at an engine speed of just 1730rpm,which is far lower than on other comparable sized tractors.This not only helps to lower fuel consumption but has theadded benefit of reducing noise levels.

Three-fingered Multifunction controlIn the cab, all the main operating functions are controlled usinga new Multifunction control lever operated using just threefingers, and also incorporates a hand rest.

The thumb is used to control functions such as the hydraulics,changes in direction, CSM headland management and GPSsteering. The index finger is used for cruise control and twoprogrammable buttons, whilst the middle finger panelincorporates a freely programmable rocker switch for functionssuch as engine speed or hydraulics.

In addition, the whole lever can be moved forwards/backwards and sideways to change speed and wheelangle, for instance when crab steering.

As on current XERION models, there are six possible steeringprogrammes, including crab steering, and a number ofprogrammable driving modes, including cruise control tomaintain a constant speed with optimum fuel efficiency.

Each of the new XERIONs will be available with the option ofeither a central fixed position cab or the unique rotating cab,which makes the XERION ideal for use with specialistapplications, such as forestry equipment.

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system is also available, for instance where the tractor is to beused with a loader. Furthermore, diesel consumption andhydraulic load are considerably lower, because the tractor runsat lower engine speed. For enhanced comfort and precision,the ELIOS has up to four electronic spool valves, two of whichcan be operated using a joystick that makes using a frontloader extremely easy.

The cab on the ELIOS offers a high level of comfort, with anair-sprung seat and air conditioning fitted as standard. Therear linkage, which has a lift capacity of 3.1 tonnes, iscontrolled using the TCE 6 electronic control system.

A one-piece engine cover means the engine and cab air filtersare easily accessible, and a major advantage of the newELIOS is its extra-long 600-hour engine oil service intervals tohelp keep downtime and cost to a minimum.

Unlike other tractors this size, the ELIOS comes complete witha pick-up hitch and where a CLAAS front loader is to be fitted,this can be ordered for fitting in the factory, so that all thenecessary hydraulic and electrical connections areincorporated at time of building.

Narrow width NEXOSTo meet the wide and differing needs for which fruit andvineyard growers use narrow tractors, the new CLAASNEXOS comes with a wide range of equipment options.

The NEXOS is available in four models (210; 220; 230 and240) and three variants - the VE, VL and F - with a minimumoverall widths of 1.00 metres, 1.26 metres and 1.46 metresrespectively. Each model offers an ideal combination ofwheelbase, weight distribution and lift capacity, enabling theNEXOS to lift andpull heavyimplements.

The new NEXOSshares the same 3.2litre engine as thelarger ELIOS, offeringpower outputs of72hp; 78hp and88hp, plus a fourthlonger wheelbase101hp model is alsoavailable powered bya 4.5 litre engine. Aswith the ELIOS, thereis the option of four different transmission options, rangingfrom 12/12 mechanical to 24/24 powershift.

The NEXOS comes with a two-pump, 59 litres per minutehydraulic system, but a three-pump 85 litres per minute systemis also available for more demanding situations. With up to fourspool valves, two of which can be controlled using a joystick, itis possible to drive a hydraulic motor whilst operating a controlunit and the rear linkage simultaneously. In the cab, in additionto an air-sprung seat and air conditioning, an activatedcharcoal filter is also standard on the NEXOS.

ELIOS - the compacttractor with a bigappetite for workWith power outputs from 72hp to 88hp, the new ELIOSrange is designed to provide a more compact offering tothe current AXOS range which has similar power outputs.With a low overall height of just 2.40m to the top of thecab, compared to between 2.5m and 2.7m on the AXOSdepending on model, the ELIOS is therefore ideal for usein low livestock or similar buildings, such as glasshousesor polytunnels.

Three models are available, the ELIOS 210, ELIOS 220 andthe ELIOS 230 and with a number of different hydraulic andtransmission options, each can be configured to thecustomer’s specific needs, such as for loader work. With atight turning circle of just 3.73 metres, the ELIOS is ideal foryard work and in confined spaces.

With power outputs of 72hp, 78hp and 88hp, the 3.2 litre four-cylinder engine on the ELIOS runs quietly, reliably andeconomically. The engines meet the TIER 3 emissionsregulations due to internal exhaust gas recirculation, turbo,intercooler (except the 210) and a mechanical injectionsystem. Maximum torque levels of up to 350 Nm ensures theELIOS has plenty of power in reserve.

