CLAAS celebrates 50 years of JAGUAR Harvester

CLAAS is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its leadership in the self-propelled forage harvester market with the release of a special edition JAGUAR 990 TERRA TRAC model at Agritechnica – the latest in a long line of powerful products.

Boasting the very latest operating systems and a 24-litre V12 MAN engine that delivers a whopping 925 Horsepower, this harvesting behemoth is capable of processing a staggering 400 tonnes of forage per hour!

CLAAS revolutionised forage harvesting in 1973 with the release of the JAGUAR 60 SF, a hybrid of components from the company’s existing trailed foragers and combine harvesters. More than 500 of the 120 Horsepower units were sold within three years, triggering the beginning of a series of ground-breaking innovations that rewrote the benchmarks for productivity, efficiency and reliability.

Over the next 30 years, CLAAS pioneered four-, six- and eight-row forage harvesting technology, culminating in the launch of its signature 900 series in 2001. In 2008, CLAAS smashed performance levels even higher with the introduction of the twin-engine

JAGUAR 980. With a combined maximum output of 830 Horsepower, the engines were controlled by a dynamic engine management system that automatically adjusted power output to load whilst reducing fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.

The new-design V-MAX chopping cylinder with its paddle-type knives further improved chopping quality, efficiency and maintenance. The introduction of a new-generation cab and operator assistance systems, such as the AUTO FILL automatic

discharge system, near-infrared dry matter sensor and variable tyre pressure control system, provided greater operator comfort and convenience.

In 2015, CLAAS acquired the SHREDLAGE processing system, which intensively processes corn kernels and long-chop maize to improve the digestibility of starch and fibre. This was followed by the development of a new generation of ORBIS maize headers with working widths of up to nine metres.

In 2019, CLAAS launched the JAGUAR 900 TERRA TRAC with its innovative crawler tracks and the CEMOS AUTO Performance system, which automatically adjusts engine power curves and forward speed for optimal productivity and efficiency.

More recent improvements include the ACTISILER 37 silage additive system, water injection system and the CEMIS 1200 terminal for automated steering and precision farming applications.