Flex header goes wide
Following successful introductions in North America and Australia, Claas is making the 15.30m Convio Flex 1530 available to European customers from the 2026 model year. The new flagship flexible draper cutterbar is designed for Lexion combines and adds a wider option to the Convio and Convio Flex line-up, which has been used globally since 2020.
Flexible cutting for cereals, rape and low-growing crops
The fixed-knife Convio is aimed mainly at cereals and rapeseed, while the Convio Flex uses a flexible knife bar and ACTIVE FLOAT contact pressure control for crops cut close to the ground, including soya, peas and grass. In FLEX mode, the knife bar follows ground contours by up to 90mm upwards and 135mm downwards, helping to maintain an even cut and reduce header losses.
Hydropneumatically suspended stabiliser wheels are fitted as standard to improve ground following and keep the cutterbar stable across its full width, even at higher forward speeds or on uneven land. The 1530 also uses a split, triple-suspended reel spider and a two-part knife bar, with each side driven by a planetary gearbox and moving in opposite directions for smoother running.
Power is split between mechanical drives for the intake auger and knife bar and hydraulic drives for the side belts, centre belt, reel and rapeseed knives. Claas says overload protection is built in across the power train. Optional rapeseed equipment includes left- and right-hand conveyor augers and tool-free rapeseed knives, while rubber sealing lips and a raised rear wall help limit grain and seedlosses.
Automatic functions reduce operator workload
The Convio Flex 1530 carries over the range’s automatic functions, including Automatic Belt Speed, which matches belt speed to combine forward speed and crop flow. This is intended to even out intake in variable crops. Belt slip and standstill warnings also alert the operator before overloads become critical, including in dusty conditions or at night.
From model year 2026, CEMOS Auto Header will be available for Convio and Convio Flex cutterbars when combined with a Field Scanner. The DLG silver medal-winning system automates vertical and horizontal reel positions as well as belt speed, allowing operators to focus on machine monitoring, crop flow and field conditions.
Reel and reversing support difficult conditions
The flip-over reel spider, introduced in 2019, is designed to improve crop flow by lifting material before it reaches the knife bar and reducing wrapping around the reel. Automatic tractive force control increases reel pull in lodged or dense crops, while automatic height control helps prevent the tines from dipping into the soil.
For blockages, operators can reverse the centre and side belts from the CMOTION handle during work. A separate armrest switch reverses the reel, centre belt, intake auger and intake chute under load, after which the crop flow can be restarted gently to avoid further blockages.
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