The ELIOS comes with a 540/1000 and synchronised PTO butan optional 540/540E is available, designed for high dieseleconomy and low noise during light PTO work.

Depending on requirements, the customer has the choice offour different transmission options:• 12 forward/12 reverse with a mechanical reverser• 24 forward/24 reverse with a mechanical reverser and splitter• 24 forward/24 reverse with mechanical reverser and

TWINSHIFT powershift• 24 forward/24 reverse with REVERSHIFT hydraulic reverser

and TWINSHIFT powershift

As standard, the ELIOS comes with a two-pump, 59 litres perminute hydraulic system, but a three-pump 85 litres per minute

XERION 5000 named ‘Machine of the Year’The XERION 5000 was awarded with the German publishing company DLV’sprestigious ‘Machine of the Year’ award in the big machine category. At thepresentation of the award are (left to right): Bernd Feuerbord (DLZ); Jan-Hendrik Mohr (member of the CLAAS Group Executive Board); JanChristensen (Maskinbladet, Denmark); Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser and Prof.Klaus Bohme (Neue Landwirtschaft).

Multi-tasking AXOSOne of the first AXOS tractors to be sold in the UK wasbought by farmer and contractor Shane Morgan.

Replacing a 3000 hour, four year old 95hp CELTIS, and alsorunning a 102hp ARES 557 RTZ, Shane opted for the morepowerful 102hp AXOS 340CX as this would provide him with aslightly smaller tractor, but with the same power so thatequipment could be used on either tractor.

In addition to rearing 300 cattle for sale as stores on their 73hafarm near Abergavenny, Shane and his father Brian alsoprovide a contract hedge cutting and round baling service,making some 8000 hay, silage and straw bales each year.

“The CELTIS was a very good tractor, and held its value well,but I just wanted a bit more power so that both tractors coulddo everything,” explains Shane. “I did look at one other make,but ultimately the back-up and service from Harold Johns hasalways been extremely good, which is worth a lot.”

“Also the AXOS provides a good combination of simplicity andtechnology. For instance because we don’t do any cultivationwork, a simple, mechanically controlled linkage is fine for ourneeds. However by having the CX version, the electronic

Versatile powerhouseAs a ‘one-man band’, contractor Phil Oliver is very relianton his ARION 640 CEBIS and the service and support hegets from his dealer.

This is Phil’s second ARION 640. The first, which had CIS,was just over a year old when he changed it for the newCEBIS version last autumn.

“I use the tractor for everything, so am very dependent on itbeing reliable, but if I do have a problem that my dealer will bethere to support me. Unfortunately with my previous make oftractor that was not the case,” says Phil. “I first dealt with MillEngineers about five years ago when I bought a topper, andsince then I have gradually bought more from them becausethey have always looked after me extremely well and beenvery helpful.”

“I had previously tried an ARES 697, but was not tooimpressed. I then saw a brochure for the ARION soon after itwas launched, and Martin Hume arranged for me to visitSaxham to see a tractor. I was immediately impressed with itand by the fact that everything I disliked about the ARES hadbeen changed for the better.”

“The ARION is a good, well thought out tractor and with the

power boost up to 180hp it is powerful, but not too big and fillsa gap in the market. If you look at other makes, for that powerthe tractors are far bigger and heavier. The ARION is ideal, asfor ploughing I can weight it up, but then drop off the weightswhen I need to keep the weight down, such as mowing, whilstfor jobs such as hedgecutting it is very nimble and not too big”

Normally Phil aims to keep his tractors for about four years, bywhich time they will have done about 6,000 hours. Howeverhaving been offered a good price to upgrade to the CEBISversion, he took advantage of it. In addition to the ARION, healso runs a VARIANT 360 and has just bought a new DISCO3050C mower.

“I had always wanted CEBIS, but with the first ARION I couldnot justify it at that stage. CEBIS is very self-explanatory andideal for measuring area and to accurately monitor fuel use.Also it’s easy to set up a headland sequence for the drill andother jobs.”

