This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Krone Big X self-propelled forage harvester, the first 540hp version of which drove out of the factory in Spelle, Germany, on May 20, 2000.
The engine in Krone’s first self-propelled forager (prototype Big X built in 1999) actually peaked at 605hp, but the Big X did not officially break the 600hp barrier until the launch of the Big X V8 (605hp) and the Big X V12 (780hp) three years later in 2003, when it also introduced the 8, 10 and 12-row EasyCollect maize headers.
With over 200 machines sold by 2005, Krone stunned the forage harvesting community when it unveiled the prototype of the 1,000hp Big X. Powered by two six-cylinder engines, the world’s most powerful forager came with a three-section 14-row (10.5m) EasyCollect maize header.
Launched in 2010, the third generation (Big X 700, 850 and 1100) saw the twin-engine concept swapped for a single V12 block. The Big X 480 and 580 were Krone’s entry into the lower-horsepower sector. Launched at the 2013 edition of Agritechnica, the new lower-powered models were complemented two years later by the Big X 530 and 630.
2017 saw the launch of the fourth generation of wide bodied Big X 680, 780 and 880, which are all available with the new LiftCab. This allows operators to raise the entire cab by 70cm on a hydraulic scissor lift.
The Big X 1180 was added to the mix in 2018. Powered by a 1,165hp 24.24-litre Liebherr V12, this is currently the world’s most powerful forage harvester.
The company also launched the new three-model range of XCollect maize headers – 600-3 (8 rows, 6.0m), the 750-3 (10 rows, 7.5m) and the 900-3 (12 rows, 9.0m).
The most recent Big X development, XtraPower, was previewed at the 2019 Agritechnica. The technology allows contractors to purchase an extra 50hp or 100hp online for the registered machine.
Today, Krone reckons to have sold around 5,300 Big Xs, now offering eight different versions and two series ranging from the smallest 490hp Big X 480 to the flagship Big X 1180.
