Combine harvesters have saved humanity an awful lot of work and become a significant part of the global industrial revolution. As there is always space for perfection, the leading agricultural brands push the boundaries of harvest technologies with every produced combine series. You won’t meet random names in our compilation of the biggest combines up to date! Even those models, which chase the one setting the pace, can boast its unique advantageous features.
5. John Deere S690
Our starter, the John Deere S690, is a representative of the most experienced manufacturer of agricultural machinery from our list. The expertise of the globally recognised green-and-yellow brand allows its combine harvesters to prove all the promises, given by the creators. It is designed to cope with heavy and dense crops in record time. The S690 is able to pick up an impressive transport speed of 40 km/h. While at the field, it brings into play such features, original for John Deere harvesters, as Active Terrain Adjustment to preserve top performance driving uphill and downhill, active concave isolation to maintain high throughput in tough conditions and the new Hydraulic Fore Aft Tilt Feeder-house to gather down crop.
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Engine Power | 617 |
| Weight Without Headers | 15,636 kg |
| Grain Tank Capacity | 14,100 l |
| Unload Rate | 135 l/sec |
| Emissions Compliance | Tier 4 B/Final |
4. Claas Lexion 780
The names of the German brands promise nothing less than top performance. And such a name as “Claas” sounds quite appealing to the ear of agricultural specialists.
The current benchmark in the Claas combine range is the Lexion 780. As it is stated, the model has been developed over 10 years and tested on 5 continents. So, it seems to have the potential of being an eco-friendly ‘commander-in-chief’ during harvesting campaigns. Apart from an environmentally advanced engine, the biggest Lexion features a 4D set-up for levelling the upper sieves when working on sloping ground. The system benefits from a third pair of rotor cover plates that open or close automatically in line with the pitch of the harvester. Besides, the fan speed and the sieve position are adjusted according to the machine’s moving up or downhill, to attain the optimum cleaning performance and avoid losses.
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Engine Power | 625 |
| Weight Without Headers | 18,920 kg |
| Grain Tank Capacity | 13,500 l |
| Unload Rate | 130 l/sec |
| Emissions Compliance | Tier 4 I/Interim |
3. Claas Lexion 795
The very latest Lexion from Claas, labelled as Monster Limited Edition and distinguished by an unusual but stylish black-and-green paint, is merely a real dark horse in the Claas combines range. There is no official specification data but a couple of amateur videos and photos, supported by the comments from the impressed viewers and some lucky owners. Indeed, even a glimpse is enough to understand that you’re observing a powerful and mighty technological wonder.
2. Case IH 9240
The Case IH 9240 combine harvester is a real source of pride for its creators. Being the most powerful and productive model, made by the reputable red brand so far, it leads the 240-Series. The series was added to the brand’s Axial-Flow® combine range last year. The Axial-Flow represents a single rotor technology, which became a significant breakthrough in 1977, and has been progressively improved since then. As of today, it is claimed to ensure careful threshing, minimum losses, delicate grain handling and excellent grain quality.
A distinctive technological asset, offered with the Case IH 9240, is the highest unload rate, which reaches 158.6 l/sec. This is the best result among all the harvesters in the market. Other manufacturer’s accomplishments include the updated engine cooling system and vacuum aspirated rotating wand on the stationary air screen that ensure optimum engine efficiency even while harvesting in high-debris areas.
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Engine Power | 625 |
| Weight Without Headers | 19,144 kg |
| Grain Tank Capacity | 14,448 l |
| Unload Rate | 158,6 l/sec |
| Emissions Compliance | Tier 4 B/Final |
1. New Holland CR10.90
And finally – the biggest, the most powerful, and on top of that, a member of the Guinness Book of Records as the most wheat harvested combine – all these epithets are about the CR10.90 from the range of New Holland combine harvesters.
To spread the weight of such a behemoth across the surface as evenly as possible, it takes advantage of a SmartTrax flexible track fitted with Terraglide suspension. The use of two pairs of hydraulic suspended rollers working independently to produce a silky smooth ride when harvesting is reinforced by a longer track length for a larger overall footprint for reduced field compaction and enhanced traction.
This exclusive 10-class harvester is an ideal purchase for large agricultural farms. There are no doubts of its top productivity after an amazing world record, set in August 2014 under real and not very favourable weather conditions. The CR10.90, equipped with a 13.7-metre draper header harvested 797.656 tonnes in 8 hours. The peak capacity reached 135 tonnes per hour, while the average result was 99.7 tonnes per hour.
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Engine Power | 653 |
| Weight Without Headers | 24,600 kg |
| Grain Tank Capacity | 14,500 l |
| Unload Rate | 143 l/sec |
| Emissions Compliance | Tier 4 B/Final |
1. 2020 Update – Claas Lexion 8900
As of 2020, the biggest combine harvester in the world is the Claas Lexion 8900 – the flagship of the 8000 series. Thus, by launching the most powerful combine harvester last year, Claas proved to be the market leader in Europe. The 790hp Lexion 8900 model features a brand new threshing system – APS Synflow Hybrid. Its technical solutions enable top separation efficiency, allowing to thresh out a higher per cent of grain. Featuring also an impressive grain tank, which is able to hold up to 18,000 litres and takes 100 seconds to empty, the Lexion 8900 underlines its superiority.
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Engine Power | 790 |
| Weight Without Headers | 22,400 kg |
| Grain Tank Capacity | 18,000 l |
| Unload Rate | 180 l/sec |
| Emissions Compliance | Stage V |
2021 Upcoming Heroes
Fendt Ideal 10/10T
However, the above Claas is not the only most powerful combine harvester. The new Fendt IDEAL 10 continues in hot pursuit. It is also mighty of outstanding power output of 790hp. First introduced at Agritechnica 2019, this beast of a combine is now available in North America and undergoes test runs in Europe. The Fendt IDEAL 10 will be ready for the 2021 harvest. And it has the potential to lead the new era of harvesters without a steering wheel. Instead it features the Fendt’s joystick IdealDrive steering system. Thus, it’s claimed to let the driver have a direct view of the cutting header.
John Deere X9 1100
One more contender for the challenge of opening new horizons of harvest productivity and efficiency is the new John Deere X9 combine. As well as the above-mentioned Ideal 10, the X9 1100 was created to be the brand’s most powerful harvester. Both combine giants were introduced at Agritechnica 2019, tested in the fields in 2020 and both are set for sales for the 2021 harvest season.
The bigger the construction volume of the machine the harder further increase in performance can be achieved. The X9’s designers aimed at using the construction volume and all its performance-determining subassemblies as efficiently as possible. Thus, they prioritized profitability rather than the dimensions (the Fendt Ideal surpasses the John Deere X9 in capacities).
