Claas reached a major milestone in June by building its 50,000th Lexion combine.

The Lexion has been in production since 1995 and each model has more than 50,000 component parts, 4,000m of cable and 210m of hydraulic hose.

The first Lexion 400 series, now 21 years old, quickly became a common sight in the UK after its launch. The 415hp 480 version was claimed to be the largest capacity combine in the world, with a maximum output of 40t/hour.

It was also the first machine to be fitted with Claas’ Laser Pilot steering system.

See also: 6 top tips to minimise compaction at harvest

However, the largest modern-day models have come a long way since then. The Lexion 780, for example, has 625hp in its locker and is claimed to achieve an average of 60t/hour.

It can also be fitted with an automatic driver-assistance system that will steer the machine and analyse grain samples to adjust sieve and drum settings.

The 50,000th machine is dawned in a jubilee design and will be touring all of the major European shows.