Fans of Claas’ smaller Dominator and Mega combines will be pleased at the introduction of the similar-sized four straw-walker Claas Avero, a compact combine aimed at farmers of up to 200ha (500 acres).

It gains the Accelerated Pre-Separation (APS) threshing system common to its larger siblings, along with a 450mm diameter threshing drum.

Table options include the standard Claas header or Vario cutterbar, where the knife position is altered to suit cereal or oilseed rape, upping throughput by up to 10%, says Claas. Header widths range from 3.7m (12ft) to 6.6m (22ft) and it features a multi-coupling system like the Lexion and Tucano ranges.

It’s powered by a common-rail 198hp 6.6-litre Caterpillar block. Claas says that by using the APS system to separate 30% of the grain before entering the drum concave, overall output is increased.

It’s reckoned that the Avero will have an output approaching that of the Tucano 320 and will retail at about £126,000 with a 12ft 
cutterbar.