Phil comments that one of the great strengths of the ARION isthe HEXASHIFT transmission and the fact that the engine isnot only very economical, but will just keep pulling.“My old 150hp tractor struggled to pick up five furrows andwould empty a tank in a day. The ARION however happily pullssix furrows and will go for nearly two days on a tank. Also itspulling power is unbelievable, the engine never gives up; it candrop to 1400rpm but it will fight for all it’s got.”

(REVERSHIFT) shuttle isideal for loader work andthe TWINSHIFTtransmission is good forjobs like baling. Also theair-seat provides a farmore comfortable ridethan the normal seat on the CELTIS.”

The AXOS is used for a wide range of jobs around the farm.During the summer, it is used for all the mowing, tedding androwing up ahead of the round baler on the ARES, which ifneeded is also used behind the AXOS. It will also then be usedto move the 2000 bales that they stack each year, 1300 ofwhich are for their own use.

During the winter months the AXOS is then kept busy feedingcattle, both out in the field and in the sheds, as well as forgeneral handling tasks around the farm.

“The AXOS is extremely nice to drive and as a stockman typetractor is very good; I can’t fault it,” says Shane. “It’s ideal forloader work and well balanced, so there’s no need for a weighton the back. It also pulls well and the engine certainly seemsto be very economical.”

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Shane Morgan

Service sellsTwo ARION 620Cs and aSCORPION 6030 are the latestadditions to Thomas Brothers(Nash) Ltd’s machinery fleet.

The two tractors, which weredelivered last summer, join a fleetof 11 tractors run by the companywhich, aside from farming 360hanear Newport in Gwent, also do general agriculturalcontracting, groundwork and sports field construction anddrainage.

The two ARION 620Cs, which have a maximum power outputof 140hp, replaced two ARES 657s, and are used for generalhaulage and fieldwork.

Also currently on order is another ARION 520 CIS and anAXOS 340, that have been bought specifically for sports fieldwork, so have been specified with creep gearboxes and turftyres. One of the main tasks for the ARION 520 will be tooperate a Wizz Wheel drainer, so the ability, using CIS, to alterhydraulic flow, will ensure the operator can accurately fine tunethe trencher.

“We have been very pleased with the ARIONs. The Cspecification is ideal, as we don’t need any sophisticatedcontrol systems because they will mainly be used for jobs suchas rowing-up, cultivations and trailer work,” says Paul Thomas.

“The tractors are comfortable and we have found the fueleconomy to be extremely good.”

“One of the main reasons for initially going with CLAAS wasthe service that we receive from Riverlea. In any purchase thisis a big consideration, and as contractors for us it’s the servicesupport that we receive that sells every time.”

“In the two years we had them, the two ARES’ proved to begood, reliable tractors and ultimately they also held their valuevery well.”

The new SCORPION 6030 was bought to replace a differentmake of handler and chosen after the Thomas’ test drove itduring maize harvest.

“One of the big advantages is the fact it has a 40kphtransmission, but overall it performed well and the price wasright. The driver loves it and it is definitely a step-up in terms ofperformance from what we had before,” concludes Paul.

Paul Thomas

“Somehow CLAAS seem to have got it right with the ARION. They have alwaysmade machines that are driver friendly and whilst CLAAS is not the cheapest,they are not the most expensive either. With a cheap tractor, the only way tomake money is to use cheap components, which is then reflected in its reliabilityand the quality of service because there is nothing to reinvest in training andsupport, and that was the problem with my previous make,” concludes Phil.

Phil Oliver

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Keeping it straight and powerfulNeeding a higher powered tractor for primarycultivations, Germany Farms have found the XERION3800 provides the ideal combination of high power andtraction, whilst not being too large for road work.

Farming 1200ha spread over four blocks around Norwell nearNewark, and with soil types ranging from mainly heavy claythrough to blowing sand, the Germany’s mainly rely on a 5mwide Simba SL for primary cultivations.

Having previously pulled this with a 330hp tractor, it was theneed for more power and traction to increase output that ledthe Germany’s to approach Marsh for a demonstration of the384hp XERION 3800.

“Whilst we use tracked tractors for secondary cultivations anddrilling, I have always felt that wheels provide better grip forprimary work,” says Chris. “The SL is ideal for our land, butworking it at 16cm on heavy soils takes some pulling,especially on hills.”

Aside from oilseed rape, which is mainly drilled using aStocks seeder on the back of the SL, for cereals after theinitial pass, the land is left to green-up prior to a second passwith a Cultipress or similar before drilling.

