The decision to purchase two CLAAS LEXION 8700 combine harvesters has significantly improved the harvesting efficiency on a large-scale cropping operation by harvesting more grain per hectare, more hectares per hour and more hours per day. The Curnow family grows more than 4800 ha of wheat, canola and faba beans across four properties based around ‘Grodon Downs’ at Cascade, 100 km north-west of Esperance. “We’d been with another brand since, well forever,” Greg Curnow says. “We weren’t particularly unhappy but we were looking for something that had more capacity, less grain loss and practical, easy-to-use automation. Everyone had positive things to say about LEXION and CLAAS Harvest Centre but we didn’t get around to having a demonstration until 2019.”

CLAAS Harvest Centre Esperance Branch Manager at the time, Damian O’Neill, recalls the demonstration clearly. “When we showed up, it was nice and hot and Greg’s team was busy harvesting a crop of pinched barley,” he says. “When we did our first grain check, the LEXION had 3 per cent grain loss compared to Greg’s single rotor machine, which recorded a grain loss of 2.5 per cent. We were able to reduce the grain loss to 0.4 per cent in the LEXION by adjusting the threshing and separation settings but there was nothing more we could do to change the settings in Greg’s machine. As we moved into the heat of the day, the LEXION was chopping the straw nice and fine and spreading it edge-to-edge, whereas the single rotor harvester was throwing it out as a mat on top of the stubble.”

Impressed, Greg ordered two LEXION 8700 combine harvesters fitted with CONVIO 1230 12.3 metre draper fronts. “I got four quotes and was I was quite surprised,” he says. “The LEXION was more than comparable and I felt I was getting way more than with the other machines.” LEXION combine harvesters feature a patented accelerated pre-separation system and twin longitudinal rotors for residual grain separation. CLAAS LEXION 8700TT LEXION easily gives us a couple of more hours of harvesting time each day. CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORIES Up to 70 percent of separation occurs before the crop reaches the rotors, allowing the LEXION to operate more efficiently and longer in all crop types and harvesting conditions. “Single rotor harvesters do a respectable job most of the time but can’t keep up in more difficult conditions without losing speed or copping serious grain loss,” Greg says. “Nobody wants to go to the trouble of growing a good crop and then throw it away.

Our goal is to keep grain losses below one percent. During the day, LEXION gives me maybe five to ten percent better capacity and a couple of extra Ks per hour without affecting grain loss. At night, it really comes into its own. When it’s cool and damp, it’s probably 40 percent ahead of our old harvester. LEXION easily gives us a couple of more hours of harvesting time each day.” Greg opted for the 12.5 litre, six cylinder Perkins 2206 D Tier 3 engine that delivers a maximum power output of 571 hp. The engine is equipped with advanced power management and cooling systems that have been proven to reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.

The harvesters are also fitted with radial spreader with wind sensor, 12 metre CTF compatible unloading auger, air compressor, automatic lubrication, grain quality camera, rear view camera, trailer towing hitch, LED working lights, warning beacons and leather seats. In addition, all Australian-delivery machines are fitted with a segmented feed drum to optimise the flow of material from the threshing unit to the rotors under extreme operating conditions. Greg is particularly impressed with the CEMOS AUTO machine optimisation system, which automatically monitors and adjusts settings for the threshing, separation and cleaning functions to optimise throughput, grain quality and fuel efficiency. “CEMOS ticks my boxes because it’s useful and it’s easy-to-use,” he says. “It allows you to push the LEXION to its boundaries without impacting grain loss. I don’t do as much driving as I used to but that’s the beauty of CEMOS – you can put an inexperienced driver in and still get a good result. We all want to employ experienced staff but it’s not always possible.”

Greg has since taken delivery of a 530 hp CLAAS XERION 5000 Stage 5 advanced technology tractor.