German Museum Features Tractors Old And New

German Museum Features Tractors Old And New The Claas Harsewinkel factory in Germany offers an unforgettable experience for all Claas equipment enthusiasts. “Claas is a family-owned agricultural machinery company that traces its roots back to 1913, when August Claas officially founded the business in Clarholz, Germany, to manufacture and improve straw binders—machines that tied together straw bundles after harvest,” says company spokesperson John Schofield. August’s father, Franz Claas, made milk centrifuges and early farm machines as early as 1887. “August and his brother grew the company as they focused on design improvements. After WWI, the brothers moved operations to Harsewinkel, Germany, in 1919, where Claas remains headquartered today.” In the decades since, the company has expanded its product lines to include combine harvesters, forage harvesters, tractors, balers and smart-farming technology. “Claas became a European market leader in combines and a global leader in self-propelled forage harvesters,” says Schofield. Today, the Technoparc celebrates this history. It officially opened in 1992 as the company’s leading exhibition and customer center at the Harsewinkel headquarters. The Technoparc aims to show all visitors how Claas has met and continues to meet the needs of professional farmers worldwide. “It’s an interactive exhibition space where visitors can explore the latest Claas innovations across tractors, combine harvesters and smart farming tech,” says Schofield. “It also serves as a display venue for historical machines and prototypes and a complement to Harsewinkel factory tours.” Claas is best known for its forage harvesters and combines. A visit to the museum is a reminder that it has always had a forward-thinking approach to developing other machines, such as tractors, especially those in a multi-function “systems” capacity. “At more than a century old with continuous family involvement, Claas has maintained a long-term, innovation-focused strategy,” says Schofield. “We’re the largest family-owned company in the farm machinery industry.” Visitors are free to explore the 27,000 sq. ft. showrooms on their own. “Be sure to check out historic prototypes like the XERION Project 207 and modern Claas machinery like the latest tractor and combine models on display, including LEXION, JAGUAR and XERION series,” Schofield says. “ The exhibits are constantly changing to showcase innovation, and a lounge area and merchandise shop offer branded items. Plan ahead if you want a tour. Availability can vary by season and demand.”  Claas builds the LEXION combine in Omaha, Neb., and sells it to farmers across the U.S. A new “Customer Experience Center” is scheduled to open at the Nebraska site in the summer of 2026. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Claas Global, Mühlenwinkel 1, 33428 Harsewinkel, Germany (ph +49 (0) 5247 12-3400; customercare@claas.com; www.claas.com).

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