1913Business established by August Claas at Clarholz, Westphalia 1914August and Franz Claas found the firm of Gebr. CLAAS 1919Move to Harsewinkel. Manufacture of straw binders 1921First CLAAS patent for a knotter for effi......1913Business established by August Claas at Clarholz, Westphalia 1914August and Franz Claas found the firm of Gebr. CLAAS 1919Move to Harsewinkel. Manufacture of straw binders 1921First CLAAS patent for a knotter for efficient straw binding 1930Start of development of the first combine harvester (specially suited to the specific conditions of harvesting in Europe) ) 1934Manufacture of the first pick-up baler 1936CLAAS markets the first combine harvester built in and for Europe 1937Volume production of trailed combine harvester starts (reaper-binder) 1946Construction of the first self-propelled combine harvester 1953Construction of the first self-propelled combine harvester 1956Paderborn factory opened 1962Production starts at the new baler factory at Metz, France 1968Launch of CLAAS engineering for production at Harsewinkel 1969Range expands to include green harvest machinery at Saulgau (takeover of the Josef Bautz agri- cultural machinery factory) 1971Development of a pick-up sugar cane harvester 1973Presentation of the first self- propelled forage harvester 1976ROLLANT, the first CLAAS round baler 1983New range of JAGUAR self-propelled forage harvesters 1988QUADRANT, the first CLAAS large-square baler 1992CLAAS engineering for production at the new Beelen factory, Westphalia 1994Start of development of AGROCOM (electronic, satellite-assisted agricultural information system) 1995Launch of the LEXION large combine harvester (the most powerful combine harvester in the world, capable of harvesting up to 40 tonnes of grain in one hour) 1996Conversion of the Harsewinkel, Paderborn and Metz plants into independent product companies 1997Takeover of a new plant at Törökszentmiklos, Hungary 1998LEXION combine harvester is »Machine of the Year« 1999CLAAS Foundation set up. First company bonds issued on the Euro capital market 2000New parts logistics centre at Hamm-Uentrop becomes operational 2001Laying of the foundation stone for the brand-new factory building and plant conversion at Harsewinkel. At € 55 million, this is the biggest-ever corporate investment. 2002Highest-ever sales achieved: € 1,265 million 2003CLAAS expands its product range with tractors through the acquisition of a majority stake in RENAULT Agriculture. In order to build a plant, CLAAS signs an investment agreement with the Russian region Krasnodar. 2004Integration of RENAULT Agriculture. JAGUAR’s anniversary: the 20.000th forage harvester leaves the assembly line with a special coat of lacquer. The CLAAS tractor is on the road to success in Germany. The 1000th tractor is handed over during the "Zentralwirtschaftsfest" in Munich. Tenth financial partners meeting with international investors, analysts and bank representatives. 2005Opening of the combine factory in Krasnodar, South-Russia. Successful launch of the new models ARES 500/600. A new class is defined with the LEXION 600. One can do more - XERION 3000. 2006Presentation of the new square baler QUADRANT 3400 with 40 percent higher performance. Opening of new XERION assembly line. With the AXION CLAAS sets new standards for performance and comfort. Formation of the new CLAAS sales company in Moscow. 2007ARION 500/600 - New rules up to 175 hp. Forage harvesters with more power - the JAGUAR 900 range. Now AXION tractors also stepless. XERION 3800 with a maximum performance of 379 hp. Highest acreage performance and best forage quality with the LINER 2900. The new TUCANO combine in the upper middle class. With new pre-chamber - QUADRANT 3200. 2008RENAULT Agriculture now 100% CLAAS. LINER 750 TWIN - large working width, lower power rating and more ease of use. The combine factory in Morinda, North-India, starts production. CLAAS launches the AXOS, a versatile tractor in the power range up to 100 hp. JAGUAR 980-930 offers outstanding performances and super chopping quality.