An early-model Claas Ranger 928 telehandler working on a German agricultural cooperative has clocked 30,000 operating hours on its original engine, prompting Claas to highlight the benefits of operating telescopic handlers in an agricultural environment.
Langeln operates a mixed farming enterprise, including cropping and beef production, on a 1100 hectare property in the Harz mountains west of Magdeburg.
It took delivery of the 105hp Ranger 928 in 2000, using it for a wide variety of purposes, including handling grain, silage and straw, loading manure and construction work.
It clocked up 10,000 engine hours in its first four years alone but is now being used for smaller ‘age-appropriate’ tasks.
Over the years the ‘heavy lifting’ has been passed on to another 10 Claas telehandlers. LangeIn’s most recent purchase is a top-of-the-line Scorpion 9055, which is capable of lifting 5.5 tonnes to a height of 6.6m.
The Claas Ranger was first manufactured in Grantham, England, in 1994. It was superseded by the Targo and then the German-manufactured Scorpion series (in partnership with Kramer-Werke) in 2006.
Claas Scorpion product manager Shane Barratt says telehandlers are becoming increasingly popular on Australian farms.
“Telehandlers are rapidly replacing traditional front-end loader tractors for handling and transport work, particularly in confined spaces,” he says.
“Their compact design, manoeuvrability and high performance offer a far more efficient solution.”