Press release

CLAAS LEXION 7000/8000 is the “Coolest German Thing Made in the USA”

The CLAAS LEXION 7000 and 8000 series of high-performance combine harvesters have been named "The Coolest German Thing Made in the USA" by the German-American Chambers of Commerce. Developed in Harsewinkel, the machines for the American market are built at the CLAAS factory in Omaha.

The German American Business Awards, which are presented annually by the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACCs), recognise outstanding achievements in the German-American business community. There is a particular focus on competences in the areas of innovation, services, economic development and social commitment. The winner of “The Coolest German Thing Made in the USA” was chosen for the second time in a row by online voting, in which nearly 5,000 votes were cast. The awards were presented to the winners at the German American Business Awards 2022 on 14 October 2022 at the Chicago History Museum.

New standards in efficiency and productivity

This year’s winner of “The Coolest German Thing Made in the USA” – presented by Comcast – went to CLAAS for its LEXION 7000 and 8000 series. “This flagship series of combine harvesters sets new standards in efficiency and productivity and features a machine automation system that makes automatic adjustments in the field in real time and with greater precision and speed than an experienced operator, ensuring that the machine operates continuously with optimally set parameters. CLAAS as a company continues to put people before profits”, according to the reasons for the decision.

“We are delighted and humbled to have the LEXION 8000 and 7000 recognised by the German American Chamber of Commerce,” states Matthias Ristow, President and Managing Director Business Administration, CLAAS Omaha, Inc. “And we are very proud and value our fantastic employees here in Omaha who construct this highly innovative machine on a daily basis. CLAAS built its North American combine harvester assembly plant in Nebraska 25 years ago knowing that farmers in North America needed a combine harvester with the capacity that only CLAAS could deliver.”

CLAAS unveiled the LEXION 7000 and 8000 in summer 2019. The high-performance combine harvesters are primarily produced at the headquarters on a Harsewinkel assembly line that was completely renovated in 2021. For the North American market, they roll off the production line in Omaha, Nebraska. A major update with a new cabin and new CEMOS automatic functions was recently introduced for the 2023 campaign.



German companies of great importance for US economy

The Representative of German Industry + Trade (RGIT) reports that German companies employ nearly 860,000 people in the USA, which makes them the fourth-largest foreign employer in the country and the second-largest in the manufacturing sector. Germany is also the third largest direct foreign investor in the USA, with investments totalling 564 billion US dollars. “German branches in the USA play an important role in the American economy as they are constantly innovating, investing in their regions and local community, supporting their customers and developing unique products, services and solutions to serve their customers and partners. I look forward to recognising these outstanding contributions to German-American business with the German American Business Awards,” says Matthias Amberg, Chairman of the German-American Chamber of Commerce® of the Midwest (GACC Midwest).