Hemisphere GPS and CLAAS Agrosystems announced a new OEM development agreement whereby Hemisphere GPS will develop next generation precision farming solutions for integration into CLAAS machinery. The two companies are combining their expertise to develop new intelligent machine control solutions including precise guidance, advanced automated steering, application controls, and remote data management. The multi-year partnership includes co-development funding to Hemisphere GPS for customized engineering of Hemisphere GPS technology to CLAAS specifications.
CLAAS Agrosystems, a company belonging to the global CLAAS Group agricultural equipment manufacturer, currently offers optional installation of Hemisphere GPS guidance products as part of their GPS Pilot automated steering solution portfolio. Under the new agreement, Hemisphere GPS precision farming solutions will be introduced over the next several years as a factory installation on CLAAS machinery as well as aftermarket products throughout CLAAS’ distribution network.

"We celebrate the expansion of our strategic partnership into a joint development agreement that will provide CLAAS customers with the most advanced integrated precision farming solutions available,” says Dr. Jens Moeller, Managing Director of CLAAS Agrosystems.
"Our successful on-going partnership with Hemisphere GPS has spanned ten years and we are pleased to evolve this to a closer strategic relationship. Our combined innovative capabilities will continue to improve farming efficiency for CLAAS customers for years to come." 

Hemisphere GPS’ patented innovative technologies will become the backbone for the next generation of precision farming solutions for CLAAS. Hemisphere GPS’s new Eclipse™ GNSS with GLONASS will deliver robust centimeter-level positioning from Hemisphere GPS’ proven guidance technology utilized for precise applications. Accurate and reliable automated steering features are possible through Hemisphere GPS’ Celestia machine control architecture. In addition to increasing the efficiency and ease of overall field operations, the combined efforts of Hemisphere GPS and CLAAS will also drive improvements for the most demanding farm practices including high precision planting, strip tilling and bedding. Farmers using the new systems from CLAAS will experience more uniform treatments, improved yields, reduced waste, and fuel conservation all with much less operator fatigue.
"We are proud to have been selected as CLAAS’ technology partner for the next generation of precision farming solutions," stated Steven Koles, President and CEO at Hemisphere GPS. " We worked very hard to achieve top supplier status with CLAAS and our team delivered the results required to meet CLAAS’ requirements to win this program. Our new agreement with a global agriculture machinery leader like CLAAS provides valuable long term growth for Hemisphere GPS and improves operating profits for agricultural producers around the globe.”
About CLAAS Agrosystems and CLAAS CLAAS Agrosystems GmbH & Co. KG is a daughter company of CLAAS. CLAAS is a family-owned, German company and one of the world's leading manufacturers of agricultural technology. Numerous subsidiaries, including 14 production plants around the globe, ensure worldwide customer proximity. CLAAS combine harvesters are the European market leader and CLAAS foragers are number one worldwide. The product range also includes tractors, balers, green harvest machinery, telescopic loaders, and state-of-the-art agricultural information technology.
About Hemisphere GPS Hemisphere GPS designs and manufactures innovative, cost-effective GPS (GNSS) products for positioning, guidance, and machine control applications in agriculture, marine, construction, and other markets. The Company holds numerous patents and other intellectual property and owns several leading brand names, including Outback Guidance®, a leading brand in precision GPS for agriculture. The Company is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with major product development, sales, and marketing facilities in Arizona, Kansas, and Australia. Hemisphere GPS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) trading under the symbol "HEM” and is one of the TSX Cleantech designated companies. For more information about Hemisphere GPS, please go to www.hemispheregps.com.