“As soon as we tried the XERION we were convinced it wasthe right machine for our needs. It’s very impressive and thetraction is phenomenal. The four equal sized wheels provide

far greater grip and definitely transfer more power to theground. It’s fitted with 650-38 Axiobib tyres that we run at14psi, which gives them the same footprint as a 710 tyre, butkeeps the road width down and also means they will fit in thefurrow should we need to plough.”

“The XERION is the ideal sized tractor for what we want it todo, which is to provide brute force grunt, and the driver lovesit. Driver comfort is fantastic and the ability using CEBIS toset-up the tractor for the job and conditions, makes it easy tofind the ideal balance between economy and output.”

Chris has been using GPS guidance and steering for anumber of years, and the XERION has been fitted with anRTK steering system, using a signal from a CLAAS mast atMarsh. In addition two other tractors and the sprayer are alsofitted with either guidance or full steering systems.

“From July through to October the XERION will be used forup to 14 hours a day either subsoiling or pulling the SL, sosystems like RTK definitely help improve machine output andefficiency.”

“The ability to skip passes and dowhat you like, but still accuratelymatch bouts is fantastic. Also weoften use a Simba DTX on theheadlands, so again having GPSmeans the two tractors can workseparately but still match up withoutleaving gaps or odd angles wherethey meet. I would certainly not buyan other cultivations tractor without asteeringsystem.”

CLAAS establish RTKnetwork

In order to enable farmers to benefit from the highaccuracy potential of RTK, and as part of their long-termcommitment to GPS steering systems, CLAAS UK hasbecome one of the first manufacturers to set aboutestablishing a network of RTK aerials.

Following a successful trial last summer, CLAAS has boughtfour licences that allow them to potentially install mastsanywhere within the UK.

Initially 11 masts have been installed to provide RTKcoverage throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Lincolnshire andpart of Leicestershire. In the next phase this winter, masts areto be installed to cover Kent and then the plan is to movewestwards. However, CLAAS will also look at the feasibility ofinstalling masts elsewhere in the UK where there is sufficientdemand from customers. Depending on the topography, eachmast will provide RTK coverage over a 20 to 30 kilometreradius.

To use the network, customers pay an annual subscription,which will provide access to the whole network, not just asingle mast. In addition prior to subscribing, a survey will alsobe conducted to ensure that there is RTK coverage of thefarm.

Aside from providing an RTK signal for CLAAS GPS PILOTsteering systems, the network can also be accessed by thoseusing an Omnistar HP signal with a Trimble receiver.

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Chris Germany

New COPILOT TScontrollerCLAAS Agrosystems has introduced a new entry levelsteering control terminal – GPS COPILOT TS.

The new COPILOT TS shares many features of the moreadvanced S3 control unit, but is designed specifically for usewith tractors, and will provide either steering guidance or canbe upgraded for use with an automatic steering system.COPILOT TS uses an Egnos correction signal to provide an

accuracy of ±15-30cm and can be usedfor parallel tracking of either a straight orcurved path.

The COPILOT TS unit incorporates alarge touch screen display and aside fromproviding track management, the terminalcan be used to calculate and storeinformation, such as the area covered,and has a USB connection to downloadinformation for further use.

BASELINE cost savingsInvesting in a BASELINE GPS system for their two AXION820 tractors will help William and Robert Hay reduceoperating and variable cost.

Accurate to ± 4-8cm the unique CLAAS BASELINE GPSguidance system will enable the Hays to operate both thetractors, and their new LEXION 570TT, more efficiently byreducing short work, so saving fuel and operator cost.Ultimately, by using BASELINE in conjunction with yieldmapping and the variable application of inputs, the brothershope it will also help reduce their variable costs, especiallyfertiliser.

The Hays farm 340ha near Turriff in Aberdeenshire is splitbetween two units nine miles apart, most of which is cereals,mainly spring barley for malt and distilling but also winterwheat, barley and oilseed rape. In addition they have a 60,000bird broiler unit and 18,000 free-range layers, and they arecurrently constructing their own windmill, which will ultimatelygenerate 800Kwatt for sale into the national grid.

