Specs of Claas Self-Propelled Forage Harvester

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Number of models: 34

History of Claas forage harvesters

The history of CLAAS self-propelled forage harvesters is inseparably linked with the JAGUAR name. Even before the company began producing self-propelled machines, it acquired forage harvester technology and the JAGUAR name from the German manufacturer Hermann Speiser. As maize grown for silage became increasingly popular, however, the capacity of mounted and trailed machines was no longer sufficient, prompting CLAAS to begin developing its own self-propelled forage harvester.

A major breakthrough came in 1973, when production began of the company’s first self-propelled forage harvester, the CLAAS JAGUAR 60 SF. The machine combined components from the trailed JAGUAR 60 with engineering solutions already proven in CLAAS combine harvesters. It was powered by an engine producing around 120 hp, and more than 500 units had been built by 1976.

The range expanded rapidly. The larger JAGUAR 80 SF arrived in 1975, followed by the JAGUAR 70 SF a year later. The new models featured more powerful engines, wider chopping units and increasingly larger maize headers. The JAGUAR 80 SF was also equipped with one of the earliest automatic steering systems, using sensors to follow the maize rows.

Another important chapter began in 1983 with the introduction of the JAGUAR 600 series. The range included models such as the 675, 680, 685, 690 and 695. These machines featured a modern cab for the period, a metal detector and the CORN CRACKER kernel processor. The generation proved highly successful, with around 7,000 machines produced and CLAAS capturing more than half of the European self-propelled forage harvester market.

In 1994, the JAGUAR 800 generation made its debut with the 820, 840, 860 and 880 models. It became one of the most important designs in the history of the brand. The engine was mounted transversely behind the steering axle, simplifying the driveline, improving cooling and making servicing easier. The new, almost straight-through crop-flow path became a design concept that had a major influence on later generations of self-propelled forage harvesters.

At the beginning of the 21st century, machine performance increased significantly once again. In 2001, the JAGUAR 830, 850, 870, 890 and 900 models were introduced, with the most powerful version producing as much as 605 hp. Electronic control systems also became more sophisticated, with greater automation of machine settings and new features designed to improve operator comfort.

In 2008, CLAAS introduced a new generation of the JAGUAR 900, covering models from the 930 to the 980. New features included the V-MAX cutterhead, an enhanced CEBIS terminal and automatic machine control systems. In the years that followed, CLAAS continued to develop technologies such as DYNAMIC POWER, AUTO FILL automatic trailer filling and systems for measuring the properties of the harvested crop.

In 2019, the JAGUAR 960 TERRA TRAC joined the range as the first CLAAS forage harvester with a factory-integrated tracked undercarriage. The system helped reduce soil compaction while retaining the high output expected from a large-capacity machine.

The latest chapter began in 2025 with the launch of the JAGUAR 1000 series. The range includes the 1080, 1090, 1100 and 1200, with power outputs from 850 to an impressive 1,110 hp. The flagship JAGUAR 1200 is currently the most powerful self-propelled forage harvester ever produced by CLAAS. The new generation features a wider crop-flow channel, the V-FLEX cutterhead and even more advanced automation systems.

More than half a century has passed since the first JAGUAR 60 SF, during which power outputs have risen to well over 1,000 hp. Over that time, the CLAAS JAGUAR has become one of the most recognisable self-propelled forage harvester ranges in the world and one of the German manufacturer’s most important product lines.