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Select a Krone self-propelled forage harvester model:
Number of models: 22
- Krone BiG X 480 (2014–2017)
- Krone BiG X 480 (2020–2026)
- Krone BiG X 500
- Krone BiG X 530 (2014–2020)
- Krone BiG X 530 (2015–2017)
- Krone BiG X 580
- Krone BiG X 600
- Krone BiG X 630
- Krone BiG X 650
- Krone BiG X 680
- Krone BiG X 700
- Krone BiG X 770
- Krone BiG X 780
- Krone BiG X 800
- Krone BiG X 850
- Krone BiG X 860
- Krone BiG X 880
- Krone BiG X 980
- Krone BiG X 1000
- Krone BiG X 1080
- Krone BiG X 1100
- Krone BiG X 1180
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History of Krone forage harvesters
The history of Krone self-propelled forage harvesters is relatively short, but remarkably dynamic. For many years, the German company specialised primarily in forage harvesting equipment, balers and forage wagons. In 1994, Krone withdrew from the production of tillage equipment and focused its activities on forage harvesting technology. Experience gained from machines such as the self-propelled BiG M mower laid the foundations for the development of the company’s own forage harvester.
The breakthrough came on 20 May 2000, when Krone officially unveiled the first prototype of the BiG X self-propelled forage harvester. Built at the company’s plant in Spelle, the machine was initially presented with an output of 540 hp. Even the first BiG X was capable of travelling at 40 km/h on the road and featured a highly advanced design for its time.
By 2003, the range already included two production models: the BiG X V8 with 605 hp and the BiG X V12 producing an impressive 780 hp. From the outset, Krone focused on the high-output segment of the forage harvester market. Alongside the machines themselves, the company also developed EasyCollect row-independent maize headers and EasyFlow pick-ups.
As early as 2005, Krone unveiled the highly ambitious BiG X 1000 prototype. The machine used two synchronised six-cylinder engines and produced around 1,000 hp. It could even work with a 14-row maize header offering a working width of 10.5 metres. Around the same time, Krone introduced AutoScan, a system that automatically adjusted chop length according to the maturity of the maize crop.
Later generations continued to push the concept of exceptionally high harvesting capacity. In 2009, the BiG X 650 introduced the VariStream system, featuring a spring-loaded floor beneath the cutterhead and accelerator. The system helped maintain a consistent crop flow even during brief overloads and went on to become one of the signature technologies of Krone forage harvesters.
In 2010, a new generation arrived with the BiG X 700, 850 and 1100. Krone moved away from the twin-engine concept in favour of large V12 power units. The flagship BiG X 1100 was one of the most powerful production self-propelled forage harvesters in the world at the time and further strengthened Krone’s reputation for exceptionally high-capacity machines.
In 2013, the company expanded its range into lower power classes with the introduction of the BiG X 480 and 580. This new, narrower series featured a 630 mm-wide cutterhead instead of the 800 mm unit used in the larger machines. The BiG X 530 and 630 were added in the following years. This allowed Krone to compete not only at the very top end of the market, but also in the 500-600 hp class.
The next major generation arrived in 2017. The BiG X 680, 780 and 880 gained features including independent rear-axle suspension and the distinctive LiftCab. The operator can hydraulically raise the entire cab by around 70 cm, providing substantially improved visibility when harvesting tall maize.
In 2018, Krone introduced the flagship BiG X 1180. The machine was powered by a 24.24-litre Liebherr V12 engine producing 1,156 hp, making it the most powerful production self-propelled forage harvester in the Krone range. This generation also saw further development of OptiMaxx kernel processors, the VariLOC system for changing the chop-length range and the new XCollect headers.
In 2022, the large BiG X range was expanded with the BiG X 980 and BiG X 1080, producing approximately 979 and 1,074 hp respectively. Electronic systems also became increasingly important, including SmartConnect telematics, automatic GPS steering and NIR sensors capable of analysing crop properties in real time during harvesting.
In 2025, the BiG X 860 joined the range. Unlike many of the earlier high-horsepower models, it was equipped with a modern 18-litre, six-cylinder Liebherr engine producing around 846 hp. Today, the Krone range covers both the smaller BiG X 480-630 models and the larger BiG X 680, 780, 860, 980, 1080 and 1180 series, with the flagship model still delivering 1,156 hp.
In just a quarter of a century, the Krone BiG X has evolved from a first prototype into one of the most recognisable families of self-propelled forage harvesters in the world. From the very beginning, Krone has focused on high power, wide headers, a direct crop-flow path and technologies designed to maximise output, allowing the brand to establish itself rapidly as one of the major manufacturers in this segment.