“We have used Egnos on the sprayer, but due to the hills thereception can be very patchy, and it then takes a long time tore-connect,” says William. “The great benefit of BASELINE isthat it should provide a consistent signal and is a one-off cost.Ultimately by working more accurately it should help us reducefuel, operating and input costs.”

“Also when spreading muck from the chicken units, we shouldbe able to moreaccurately match up thebouts and headland soas to achieve a moreeven application acrossthe field”

“The plan is that we willalso fit a receiver to thenew LEXION so that wecan then also mark outfields more accuratelyand avoid short work.

The combine also has yield mapping, so the next stage will beto look at variable application, especially of fertiliser on fieldswhere we have applied chicken muck.”

The first AXION 820 CIS, which has a maximum power outputof 232hp, was bought in 2008 to replace an ARES 816 whilstthe second, an AXION 820 CEBIS, was delivered inDecember.

The two AXIONs are responsible for all the main cultivationwork on the farm. Having changed to minimal cultivations nineyears ago, one of the main tasks for the older AXION 820CISis to pull a Simba SL400 cultivator. The new AXION 820 will bemainly used with the Hays 4.0m Horsh Sprinter grain andfertiliser drill.

“Because the drill has a hydraulic fan, the tractor has beenspecified with the optional 150 l/min load sensing hydraulicsystem and using CEBIS we can then easily alter the flow rateto the fan.”

“We have been very pleased with the AXION. Thetransmission is great and the engine just keeps pulling; it nevergives up. Also the fuel consumption is noticeably less than theARES 816 and by having more power you can cut the enginespeed back.”

“Whilst we did try some other makes, we have always got onwell with Bruce Farm Machinery and for its specification, theAXION is very well priced,” states Robert. ”Also we know andtrust CLAAS and are confident that they will stand by us if wehave a problem with either the tractors or BASELINE.”

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William and Robert Hay

Egnos

• Precision: ±15-30cm• With integrated eDif

connection• No licensing costs

Omnistar HP

• Precision: ±5-10cm• Dual frequency DGPS• Differential connection

signal is received froma satellite

• The differentialcorrection signal isavailable on a quarterlyor annual basis

BASELINE HD

• Precision: ±4-6cm• Unique mobile

reference signal• Range 3-5km• License-free differential

correction signal• Signal can be utilised

simultaneously bymultiple machines

RTK

• Precision: 2-3cm• Stationary reference

station• Reference signal can

be provided by aCLAAS dealer ifrequired

• Range up to 20km• Licence-free differential

correction signal

CLAAS GPS PILOT steering systemsThrough its AGROSYSTEMS division, CLAAS is able to provide a complete range ofguidance and automatic steering system solutions, with accuracies as little as 2-3cm.By avoiding overlaps and improved work efficiency, the increase in output and theresulting reduction in running and variable costs can result in savings of around 7%.

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Mountainous reliabilityReliability is an essential element in W J Fraser & Sonschoice of tractor, and the main reason why they have beenrunning Le Mans built tractors for over 20 years.

Currently the Frasers have four CLAAS tractors – a 100hpCELTIS 456, a 96hp ARES 546RZ and two 155hp ARION 630CIS’ both of which are equipped with loaders on the farm, plusan old Renault.

The two ARIONs are key tractors during the winter months onthe Fraser’s two farms totalling 850ha near Tomintoul, which isthe highest village in the Cairngorms. Whilst the 300 suckercows are mainly housed during the long winter fromSeptember through to late May, the 5000 ewes remainoutdoors.

“We have a telehandler on each farm for use around the cattlecourts, but during the winter the two ARIONs will be out twicea day, every day transporting feed to the outlying stock, so weare very reliant on them,” explains Colin Fraser.

“You can have the fanciest tractor in the world, but it’s worthnothing if it’s unreliable. Whilst we do have dealers for othermakes that are closer, we have foundnothing to match the reliability ofCLAAS tractors and the service andsupport we receive from Bruce FarmMachinery, even though they are 60miles away.”

In addition to clamp silage for the cattle,the Frasers also make over 3000 roundsilage bales, of which 1000 come fromseasonal land that they take every year,which is about 10 miles away.

