On the one hand, safeguarding value and fast harvesting cycles. On the other, minimizing losses and containing operating costs.
This is the virtuous combination ensured by Claas’ top-of-the-range Claas Lexion combine harvesters, a lineup made up of four series spanning conventional models and hybrid versions characterized by exclusive and advanced technical solutions
Combining hourly productivity—one of the main economic and managerial parameters of any agricultural machine—with final product quality has always been a primary goal for all manufacturers operating in the harvesting machinery sector. Market evolution has increasingly paired the concept of “time” with that of “quality,” the latter referring both to the crop itself and to by-products, first and foremost straw.
A trend that originated in cereal and rice supply chains and shifted the focus of farmers and contractors toward harvesting machines capable of reconciling field performance with respect for the harvested product. Hence manufacturers’ efforts to develop solutions that protect crop value and minimize losses without negatively impacting working speeds and fuel consumption, which now account for around 30 percent of the cost of a harvesting cycle.
This fourfold requirement underpins the design philosophy of Claas’ top-of-the-range “Lexion” combines, a product line structured into four series that, depending on application needs, offer either an exclusive hybrid threshing system—the “8000” and “7000”—or a traditional secondary separation system with straw walkers—the “6000” and “5000.” As a result, the “Lexion” range provides technical and performance differentiation tailored to all harvesting requirements: conventional models aimed at medium-sized farms and those seeking high working speeds with full straw preservation, while hybrid versions are primarily designed for larger, more structured operations and contractors working extensive areas, thanks to their high operating capacities.
The flagships of the Claas range offer power ratings of up to 790 hp on the top-performing “Lexion 8900,” powered by a 16.2-liter six-cylinder MAN “D42” engine, the same unit that equips the “Lexion 8800” with a maximum output of 700 hp. MAN also supplies the 12.4-liter six-cylinder “D26” engines rated at 507 and 549 hp for the high-end “Lexion 7600” and “Lexion 7700.” Entry-level and mid-range models are powered by Mercedes six-cylinder “470” and “473” engines, respectively 10.7 and 15.6 liters, delivering maximum outputs of 462 and 626 hp.
Regardless of origin and displacement, all engines comply with Stage V regulations thanks to cooled EGR pre-treatment systems combined with DOC catalysts, DPF filters, and SCR after-treatment. Power is transmitted to the working units via belt drives acting on reinforced variators connected to the central lubrication system to minimize downtime for maintenance and checks. All engines also share “Dynamic Power” and “Dynamic Cooling” functions: the former adjusts engine load and speed to operator demand to reduce fuel consumption, while the latter modulates cooling fan operation based on actual thermal load, minimizing energy absorption. The result is reduced fuel consumption that enhances overall productivity.
On the hybrid “Lexion 7000” and “Lexion 8000” series, productivity is further supported by the renewed “APS” primary separation system. Known as “APS Synflow Hybrid,” it features an APS accelerator and a 755-mm-diameter ten-bar threshing drum working against a concave equipped with electrically adjustable blanking plates and a hydraulically pivoting de-awning bar to increase treatment intensity under difficult harvesting conditions.
With widths of 1,700 mm on the “Lexion 8000” and 1,420 mm on the “Lexion 7000,” the drum offers a 132-degree wrap angle and is paired with a 600-mm-diameter impeller that smooths crop flow to the two “RotoPlus” rotors, each around 600 mm in diameter and capable of operating automatically at differentiated speeds.
This configuration ensures highly effective separation regardless of crop type or condition, aided by the proven “Jet Stream” cleaning system with a six- or eight-stage turbine fan and a double, ventilated pre-cleaning step. Airflow and sieves are electrically adjustable from the cab, while “AutoSlope” adapts airflow when working uphill or downhill. Hybrid “Lexion” models can also benefit from “3D” slope compensation (up to 20 percent laterally) and “Cemos Automatic,” an operator-assistance system that suggests optimal settings based on crop and field conditions. Standard “Telematics” collects real-time machine data and transmits it to company offices, allowing remote monitoring of harvesting efficiency.
Straw quality and preservation are addressed by “Cemos Auto Chopping,” available on both hybrid and conventional “Lexion” series. This system continuously measures straw moisture and volume, automatically adjusting counter-knife position and friction floor in the chopper to optimize chopping while reducing fuel consumption—up to 10 percent lower than comparable machines—without compromising harvesting efficiency.
On the “Lexion 6000” and “Lexion 5000,” efficiency is further enhanced by the “APS Synflow Walker” system, featuring a straight crop flow with a 450-mm pre-accelerator, a 755-mm threshing drum, and an additional 600-mm separation cylinder. Adjustable hydraulically from the cab, this system achieves wrap angles of 132 degrees on the drum and 116 degrees on the separation cylinder, ensuring adaptability to different crops and conditions. Overload protection prevents blockages, while adjustable blanking plates and a pivoting de-awning bar increase aggressiveness when required.
These solutions allow the “Lexion 6000” and “Lexion 5000” to separate up to about 25 percent more product than competing primary separation systems, maintaining excellent straw and grain quality and easing the work of the five or six straw walkers, which provide total separation areas of up to 6.37 m² and 7.62 m² respectively.
Secondary separation is further optimized by a yield sensor positioned above the grain elevator, measuring output in real time before grain enters tanks with capacities from 9,000 to 13,500 liters—top-of-class values in the 300–500 hp segment. Power in these series comes from Mercedes and MAN six-cylinder engines, including Mercedes “936” and “470” units (7.7 and 10.7 liters) delivering 313–354 hp and 408 hp respectively, and the MAN “D26” engine providing up to 507 hp on the “Lexion 6800” and “Lexion 6900.”
Controlled and certified quality
Highly automated operational hubs, the “Lexion” combines are continually updated by Claas technicians with the latest technical solutions to maintain the competitive edge built over more than 30 years. This includes the option to equip model year 2026 “Lexion” machines with “Nutrimeter Grain,” the first transmissive NIR measurement system for combine harvesters. Using infrared light, it determines chemical composition and nutritional properties, measuring protein content in cereals and oil content in oilseeds during harvesting.
Values are displayed in real time on the “Cebis” terminal and transmitted to “Claas Connect” for use during storage and marketing. On-field data availability allows farmers to manage crops with different protein levels, segregating them during unloading and storage, reducing quality mixing and enabling sale prices that reflect true product value. The transmissive measurement method is recognized and accepted within the cereal marketing chain.
Up to 66 percent less
According to a recent FAO report, soil compaction—alongside erosion, acidification, and nutrient loss—is one of the main factors limiting farm productivity. To address this during harvesting, “Lexion” offers “TerraTrac” versions featuring Claas’ patented track system.
Eleven TerraTrac models are available, including four straw-walker versions and nearly all hybrid models, all capable of reducing ground pressure by up to 66 percent compared with wheeled configurations, while improving slope stability and minimizing slippage—also contributing to lower fuel consumption. Road speeds of up to 40 km/h and optional driven rear axles are maintained.
Working in a living room
Designed for intensive operating cycles, the “Lexion” range features cabins engineered to minimize operator fatigue during long hours. They offer advanced comfort solutions such as air-suspended seats, electrically adjustable mirrors, cameras for difficult viewing angles, refrigerated compartments, and holders for tablets and smartphones. Operational safety is enhanced by LED work lights providing excellent visibility, with optional additional lighting for evening and night work.
Title: Claas Lexion combine harvester: quality assured
Translation with ChatGPT
