25 years of BiG M
KRONE celebrates its entry to the SP market

Spelle, May 2021. “The 10th of May 1996 was by far the most stressful day in my entire career,” says Dr Josef Horstmann as he recalls a highly memorable day in the history of the KRONE Maschinenfabrik. On that day, KRONE unveiled the prototype of their self-propelled high-capacity mower conditioner – the BiG M. In the morning, the machine was due to get a quick wash before it was presented to the international press in the afternoon. But, alas, on its way to the garage the harness caught fire. Fortunately, the blaze was extinguished and the team managed to repair BiG M well enough that it was able to perform at its debut in the afternoon: “It all went well, although we weren’t able to demonstrate all of its functions, but nobody noticed.”

Although BiG M’s enormous 9.10m work width stimulated a lot of discussion, the self-propelled mower surprisingly became very popular within a short time. “The contractors who were trialling the BiG M were delighted,” adds Josef Horstmann, “because it gave them an enormous efficiency on the one hand and came with a 40km/h road homologation on the other. So, we actually killed two birds with one stone – maximum efficiency and fast travel between fields.”

The exceptional efficiency of this mower titan was then demonstrated in 1999 when it was put to a 24-hour endurance test: 315.1 hectares cut in 24 hours and 15.2 hectares cut in one single hour – these two numbers earned KRONE an entry in the Guinness Book of Records and dispelled any remaining doubts.

In 2001, KRONE presented the modified BiG M II with a 9.7m work width and a new drivetrain. The automotive drive system adapted the engine speed to the current forward speed, achieving significant savings over the first BiG M models and reducing the stress and strain on the engine and drives. These changes added to BiG M’s popularity – to the effect that 500 units were sold by May 2003.

At Agritechnica 2007, KRONE presented a new and forward-looking design concept of BiG M – the 510hp BiG M 500 with a 13.20m work width. “In hindsight, I think our BiG M 500 was a bit ahead of its time, but it did offer a preview of what would be possible in the future,” says Herr Horstmann. The proven 9.7m BiG M continued to enjoy undiminished popularity so in October 2008 the 1000th BiG M rolled out of the Spelle factory.

At Agritechnica 2009, KRONE unveiled the BiG M 400. Stand-out features of this model range were the 400hp engine, the low-speed concept and the HeavyDuty cutterbar with SafeCut disc protection. In 2011, the BiG M 420 – the fourth generation – was launched, powered by an MAN engine and featuring a 9.7m work width, new styling and even more operator comfort than the predecessor models. In the following year, the titan mower received a high-performance conditioner (CV) and a roller conditioner (CR) as options and became able to either spread the cut material or merge it one single swath – features that expanded its versatility and productivity.
The fifth generation followed in 2017, the BiG M 450 models. Stand-out features on these models were the infinitely variable transmission, the new cutterbar and hydraulic ground pressure control for all three mowers executed from the cab, plus the 449hp Liebherr engine with 1,000-hour service intervals.

The latest model to enter the international stage was the BiG M 450 CR in 2020, which is also available with roller conditioner for excellent productivity in legumes such as alfalfa. Its customers can choose between the profiled plastic rollers and the new M-Rolls that are made from steel. Either variant delivers an exemplary conditioning quality. The new and robust CR steel roller conditioner with ‘M’ profile is recommended for use in very difficult conditions such as leafy forage and stone strewn fields.

Dr Horstmann sums up the BiG M experience at KRONE: "Over the course of 25 years KRONE has continued refining the self-propelled mower to today’s professional level. BiG M impresses not only in high-yielding crops or sloping terrain but also in small fields. Thanks to its outstanding agility and its ability to operate the mowers separately, it quickly and easily tidies up awkward or small patches. Consequently, the BiG M is enjoying sustained popularity especially in Germany, North America, Japan and Ireland. According to our order books, the BiG M no. 3545 will be rolling out of the factory on the last day of our financial year, 31st July 2021. This truly reflects a success story in a very competitive environment in which tractors are becoming ever more powerful and triple mowers keep growing in widths. Despite all the changes one thing is for sure: BiG M and its success was instrumental for KRONE’s decision to enter the forage harvester segment.”