Page 12 - Best of 2016 English

In the land of the giant green caterpillars
e world‘s largest and most modern harvesting machine production plant is located in the German countryside: is is the home of Claas – Europe‘s market leader in combines
Although the Lexion 670 is not the largest combine that Claas manufactures, the driver must nevertheless climb a ladder more than 6 feet high in order to enter
the cab. Once there, the driver can control the 14-ton vehicle with a type of joystick. e driver uses this device, which Claas calls the “CMOTION multifunction control lever”, to accelerate and brake. e control lever is equipped with buttons that the driver can use to operate the cruise con-
trol, mower, GPS steering system and more. Since 1919, Claas has been situated in Harsewinkel, a small city with 25,000 inhabitants in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition
to combines, the company also manufactures tractors, forage harvesters, hay tools, telehandlers, and balers. But digitalization is the mega trend
in the agricultural machinery sector. It networks manufacturer, machine, farmer, purchaser and consumer. Today’s round baler communicates with
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AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
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Photo: CLAAS KGaA mbh