German machinery manufacturer Claas has recorded a slight year-on-year rise in sales to €3.898bn, narrowly up from the €3.889bn turnover in 2018.

Investment in research and development at the firm reached a new record high at €244m, up €11m on 2018. Last year saw a number of important new product launches for the German company including the new generation of Lexion combines, the Axion 900 Terra Trac and flagship Jaguar 990.

The firm noted that there was a significant rise in sales in France and the rest of western Europe. It added that in eastern Europe, core business continued to develop well, while sales in Germany fell as a result of weather conditions.

Claas is expecting stable development in global agricultural equipment markets in 2020 despite the regional uncertainties.