Special paint for combine harvesters

A paint manufacturer developed a special paint for combine harvesters in collaboration with an agricultural machinery manufacturer. The special paint was used for a series of anniversary combine harvesters.

All over the world, harvesting machines are tilling the fields to provide people with food. The unique colors of the manufacturers are their trademark and can be recognized from afar. As one of the world's leading manufacturers of combine harvesters and the European market leader, Claas has delivered more than 500,000 of these powerhouses in the iconic seed green outfit to farmers and contractors worldwide. The manufacturer from Harsewinkel and Mankiewicz Coatings have developed a special paint system to celebrate this milestone. The requirement for the special paint: a paint with a special metallic look in the Claas corporate colors as well as the usual robust and durable properties.

The paint experts from Mankiewicz worked closely with the Claas team to develop the right colors for the desired finish of the special machines. Based on historical combine harvester types, the color silver and seed green could not be missing - but this time as a metallic paint for exclusive brilliance. For this purpose, Mankiewicz developed a metallic topcoat with DTM properties, which was thoroughly tested in the in-house test center for corrosion protection, light resistance and other mechanical and chemical effects. The result is a robust metallic coating solution that can be applied both as a top coat to primed or pre-coated parts and directly to the pre-treated metal using the classic painting process. So far, nine combine harvesters have been finished in this way, seven of them at the Harsewinkel headquarters and two at Claas' North American site in Omaha, Nebraska. While the first anniversary combine harvesters are already in use, one is still on its way to Australia - where the harvest does not begin until October. A tenth machine is to be painted for the Chinese market at the Claas plant in Gaomi for the anniversary.

Elaborately designed 500,000 stickers complete the overall picture of the anniversary machines, including the Lexikon, Trion, Evion and Dominator models. "Up to 60 parts per machine had to be removed from pre-assembly, basic assembly and final assembly, finished and returned to pre-assembly. Thanks to the efficient painting process and the excellent cooperation of everyone involved, this went smoothly," says Matthias Mumme, Head of Trade Press & Deputy Head of Group Communications at Claas.

In addition to appearance and robustness, efficiency was at the forefront of paint development. This means that the metallic DTM TopCoat can also be painted in one coat, unlike conventional two-coat systems or three-coat metallic systems with clearcoat, and now expands the Mankiewicz DTM portfolio. This saves material costs and significantly reduces process times. At the same time, the gloss level and the protective effect of the surface are retained, which ensures that the Claas special machines can be used in open-air climates and under a wide range of harvesting conditions. No easy task in view of the brilliant green that gives Claas its unmistakable brand identity.

The realization of the project is based on a long-standing collaboration between Claas and Mankiewicz. The Hamburg-based paint manufacturer has been supplying customized paint systems for various components for over a decade. Mankiewicz not only supplies Claas' global locations, but also its supplier network with customized paint systems that meet local and plant-specific requirements.

"We are delighted to be able to contribute our expertise in paint development to the celebration of this milestone and that the distinctive design of the anniversary combine harvesters will be given a special touch by the specially developed paint system, which will certainly contribute to the success of the anniversary and generate enthusiasm," explains Carsten Bartsch, Sales Director Agricultural Equipment. (OM-7/24)