Therefore the other main requirement for the tractors was thatthey should be good on the road, as apart from hauling bales,the tractors are also used to collect cattle feed from a mill 35miles away, and draft (spent grain) from the local Tomnavoulindistillery.“The ARION 640s are ideal for roadwork. They have more thanenough power for the hills, the engines just keep pulling, areeconomic and the (HEXASHIFT) transmission is great for bothloader work and on the road, especially when going up hills.One of the tractors is also used on the baler in the summerand here again the transmission is ideal. Just as important isthe fact that the tractors are well balanced and have plenty ofgrip, as we have a lot of steep land.”

“The DRIVESTICK makes changing gear very easy, and all themain controls are at your fingertips, so the tractors are simpleto use. We have also noticed that the (load sensing) hydraulicsystem is far faster and more reactive than on the Renaults.”

“One of the great strengths of the tractors is the engines andover the 20 years we have never needed to touch one. Thechange to CLAAS has been very positive; all the old strengthsof the Renaults are still there, but there is no doubt that theoverall quality and the cab finish have improved,” concludesColin.

Colin Fraser

AXION fuel saverTwo CLAAS AXION tractors have helped contractor SteveAnning to slash his fuel usage.

The first of the tractors, a 246hp AXION 840 CEBIS, wasbought last January, and was joined by the smaller 189hpAXION 820 CEBIS in the summer.

“The difference in fuel consumption between the AXIONs andour previous make of tractor is considerable,” states Stevewhose business, Wye Valley Farm Services is based nearWhitney-on-Wye in Herefordshire.

“For mowing, I previously ran a front and rear combination ona 152hp tractor which used 6.8 litres/acre. With the AXION 840I am running a butterfly triple, and the tractor only uses 2.27litres/acre. Fuel consumption is a big issue and the saving infuel is unbelievable.”

One of the other main jobs for the tractor is to power a triplebed tiller, which demands a lot of power and is heavy work.

“We often work as part of a team, and it is noticeable thatcompared to the other tractors, the AXION does use far lessfuel. It’s power sapping work, but the AXION handles it farbetter than most of the other tractors which do seem tobreakdown fairly regularly!”

One of the main reasons for changing to the AXION was dueto reliability issues with his previous tractors, plus the need fora higher powered tractor in order to increase work rates,especially when mowing on hilly ground to keep ahead of hisJaguar 880 Profi forager.

“The AXION has a good name and you see an increasing

number around. Also even though they are 80 miles away, theservice and support from Riverlea at Cowbridge isoutstanding. If there is a problem they will address it, and theirtechnicians take a pride in their work. Riverlea understand howcontractors work and will work with you.”

“For foraging, the windows of opportunity are not great, so oneof the reasons for changing to a more powerful tractor andtriple mower was to be able to have the output to get in and dothe job quickly and efficiently.”

“The drivers love the tractors and I can’t get them out of them!It’s impressive how well the AXIONs perform and the powerboost is ideal when working on banks. With the axle and cabsuspension they are very comfortable – the ride is like being ina car, and the climate control is ideal.”

All of Steve’s five full time staff drive the AXIONs, and the factthat they are easy to operate is one of the strong points.

“CEBIS is very straightforward to use and the drivers now havevarious (CSM) headland sequences jobs stored, making itquick and easy to recall a sequence and set-up the tractor foreach job. Also the ability to monitor fuel use is extremely usefulso that I know exactlywhat we have used forbilling.”

“I definitely feel thatCLAAS is the up andcoming tractormanufacturer due theirfuel economy andcomfort, plus the fact thatthey will stand by you.”

Steve Anning

Contractors Sean and Joe O’Reilly run both a contractingand farming business in the heart of ‘The Golden Vale’region at Ballinree, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, which isa fertile stretch of land in the basin of the River Suir, whichcrosses the county from north to south.

Farming in the area is quite mixed with both tillage and cattlebeing the main farming enterprises, but not forgetting thehorse industry as well. Tipperary is also the heart of the horseindustry in Ireland, with for example, the world renownedCoolmore Stud located there as well.

The O’Reillys themselves rent about 200 ha on top of theirown 61, where they grow winter and spring barley, maize andfodder beet. “Contracting has been a part of the familybusiness for about 60 years,” Sean explains.

Sean and Joe operate entirely in County Tipperary, and cerealand grass work makes up the bulk of the brothers business,with about 400 ha of cereals, mainly spring barley, to harvestand in the region of 1200 ha of silage, including 120 ha ofmaize, to pick up.

