Making Combine Harvesters Fit for Refurbishing

Research Making Combine Harvesters Fit for Refurbishing

2026-02-26 Source: | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

tmts2026-ticec-banner-en-2000px (https://www.tmts.tw/en)

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

Combine harvesters often run for decades. How can manufacturers take this into account during development so that the machines are easy to modernize?

Claas is working on making its combine harvesters fit for refurbishment.(Image: Claas) — Claas is working on making its combine harvesters fit for refurbishment.
(Image: Claas)

In the "GoProZero" project as part of the "it's OWL" technology network, agricultural machinery manufacturer Claas has investigated how combine harvesters can be specifically prepared for subsequent refurbishment using suitable electronics, sensor and software architectures. According to a press release, the company is working together with Bielefeld University, Fraunhofer IOSB-INA and the OWL University of Applied Sciences to facilitate the electronic modernization of long-lasting existing machines.

The focus is on the question of how machines can be developed in such a way that new sensors, controls and software functions can be integrated into existing systems even years later. The background to this is the long service life of large agricultural machines, while digital technologies are developing much faster. The aim is therefore to consider modular hardware, standardized interfaces and flexible data models as early as the development phase in order to enable efficient retrofitting at a later date.

Refurbishing As An Important Building Block

Using the example of modern combine harvesters, the project analyzes the transferability of sensor data and electronic functions across different series and generations. To this end, sensor data from various process units was recorded and evaluated in real harvesting operations. On this basis, the project partners are developing models to show the conditions under which electronic components can be scaled, replaced or retrofitted.

Refurbishing is an important component of the circular economy. By modernizing electronics and software, machines can be used for longer and resources can be conserved. This also opens up new opportunities for manufacturers to extend the functionality of machines over their entire life cycle and enhance their economic value.

The knowledge gained from the project should not only benefit Claas, but also serve as a guide for other companies. In particular, modular electronic architectures and standardized interfaces could help to implement modernizations more easily in the future and better integrate long-lasting machines into digital production environments.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.