30 years of variable-chamber round balers
Two anniversary machines and a 12-month finance offer will mark three decades since the launch of the CLAAS VARIANT 180.
CLAAS is celebrating 30 years of its variable-chamber round balers with two specially finished machines and a finance offer for VARIANT and CEREX buyers.
The milestone dates back to 1996, when the manufacturer launched the VARIANT 180, its first internally developed round baler with a variable bale chamber. The range is now in its fifth generation and sits alongside the CEREX 700 series introduced in 2025.
The VARIANT established several features that became central to CLAAS balers. Its rotor actively started and drove the bale, supporting reliable formation in difficult conditions and high bale density. The original machine also offered a hydraulic soft-core function and a 2.10m pick-up.
Later generations added automatic tying, the hydraulically lowering PRO cutting floor, a 360-degree rotor, XW net tying, SMART DENSITY and the MULTIFLOW HD pick-up. CLAAS says the newer CEREX 700 increases throughput and bale density while optimising power demand.
Dr Martin von Hoyningen-Huene, chief technology officer at CLAAS, said the company had now built 30,000 variable-diameter round balers, most of them VARIANT machines. He described the current VARIANT 500 and CEREX 700 line-up as the company’s strongest offering in the sector to date.
For the anniversary, the Metz-Woippy factory has produced one VARIANT and one CEREX with cream-white side panels inspired by early VARIANT models and a seed-green “30 Years” graphic formed from three stylised bales. One machine will be displayed at the factory’s visitor centre, with the other going to the CLAAS Technoparc in Harsewinkel.
From October 2026, farmers and contractors buying a VARIANT or CEREX will also be offered individual finance arrangements for 12 months, although terms will vary by sales region. Machines built at Metz during the period will carry anniversary decals on their side panels and tailgate.
CLAAS traces its baler production back 95 years and says it has sold more than 400,000 balers worldwide. Its variable-baler timeline includes the VARIANT 200 in 2002, VARIANT 300 in 2007, VARIANT 400 in 2017, VARIANT 500 in 2023 and CEREX 700 in 2025.
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