They have an extensive fleet of CLAAS products including fourCLAAS tractors. The oldest is a 2005 ARES 836, next anARES 697 and two 2008 tractors, a ARION 630 and an AXION820.

The harvester line-up includes a 2008 LEXION 550 combinewith C660 header and 2001 JAGUAR 890 forage harvesterwith both pick-up and maize heads. Complementing theseCLAAS key mover products are two fixed chamber, chopperround balers, a ROLLANT 254 and 354, a VOLTO 770 tedderand LINER 880 twin rotor rake.

Outlining the reasoning behind their commitment to CLAAS,“We have had CLAAS combines ever since we bought a newStandard S from Barlo’s in Clonmel in 1971,” states Joe. Theirtractor commitment stems from their historical usage ofRenault tractors from local dealers Breen Farm Machinery inCashel.

Sean explains, “We were Renault users before CLAAS andwhen CLAAS bought Renault, the local dealer, Breen’s stayedwith the product under the CLAAS banner, and so wecontinued on with CLAAS.” He adds, “We bought our firstCLAAS tractor in about 2005 and basically we like the CLAAStractor and we get a good service from the dealer.”

None of the tractors are idle explains Joe, “We put an average

of about 2000 hrs a year on each tractor and keep them forabout five years before changing.”

Even at this time of the year they are busy cleaner-loading anddelivering fodder beet, which they grow for a 500 cow dairyfarm. “We sow, grow, harvest and clean it, then deliver it asneeded during the winter,” Sean says.

The various tractors carry out a certain amount of ‘fixed’duties, “The 697 ARES drills around 320ha of cereals with anAmazone power harrow and Fiona 3 metre drill combination,”Sean says. During the silage season and harvest, it pulls oneof the CLAAS balers.

Equipped with GPS, The ARION 630 spreads all the fertilizerwith a trailed Bredal 85 (approx 8 tonne capacity) bulkspreader both for themselves and customers plus a local co-op.

“We spread bulk fertiliser for Centenary Co-Op in Cashel. It’sthousands of acres, you couldn’t put a figure on it as a lot ofthe ground we would be covering over and over again,”explains Joe.

The main task for AXION 820 is mowing for pit and baledsilage plus hay with front and rear 3 metre mowers. Seansays, “It’s a super system, we’re fierce happy with it. We canmow 48ha a day with the AXION 820 and mowers no problem,all on a tank of diesel. It works very, very well especially whenyou are not running after it with diesel all the time.”

The ARES 836 does the bulk of the ploughing with a 5 furrowreversible Gregoire Besson fully mounted plough, with back upfrom the ARION 820 with another 5 furrow Gregoire Bessonplough when required.

“We are very happy with our CLAAS tractors, they provide acomfortable environment to work in and all the tractors havecab and front suspension.” Performance wise, Sean states,“We work them hard, we can put up to 2200 hours a year onsome of them, no problem and they’re reliable.” He adds, “Wealso get great support from our local dealer, Breen’s.”

Looking to the future, there are plans to buy a new AXION 820or 830. A deal to replace the LINER 880 rake with a newLINER 2900 is already done. Even further down the road,Sean says they will look at changing the Jaguar after the 2010silage season.

A CLAAS act in ‘The Golden Vale’

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Specialist spreaderA specialist liquid waste handling system built around aXERION 3800 has given Philip Trim the ability to quicklyand efficiently spread in excess of 100,000 litres a day.

Specialising in liquid waste handling, in addition to offering amore general contracting service, Philip took delivery of the388hp XERION, fitted with a 15,000 litre SGT tank system, lastautumn.

Based near Bere Regis in Dorset, aside from handling generaldairy and pig unit waste, he also specialises in handlingcommercial factory waste, in particular hauling milk waste fromseven cheese and processing plants for spreading on the land,using a fleet of five 30,000 litre articulated tankers, that runseven days a week. The waste milk is then stored in purposebuilt lagoons prior to spreading using either the XERION orumbilical systems.

“The reason for investing in the XERION based system is thatwith farmers becoming more concerned about 2012, and alsofacing tighter restrictions, both the processors and farmers arelooking for long-term commitment and seeking a professional,precision service,” explains Philip who bought the XERIONthrough Vaughan Agri.

