While Ukrainian agrarians only recently concluded their planting season, they have already commenced the harvest: initially of early cereal crops and winter rapeseed, with sunflowers, soybeans, and corn to follow. The experience of recent years convincingly demonstrates that economizing on grain harvesting machinery is ill-advised in today’s environment. Every productive day, every saved liter of fuel per hectare, and every additional centner of grain harvested translates into millions in profit.
This is precisely why farm owners are actively seeking technologically advanced, high-performance grain harvesters. Among the priorities are unique, yet familiar and dependable giants, such as the models from the updated CLAAS LEXION lineup. Primarily, this refers to the versatile 598-horsepower CLAAS LEXION 8600, which has become the most popular model in Ukraine among all series offerings. Using this model as an example, let’s discuss the advantages of the updated CLAAS LEXION 8000/7000 grain harvesters.
Optimal Automatic Machine Settings
The CLAAS LEXION 8600 is a combine harvester equipped with the innovative APS SYNFLOW HYBRID threshing system featuring the ROTO PLUS secondary separation system. The threshing drum width is 170 cm, and the standard grain tank capacity of 13,500 liters can be expanded to 15,000 liters for the wheeled version and up to 18,000 liters for the TERRA TRAC configuration. The unloading speed of the tank is 150 or 180 l/s.
Even a cursory examination of these specifications is sufficient to conclude that we are dealing with a high-performance machine whose actual capabilities significantly exceed the average metrics in its segment. The CLAAS LEXION 8600 combine is designed for uninterrupted operation throughout the entire crop harvesting season, ensuring maximum productivity with minimal grain damage.
Simultaneously, this model is outfitted with unique technological solutions that meticulously control every operational process and the functionality of the key CLAAS LEXION 8600 systems.
The central intelligence of the combine is the CEMOS AUTOMATIC, an intelligent control and management system responsible for the accurate operation of all systems in the updated CLAAS LEXION. The system monitors sensors and adjusts settings according to essential agronomic requirements, such as grain quality, threshing quality, grain purity, straw quality, and productivity.
A defining characteristic of the new generation of combines is that CEMOS AUTOMATIC is built upon artificial intelligence. The system not only utilizes the rich technological functionalities embedded during the machine’s production and launch but also possesses the capacity for continuous learning.
How does this happen? For instance, an operator guides the CLAAS LEXION 8600 through a wheat field with a yield of 7–8 t/ha and increased moisture content. The artificial intelligence automatically selects the optimal operating mode and load, adjusting clearances and other technological parameters. Within minutes, the machine independently determines the best settings for your operating conditions and, crucially, stores them in its memory.
NB: New generation CLAAS LEXION combines literally learn during operation, continuously enhancing harvesting quality and productivity. All of this is achieved with minimal fuel consumption.
For owners of the new CLAAS LEXION 8000/7000 grain harvesters, three variations of the CEMOS system are available, differing in their functional completeness: CEMOS AUTO, CEMOS AUTO PLUS, and the maximum configuration, CEMOS AUTO PROFESSIONAL.
This is precisely why the manufacturer, CLAAS, emphasizes that new LEXION machines require a few hours of “training” after commencing work for the CEMOS AUTOMATIC system’s artificial intelligence to establish the necessary settings.
Read also: Harvests are more successful with the intelligent CLAAS LEXION 8800 combine
Let’s now discuss the exceptionally beneficial auxiliary systems implemented in the updated CLAAS LEXION 8000/7000 series. We’ll start with the CRUISE PILOT technology, whose primary task is to monitor the flow of harvested material entering the threshing system and automatically control the set operating mode. On one hand, this ensures guaranteed avoidance of blockages and machine downtime; on the other, it facilitates a better understanding of the machine’s performance.
An important complement to CRUISE PILOT is the AUTO THRESHING system. Based on the data received, it instantly establishes the optimal threshing system rotational speed, the concave clearance, and the position of its flaps. This prevents unpleasant surprises and ensures the rational use of every second of working time and every liter of fuel.
The well-known and consistently effective proprietary solutions from CLAAS include the AUTO CLEANING system, which ensures automatic grain cleaning, and the AUTO SEPARATION system, responsible for optimizing the operation of the secondary separation system. The former technology monitors every grain in real-time, separating it from foreign impurities. The latter considers practically all parameters that can affect the uniformity of the crop material feed, including the field’s topography.
The CEMOS AUTO CHOPPING technology is responsible for straw chopping. The SPECIAL CUT II professional chopper, along with a mechanically driven radial spreader featuring automatic adjustment of the scattering direction, guarantees uniform distribution of straw and chaff behind the combine.
These and other advanced solutions are brilliantly integrated into the design of the LEXION 8000/7000 combines. Notably, the capability to install the unique AUTO HEADER system with automatic header recognition on machines in this series deserves attention. AUTO HEADER allows for the automatic setting of optimal harvesting parameters for a specific header, minimizing the influence of human factors and adverse working conditions.
