Horsepower Isn’t Everything: CLAAS’s Greg Frenzel on True Combine Efficiency

Harvest is a race against the clock and the weather — but according to Greg Frenzel, combine product manager for CLAAS of America, the machines that win that race aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest horsepower number on the spec sheet.

In part one of a multi-part AOA series on harvest efficiency with the CLAAS team, Frenzel said horsepower and class size are only part of the equation. The bigger factors are matching a machine to the size of the operation, minimizing grain loss, and balancing drivetrain efficiency — all of which put more money in a farmer’s pocket at the end of the season.

The overbuying trap

Frenzel said many operators lean toward more horsepower than they need for peace of mind, but that decision can backfire. Oversized machines often burn more fuel without being pushed to their actual balance limit, cost more upfront due to larger driveline components, and may not return that value at resale depending on hours and use. His advice: let the operation dictate the machine, not the class size.

“Don’t let class size dictate what machine you need,” Frenzel said.

Two lines, one goal

CLAAS offers two combine lines in North America: the LEXION, built for high-throughput operations north of 3,000 acres, and the TRION, designed for smaller, often one-person operations under 3,000 acres. Both use CLAAS’s APS Hybrid threshing system, which allows independent adjustment of threshing and separation without compromising either — a distinction Frenzel said sets CLAAS apart from competitors whose systems are locked together. Quick-change grates let operators switch crops in about 15 minutes, swapping three grates to adapt to different conditions.

Automation built to learn

CLAAS’s CEMOS (CLAAS Electronic Maximization/Optimization System) has been available in North America since 2009-2011 and continuously adjusts threshing, separation, cleaning, and — more recently — chopping and residue management using onboard sensors. Frenzel described it as machine-learning based with no artificial upper or lower limits.

Interestingly, Frenzel said it’s newer or less experienced operators, including hired hands or growers switching from competitive brands, who tend to benefit most from CEMOS. Veteran operators who already understand crop flow through the machine often don’t lean on it as heavily.

Know the warning signs

Frenzel outlined the metrics growers should watch to know if they’re leaving efficiency on the table:

Grain loss — target around 1% across crops, checked physically with drop pans and kernel counts, not just monitor readings
Grain quality — minimizing cracked kernels and trash in the tank
Returns — CLAAS combines include a visible window showing returns in the cab, letting operators gauge how close they are to the machine’s limit
Fuel use — increasingly important as fuel prices rise
Overall productivity — balancing throughput against loss and quality

Part two of the series continues soon with Matt Jaynes of CLAAS, shifting the focus to forage harvester efficiency. Learn more at https://www.claas.com.