CLAAS celebrates 30 years of variable round balers withtwo anniversary models and attractive special financing

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Metz-Woippy/Harsewinkel, 13 October 2026. CLAAS has been developing and manufacturing

balers for 95 years, 65 of which have been spent in Metz-Woippy. In 1996, the company unveiled

its first round baler with a variable bale chamber developed in-house: the VARIANT 100 series.

The name VARIANT has endured ever since – now in its fifth generation alongside the CEREX

series, which was launched in 2025.

CLAAS is now celebrating the 30th anniversary of its variable round baler product range with two

anniversary models and special financing for the 2027 financial and product year.

CLAAS is celebrating 30 years of variable round balers from Metz-Woippy with a CEREX and a VARIANT, each featuring an anniversary design. The number "30," formed from stylized round bales of varying diameters, reflects the technical concept of variable bale chambers.

Balers are deeply rooted in CLAAS’s DNA. 95 years ago, the family-run company began production of its first commercial baler, the PRESS-BU-BI. CLAAS had already filed its first patent 10 years earlier – the famous knotter hook, which was initially used on straw binders and later on straw balers. To date, CLAAS has built and marketed more than 400,000 balers worldwide.

Whilst CLAAS balers were initially developed and manufactured exclusively at the CLAAS headquarters in Harsewinkel for decades, a dedicated factory was established in France at Metz-Woippy, Lorraine (now the Grand-Est region) from 1958 onwards. It was the first CLAAS production plant outside Germany and the first factory founded by Helmut Claas. From 1961, the first CLAAS balers rolled off the production line in Woippy, and from 1994, development was also relocated from Harsewinkel to Metz.

Five generations of VARIANT and the new CEREX: three decades of evolution and innovation in variable-diameter round balers.

Following the ROLLANT fixed-chamber round baler in 1978 and the revolutionary ROLLATEX net binding system in 1983, CLAAS developed its first round baler with a variable bale chamber – the VARIANT 180 – which was launched in 1996. Prior to this, this segment had been served for a few years by the VARIANT 16, an OEM product.

A key innovation of the new VARIANT DNA was the active bale start and drive via the rotor, which ensures a reliable bale start even under difficult operating conditions and thus achieves high bale densities. A hydraulic soft-core function allowed for post-drying of crops such as hay, when required. Furthermore, the VARIANT 100 featured the widest pick-up on the market at 2.10 m.

Over the course of three decades, the VARIANT shaped the industry with innovations such as automatic tying start, the hydraulically lowerable PRO cutting floor, the 360-degree rotor, XW net tying with edge coverage, SMART DENSITY and the MULTIFLOW HD pick-up. Since 2025, the completely newly developed CEREX 700 has complemented the range – offering even higher throughput and even greater bale density whilst optimising power requirements.

“Balers are one of the strongest foundations of our company,” emphasises Dr Martin von Hoyningen-Huene, CTO of the CLAAS Group. “Today, we can look back with pride on 30,000 variable-diameter round balers built, the majority of which are VARIANT models. Our current range, comprising the CEREX 700 and VARIANT 500, is built on this extensive experience – the strongest range of variable-diameter round balers we have ever had at CLAAS.”

Two anniversary machines for Metz-Woippy and Harsewinkel, special financing for customers worldwide

To mark the anniversary, Usines CLAAS France has built one CEREX and one VARIANT, each featuring a special anniversary design. They are characterised by cream-white side panels, inspired by the first two generations of the VARIANT – the VARIANT 100 and VARIANT 200 – interspersed with an oversized ‘30 Years’ logo in seed green. The ‘30’ in the logo, in turn, consists of three stylised round bales of different diameters, which graphically reflect the anniversary’s theme and the technology of variable compression chambers. For one year, one of the machines will be on display at the visitor centre in Metz-Woippy, whilst the other will be a showpiece at the Technoparc in Harsewinkel.

One of the anniversary machines is on display at the visitor center at Usines CLAAS France in Metz-Woippy, while the other is at the Technoparc at the CLAAS headquarters in Harsewinkel. In addition, all CEREX and VARIANT models from the 2027 model year feature small anniversary decals on the side panels and the tailgate, and—depending on the market—attractive special terms are available to mark the anniversary.

To mark the anniversary, CLAAS has put together a special offer for farmers and contractors. From October 2026, buyers of VARIANT and CEREX machines will be able to take advantage of special and individual financing for twelve months. The terms and conditions vary between sales regions.

What’s more, all VARIANT and CEREX models built in Metz during those twelve months can be recognised by anniversary stickers on the side panels and the tailgate.

An overview of CLAAS’s product history in variable round balers:

1996: VARIANT 180 – the first round baler with a variable bale chamber and genuine CLAAS DNA

VARIANT 180 for a maximum bale diameter of 1.80 m
Bale actively driven by the rotor with bale rotation in the opposite direction; this ensures a reliable bale start under all operating conditions
ROTO CUT cutting unit
ROLLATEX net binding

2002: VARIANT 200 – the second generation with increased performance and automation

VARIANT 260 and VARIANT 280
ROTO CUT
Bale chamber with five endless belts
New terminal
Automatic start of the binding process
New rubber-coated starter and guide rollers

2007: VARIANT 300 – A new development offering a significant leap in performance and comfort

VARIANT 360 and VARIANT 380
VARIANT 365 and VARIANT 385 – New ‘5’ series
2008: additional models VARIANT 350 and VARIANT 370
NEW: Soft core adjustable from the tractor cab
NEW: COMMUNICATOR terminal
New double tension arm
NEW: 360° rotor
NEW: Hydraulically lowerable PRO cutting floor
NEW: 25% reduction in rotational speed for lower power requirements (DLG-tested)