CLAAS Celebrates a Quarter Century of Track Production

Ten years later, CLAAS introduced their own track technology known as “TERRA TRAC”. The proprietary CLAAS TERRA TRAC units were narrow enough for self-propelled harvesters to handle road transport in Europe, paving the way for many more sales.

Since bringing the technology “in-house” some 25 years ago, CLAAS has continually refined the technology.

In 2004 CLAAS Industrietechnik in Paderborn, Germany improved driving comfort with the introduction of rubber shock absorbers on the axles of the running gear.

Then came a giant advancement – CLAAS introduced the market to hydro pneumatic suspension in 2011, technology that is used to this day because of the superior comfort it provides operators. This advancement also enabled improved ground tracking and a driving speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) on the road.

“The number of machines fitted with TERRA TRAC crawler track systems was initially just over 10 percent,” says Dr. Ulf Leinhäuser, CEO of CLAAS Industretechnik Paderborn. “Today it is more than 50 percent for the LEXION combine alone. In North America, more than 70 percent of the LEXION combines are delivered with our crawler track systems, while in Great Britain it’s more than 90 percent.”

Benefits on More Machines for More Operators

Today, the comfort and soil-saving benefits of TERRA TRAC technology is available on high-performance LEXION combines including the 6000, 7000 and 8000 series machines. More recently, the TERRA TRAC option has been added to select JAGUAR forage harvesters – a big hit in North America – as well as the all-new TRION 740 combine and AXION 960 and 930 models.

The JAGUAR 960 and 990 TERRA TRAC models, incorporate a patented headland protection system that lifts the front part of the TRAC unit when turning, reducing the contact area for less compaction on headlands and other sensitive areas.

When the TRION 740 and AXION 900 TT models were launched in North America just last month, they too were offered with TRAC options. The TRION 740 TT features the same TERRA TRAC systems available on the LEXION combine. The AXION 900 TT features a half-track system that places specially designed TERRA TRAC units on the back of the tractor – where the pulling power is most needed – and wheels for steering up front.

CLAAS TERRA TRAC crawler track systems are also found on self-propelled beet, vegetable, and potato harvesters. You an even find TERRA TRAC and ACTIVE DRIVE axle technology on liquid manure spreading tanks, providing less weight and less wheel slip and a larger contact area to protect the ground in a whole new way.

More Notable Moments

• To date, CLAAS Industrietechnik in Paderborn has manufactured and marketed 35,000 sets of TERRA TRAC running gear.
• In February 2022, the 100th JAGUAR TERRA TRAC rolled off the assembly line in Harsewinkel, Germany.

Get ready to see what’s next at Agritechnica 2023!