How is high-performance agricultural technology developed that protects the soil and functions reliably in everyday use? And how do products from Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) support this? CLAAS CEO Jan-Hendrik Mohr and Dr. Matthias Sckuhr, CEO of FST, discussed these topics in Harsewinkel at the end of March.
At the end of March, Dr. Matthias Sckuhr, CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST), along with Armin Strunk, Global Key Account Manager for Mobile Machinery Agriculture, accepted an invitation from Jan-Hendrik Mohr, CEO of agricultural machinery manufacturer CLAAS, to visit the company’s headquarters in Harsewinkel. The meeting underscores how closely the two companies have been collaborating for years. “We look forward to further intensifying and expanding our long-standing strategic partnership,” Dr. Sckuhr says. The on-site exchange focused not only on current programs, but also on how exceptional agricultural performance can be balanced with conserving resources.
With the title “Tractor of the Year 2026” in the High Power category, CLAAS made a major statement in agricultural technology at the end of 2025: The AXION 9450 TERRA TRAC won against four competitors. The award draws attention to a development that has been a concern for agriculture for years in light of increasing machine power: Soil protection. Where heavy vehicles cross fields, soil compaction is a threat: roots, microorganisms, and the water balance suffer, fertility declines, and yields come under pressure. Modern agricultural machinery must therefore balance performance with soil conservation. Crawler tracks like TERRA TRAC play a pivotal role in this; CLAAS has been continuously refining this technology for two decades and has since rolled it out on tractors, combine harvesters, and forage harvesters – “from seed to harvest,” as the manufacturer itself states on its corporate website.
A larger contact area distributes the weight more evenly, reduces pressure on the soil, and minimizes ruts. Furthermore, lower rolling resistance reduces fuel consumption, while suspension systems enhance comfort and driving safety in the field and on the road.
Behind this system performance lies a long-standing partnership: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has been supplying CLAAS for many years with hydraulic components and sealing solutions for demanding applications in agricultural machinery. “I am very impressed by how committed our teams at different locations are and how they work together to enable growth and profitability,” says Dr. Sckuhr, thus emphasizing the commitment to combining partnership-based collaboration with operational excellence.
FST supplies a wide range of products to CLAAS. These include, among other things, dual-function accumulator cylinders (combined hydraulic cylinder plus piston accumulator), which are characterized by a compact design, weight optimization, and significantly fewer potential leak points. They also include hydro-pneumatic suspension modules, which ensure greater ride comfort and driving stability in the field and on the road. Diaphragm accumulators are used for energy storage and to dampen pressure spikes in the hydraulic system. Depending on the platform and model, these components are used in TERRA TRAC applications as well as in machine families such as the AXION 900, Jaguar forage harvesters, LEXION, and XERION.
FST is looking forward to joint future projects in 2026. For example, FST offers seals for central tire pressure regulation systems (CTIS) and has significantly improved their technology. These seals automatically adjust the tire pressure of off-highway vehicles to changing ground conditions and vehicle loads. With just the push of a button, soil compaction is minimized, drivers save time, reduce CO2 emissions, and extend tire life.