“One of the big benefits of the SGT system is that the meteringsystem is linked into the CEBIS unit. This allows us to load thefarmer’s field maps into CEBIS, and then when we havefinished spreading we can download everything onto amemory stick and provide him with a complete breakdown ofexactly what has been applied and where.”

“When I was looking at the various options, I knew that Ineeded to go self-propelled for the output, and because of the

land type that it needed to be a mounted system, not trailed.The ability of the XERION to crab steer and by running it on800 wide tyres, soil damage is kept to a minimum. Also with anumbilical system, because you are restricted to how far fromthe lagoon you can pump, these fields are now high in P andK, so working with the farmer we can use land moreappropriately and be able to spread on outlying fields and inline with cropping. It also gives the option for larger dairy farmsand pig units with no land to export their slurry.”

In order to provide a complete service throughout the year, thetanker system is used in combination with either a 7.0mgrassland injector or a 6.0m trailing shoe, plus for arable farmsPhilip has adapted a 4.0m Simba Xpress, so he can workstraight into stubble, so all the customer then needs to do isdrill the crop.

In order that the XERION can work at maximum capacity,three 14,500 litre capacity nurse tankers are used to ferrybetween the lagoon and the field. In the field, using a loadingarm on the front of the XERION, it can be refilled in about twominutes without the driver needing to leave the cab.

“The operator absolutely loves the XERION, particularly itspower, but also having previously driven a purpose builtmachine, he finds that CEBIS makes the XERION far easier toset-up and operate.”

“The whole unit is extremely stable and the visibility isexcellent, plus it has plenty of power for the hills. And beingCLAAS I know that the back-up from Vaughan Agri will begood. The XERION is tried and tested and by going for thereversible cab, rather than the front mounted cab, when itcomes to changing the XERION at about 6,000 hours, itshould retain a high resale value.”

Philip Trim

High capacity loadingNow on his third SCORPION telescopic handler fromVaughan Agri, Bob Rowe has found there is nocomparison between it and competitive makes he hasused.

Comfort, smoothness, performance and the ease with which ithandles a big 2.5 tonne capacity bucket, are all aspects of theSCORPION 7045 VARIPOWER PLUS that Bob says sets itapart from other machines.

Bob farms a total of 1860ha spread across his own farm atGussage St Michael in Dorset, and a further nine blocks ofland that he contract farms. With both a LEXION 600TT and aLEXION 580TT feeding into five different stores, in addition tohis own two handlers, Bob also hires in a third machine atharvest to help handle the 15,000 tonnes of wheat, barley andoilseed rape he produces.

“Some days we can end up loading over 25 lorries, sobecause of the number of loading points, I need that numberof machines for flexibility and avoid time wasted movingmachines between farms. Also in the last couple of years,because of the conditions we have often ended up having todouble or triple handle grain.”

“During harvest I mainly use the SCORPION myself as I lookafter the grain store at home, so I end up driving it a lot butfind the SCORPION far less tiring that other machines.”

“For me the best feature is the (VARIPOWER PLUS)transmission. Due to a leg injury, constantly using a brake canbe tiring, so the ability to completely control the transmissionusing the joystick, and stop at the press of a button, this avoidsthe need to use the foot brake so much, which is far easier.”

“Cycle times are very quick. Our longest store is 36 metreslong, but when loading lorries due to the speed of thetransmission and the fact it is infinitely variable, theSCORPION is quickly in and out, so reducing loading time.”

For grain handling, the SCORPION is fitted with a large 2.5tonne capacity bucket. Having previously run a machine with a110l/min system, Bob says that the higher capacity 150l/minload sensing hydraulic system on the SCORPION 7045 VP+makes a considerable difference. He adds that it is alsonoticeable now much more stable the SCORPION is, which isan important factor when loading lorries.

“At harvest I spend a lot of hours in the SCORPION. Thejoystick makes operating the SCORPION easy as it’s verysensitive and positive. The SCORPION is extremely well built,comfortable and the curved screen is great for loading, as youcan clearly see the raised bucket without having to leanforward to see past any obstructions. I love it,” concludes Bob.

Bob Rowe

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CLAASSaxham, Bury St EdmundsSuffolk IP28 6QZTel: 01284 763100www.claas.co.uk

Tractortimes is published for Claas UK Ltd by Four Seasons Publicity.