According to the German agriculture magazine Agrarheute, the concept of a forage harvester the size of the BiG X, capable of reaching speeds of 40 km/h and boasting high engine power, was new at the turn of the millennium, and the company was concerned that the true engine power might be perceived as oversized.

Integrated into the corn header, this instrument detects the maturity of the plants through color matching, preserving the structure of the harvested crop and reducing the risk of secondary fermentation.

[9] These new models replaced the previous BiG X 500 and distinguished themselves from their predecessor primarily due to a smaller chopping unit and overall more compact dimensions.

[18] Also in 2018, for the first time, Krone introduced a roller conditioner called OptiMaxx with a diameter of 305 mm as optional equipment for the BiG X 1180.

[16][19][20] In September 2020, Krone unveiled a new generation of the small BiG X series, including the 480, 530, 580, and 630 models, featuring a new cabin, modified crop flow, and transition to emissions stage 5.

[24][25] The conditioner OptiMaxx 250 features a 5-degree angled, diagonally positioned sawtooth profile on the 250 mm large cracking rollers, which, with an additional shearing effect, also process the chopped material in the transverse direction.

Compared to the OptiMaxx 250, it has a 20% higher peripheral speed, an 11% larger contact area, and temperature monitoring of the bearings.

Additionally, the BiG X features the Variloc system, which allows the drum speed to be adjusted in less than five minutes, enabling the forage harvester to be used for both short and long cuts.

Alternatively, an order-based data management system is offered with an app, allowing the driver to navigate directly to the field entrance.

[32] With the optional Krone Nir Control dual system, data on moisture and the content of harvested crops such as corn, grass, and whole plant silage are captured.

[35] The Nir sensor is used both for determining content in Krone's harvesting technology and in the Zunhammer company's VanControl dual system to capture ingredients in organic fertilizers.

All flow components (the chopping drum, conditioning rollers, and accelerator) are mechanically driven by a composite V-belt from the engine.

[38] Unlike the large BiG X, the small series forage harvesters do not require a motor output gearbox for sending power to the wheels.

[39][40] As described, the harvester has hydraulic power transmission to the wheels; it features hub motors made by Bosch Rexroth, and planetary gear sets.

[42][43] In the BiG X, conventional industrial diesel engines from various suppliers are installed, including Daimler-Chrysler,[44] MAN, MTU, and Liebherr.

[31] According to information from the German agricultural magazine Profi, the BiG X 1180 engine has a continuous output of 850 kW (1156 hp) at 1400 to 1800 RPM.

[18] The continuous output in XPower chopping mode is reported to be 818 kW (1112 hp), according to agricultural magazine Traction.