New Holland officially launched its new CR10 combine at the SSK Winter Grain Day in Riversdale, South Africa. This milestone coincides with 50 years of Twin Rotor™ technology, reinforcing New Holland’s legacy as a harvesting innovator. The CR10 joins the flagship CR11 to expand the next-generation range, offering a powerful, automated, and highly efficient harvesting solution suited for a range of farms. With the CR10, New Holland focuses on increasing throughput, reducing losses, and streamlining operations—ultimately driving down the total cost of harvest.

Engineered for High-Speed Harvest Logistics

At the heart of the CR10 is a robust 12.9-litre FPT Cursor 13 engine delivering up to 635 horsepower. This powers a 16,000-litre grain tank with a rapid unload rate of 159 litres per second, enabling operators to fill trailers quickly and get back to harvesting with minimal downtime. Unloading tubes come in both rigid and folding configurations, with a 105° swivel for easier trailer alignment at the headland. A cross-auger shutoff allows clean finishes during partial unloads.

The longitudinal driveline design, placing the engine in line with the rotors, reduces power losses. At full harvest, the engine runs efficiently at 1,900 rpm, dropping to 1,300 rpm during road transport to conserve fuel. With a 1,300-litre diesel tank and 180-litre DEF capacity, the CR10 is built for long, uninterrupted field days.

Superior Feeding and Unblocking Systems

The CR10’s 1,885 mm wide feeder uses four heavy-duty chains and 33 deep-drawn slats to deliver even crop flow. The Dynamic Feed Roll™ (DFR) ensures consistent rotor feeding and includes a cab-activated, two-stage unblocking routine that can reverse the DFR and rotors to clear obstructions without exiting the cab. A large stone trap, which can be emptied manually or from the cab, adds another layer of protection, while the stainless-steel feeder floor improves durability and reduces wear.

Hydraulic face plate adjustment, on-the-move lateral tilt, and a high lift capacity (up to 6,800 kg) ensure that the CR10 supports today’s larger headers with ease.

Redesigned Twin Rotor™ System

New Holland’s iconic longitudinal rotors are now 610 mm in diameter and 3,600 mm in length. Each Twin Pitch Plus rotor features 40 standard rasp bars, 8 HX rasp bars, and 12 spiked rasp bars, giving the CR10 flexibility across a wide range of crop conditions. The rotors transition seamlessly from threshing to separation, aided by a stepped, wider separation cage that promotes gentle crop movement and better grain separation. Operators can adjust rotor vane angle directly from the cab, while the maintenance-free CVT rotor drive ensures smooth speed transitions (300–1,400 rpm) and allows for rotor reversing if needed.

TwinClean™: Enhanced Cleaning for Cleaner Grain

The TwinClean™ system introduces a dual-stage cleaning shoe with two complete sieve systems placed in sequence. Each stage includes its own upper and lower sieves and clean grain augers, delivering a total cleaning area of 8.76 m². A redesigned grain pan offers an improved cascade design that ensures even distribution.

Smart automation features enhance performance: automatic cross-distribution keeps shoe loading balanced, pressure sensors detect left/right loading and correct imbalances in real time, and a side shake mechanism adds lateral motion to ensure the full width of the cleaning shoe is utilised. The system also compensates for side slopes up to 28%, reducing grain loss on uneven terrain.

Residue Management for Any Strategy

Whether growers bale straw or mulch in-field, the CR10’s residue system offers versatility and control. A six-row chopper with 88 knives and 67 cab-adjustable counter knives that operate at speeds of 900 or 3,600 rpm. A mixed spreader with counter-rotating impellers blends and distributes chaff and straw evenly. The IntelliSpread™ radar automation adjusts impeller speeds to maintain even coverage despite changes in crop density, wind or moisture. Switching to swathing is simple, and the machine lays down clean, consistent windrows even at high capacities.

Traction Options and Transport Flexibility

The CR10 can be equipped with standard tyres, duals, or SmartTrax™ rubber tracks in 26”-, 32”-, or 36-inch widths. Track-equipped machines can travel up to 40 km/h and remain within legal road width limits, depending on configuration. A two-speed hydrostatic transmission and optional powered rear axle with TerraLock™ differential lock improve traction in soft or sloped conditions. The virtual hinge rear axle tightens the turning radius for agile headland manoeuvring.

Comfort and Visibility for Long Days

The CR10’s redesigned cab improves comfort and visibility. It features twin IntelliView™ 12 touchscreens—one on the console for machine control and one on the A-pillar for mapping and guidance. Ergonomic upgrades include ventilated premium seats (cloth or leather), multi-zone climate control with foot-level ducts, new foot pegs, and an improved steering wheel.

Operators benefit from an integrated Bluetooth radio, larger mirrors, and easier windscreen cleaning thanks to new access steps. A high-powered LED lighting packages illuminate the full working area, and optional camera packages—including 360° views—enhance safety and situational awareness.

Automation and Connectivity That Deliver ROI

The CR10 comes standard with New Holland’s PLM Intelligence platform, including IntelliSteer™ auto guidance and IntelliSense™ harvest automation. Operators can set a performance target—such as reduced grain loss, optimal grain quality or maximum throughput—and IntelliSense makes real-time adjustments to rotor speed, vane angle, cleaning settings and ground speed.

For more advanced users, the PLM Advanced package adds RTK or PLM3 guidance accuracy, IntelliField™ machine-to-machine communication, and NutriSense™ for nutrient sensing and mapping. IntelliTurn™ automates headland turns, while FieldOps™ telematics allows for remote monitoring, data transfer and dealer support.

Header Compatibility and Crop Versatility

The CR10 is compatible with a range of high-performance headers. Varifeed™ grain headers (10.6 to 12.5 m) offer remote knife adjustment, while MacDon FD2 FlexDraper® models (up to 15.2 m) and D2 rigid drapers ensure smooth crop flow. For maize, 12- and 16-row headers with optional integrated stalk choppers and row guidance systems are available. The new 9200 Series corn heads are specifically engineered for CR10/CR11 machines, featuring industry-leading auger capacity and feed rates.

Uptime, Service, and Support

With fewer chains and simplified daily servicing, the CR10 is built for high uptime. It includes an onboard air compressor with five outlets and accessible service points. Owners benefit from New Holland’s Uptime Pack, Uptime Warranty, and FieldOps™ services—all backed by 24/7 dealer support during peak seasons.

Conclusion

The New Holland CR10 combines a half-century of Twin Rotor™ expertise with next-generation harvesting technology, offering a unique blend of power, automation, grain quality and comfort. Its advanced cleaning, residue management, and automation systems make it a powerful tool for South African grain producers facing tight harvest windows and rising input costs. Whether you’re scaling up your operation or looking for a smarter, more efficient harvester, the CR10 delivers performance, precision, and peace of mind—today and into the future.