The AUTO CONTOUR system adapts each header to the field’s terrain, ensuring precise crop cutting. The optimal cutting height is adjusted via the CEBIS terminal. The FIELD SCANNER system recognizes the edges of the crop stand and the technological tracks.
Higher Productivity with the APS SYNFLOW HYBRID Threshing System
Now, let’s delve into the unique APS SYNFLOW HYBRID threshing system, which can be considered the true “heart” of the new CLAAS LEXION 8600 combine. The system is equipped with a 45-centimeter diameter accelerator drum that uniformly accelerates the harvested material to a speed of 20 m/s. This generates high centrifugal forces, ensuring maximum separation efficiency across the entire concave surface.
The large diameter of the drums (75.5 cm) and small wrap angles facilitate a particularly smooth transition between the threshing drum, the 60-centimeter distribution beater, and the rotors. Consequently, the harvested material passes through the combine in a linear path, without unnecessary changes in speed or flow direction, which significantly reduces fuel consumption.
The combination of such a unique development with the efficient ROTO PLUS secondary separation solution allows for equally effective and productive operation on virtually any crop, regardless of the field conditions or the state of the crops.
NB: In the new CLAAS LEXION 8600, three threshing system variants and six conversion options are available. This allows for confident transitions from harvesting wheat to rapeseed, and then to sunflowers, soybeans, and corn, all with consistently high quality and maximum productivity.
The rotational speed of the threshing drum can be smoothly and automatically adjusted within two ranges: 170–460 and 330–930 rpm, with synchronized changes in the speed of associated components.
The eccentrically positioned, high-performance ROTO PLUS rotors, with a diameter of 44.5 cm and a length of 4.2 m, generate powerful centrifugal forces to separate residual grain from the straw. Thanks to a separate cascade pan, the mixture of grain, chaff, and straw first reaches the sieve, and only then, via a double cascade with airflow, does it proceed to the cleaning shoe. This significantly reduces the load on the cleaning system.
Following this, the JET STREAM cleaning system, specifically adapted to the ROTO PLUS secondary separation system, takes over. It features a hydraulically controlled fan variant and a productive tailings elevator. Intense airflow through the cascades ensures effective pre-cleaning.
Owners of the new CLAAS LEXION 8600 grain harvester have the ability to effectively utilize high-precision tools for measuring and documenting current data: QUANTIMETER technology for instantaneous yield measurement, and NUTRIMETER GRAIN for determining grain quality and subsequent map generation.
The intelligent power management system, expertly integrated into the CLAAS LEXION 8600’s design, deserves special mention. On one hand, it ensures uninterrupted harvesting, and on the other, it rationally utilizes every liter of expensive fuel. This is facilitated by the unique DYNAMIC POWER technology, which continuously adjusts engine power in automatic mode. For example, if the combine is harvesting dry grain on a field with a level terrain, the DYNAMIC POWER system instructs the engine to operate at minimum power, preventing overload and excessive fuel consumption. If, however, it is necessary to harvest overly moist material, the engine will operate at maximum capacity, yet still conserve fuel and never overheat.
The operational integrity and correct functioning of every CLAAS LEXION combine are continuously monitored by the official service of the German manufacturer. Through Machine Connect technology, data regarding the machine’s current status is transmitted to CLAAS connect, and Data Connect technology processes all necessary information. If any issues arise, the official CLAAS service team promptly engages to resolve the problem.
Read also: The CLAAS connect digital platform – even more capabilities for managing machines, agronomic data, and the farm
Enhanced Operator Comfort
Every model of CLAAS LEXION grain harvester is distinguished by the highest possible level of operator comfort and ease of machine operation. This represents the benchmark for what a combine’s cabin and control ergonomics should be. It features active climate control, pneumatic suspension with automatic seat height adjustment, lumbar support, comprehensive adjustability, heating, and ventilation, among other amenities. It is the German manufacturer, CLAAS, that sets global standards in this field, offering unparalleled solutions for comfort and machine control.
Safe and effective operation during nighttime is ensured by an auxiliary lighting system that illuminates virtually every inch of the combine itself and the surrounding work area.
Greater Confidence with CLAAS
Every CLAAS LEXION grain harvester model, including the popular CLAAS LEXION 8600 in Ukraine, comes with service support from the official German manufacturer. It’s not enough to simply purchase and deploy such a machine; one must learn to operate it with maximum efficiency: harvesting dozens of hectares of crops daily with cleanliness and quality, while consuming minimal fuel per ton.
To assist agrarians in this endeavor, specialists from the CLAAS representation in Ukraine and official brand dealers provide support. To ensure the CLAAS LEXION pays for itself as quickly as possible, all necessary conditions are established in Ukraine: from thorough pre-sale preparation to extensive spare parts inventories and numerous teams of qualified engineers. This combination works effectively, making the acquisition of a combine harvester from the world-renowned German agricultural machinery manufacturer a sound investment for every Ukrainian farm. R
Mykola PIDDUBNYI