Automatic Pressure Control System from Claas

The Automatic Pressure Control (APC) system in the new Claas 5200 and 4200 Quadrant square balers allows even inexperienced drivers to achieve the maximum possible output from the baler according to the company.

It claims the baler can produce bales of uniform density irrespective of the quality of the baling material. In contrast to previous systems for controlling the compaction pressure, Claas is now for the first time also using the quality of the twine as an additional control parameter alongside the machine operating rate.

The optimal compaction pressure is determined based on the machine operating rate and the quality of the twine.

As soon as the system recognises that the specified values for maximum twine load have been exceeded or detects overloading of the frame, the compaction pressure is automatically and gradually reduced until the overload situation is rectified. After this, the system automatically readjusts itself back to its initial setting.

The quality (m/kg) and thus the maximum load capacity of the twine being used is entered into the control terminal by the driver.

This in turn specifies the maximum compaction pressure for the respective twine quality. APC is not available in Britain or Ireland for the moment.

Lely heads down Film-on-Film route

Lely showcased a film-tying unit for fixed chamber balers at Agritechnica. This new development was initiated by a growing demand for having bales tied and wrapped using just one type of wrapping material.

Lely displayed the VarioFilm unit on a Lely Welger RPC 245 Tornado baler wrapper combination unit.

This system replaces the normal net-tying unit. The company claims it is very easy to switch between net and film by putting a roll of either into the holder.

Both tying materials have their own feeding system to start the tying process.

The system selected will be activated after a quick change of the tying setting on the control unit in the tractor cab.

Although Lely has tested the system, it will not be commercially available for 2016. Further testing and development will take place to finalise the concept.

Lely believes it will be available for the 2017 season. The Lely RPC 245 has a list price of €82,320. It features 25 knives and a 1.25m diameter bale chamber.

Krone PREMOS 5000

Krone has developed a pelleting machine resembling a large square baler for making pellets out of straw in the field or shed.

The Krone PREMOS 5000 picks up the swath of straw and uses two interlocking die-rollers to break down the straw into workable matter – a process that develops 2,000 bar pressure and then converts this straw material into 16mm pellets.

According to the company, 2.5kg of pellets is the equivalent of one litre of oil (in the context of a central heating system). Krone also says that 250g of pellets can absorb one litre of water in an animal bedding scenario.

Production rate in the field is 5t per hour of pellets and the Krone PREMOS 5000 requires in the region of 400hp to operate it in-field.

Kuhn high-output VB 2295 round baler

This new baler is capable of operating with high-horsepower tractors, giving contractors high output. The baler has a 230cm cam track pick-up. The baler can produce 10% heavier bales in dry crops, according to the manufacturer. All VB balers, except balers with the OptiFlow system, are equipped with the patented integral rotor technology.

According to Kuhn, this simple, maintenance-free, short-distance intake system ensures even feeding regardless of the various (crop) conditions.

There is a short distance between rotor and pick-up. Kuhn claims this force-fed intake makes higher forward speeds possible for outstanding productivity and reduced crop damage.

The baler can come with 14 or 23 knives. It also features the Bekamax lubrication system, heavier duty bearings and a heavy-duty universal PTO joint.

Kuhn believes this baler can produce up to 100 bales per hour. It is list priced at £43,500.

Krone Big Pack 870 Multi Pack baler

Krone introduced its new Big Pack 870 HDP XC Multi Pack at Agritechnica, and it combines several of the firm’s large square baler developments into one machine.

As the model name suggests, bale dimensions are 80cm by 70cm. The HDP element relates to the firm’s extra density system, which is designed to produce denser bales, particularly in dry crop conditions.

Multi bale was a system originally developed for Krone’s larger 120cm by 70cm baler, which effectively produces smaller bales within a larger bale. Where this baler proved the concept worked, the sections produced were still too big to be handled manually.

Now available on the 870, the firm claims the baler will be popular in the equine, pig and sheep markets.

The baler uses five strings: two for each of the small packs and three to hold the packs together.

Up to nine packs in one bale can be produced, measuring from 30cm to 130cm each.

In addition, its gets a 16-knife chopping system, made up of two banks, allowing all, half or none of the knives to be used.

Pottinger IMPRESS

The IMPRESS will be available both as a fixed-chamber baler and a variable round baler, as well as in combination with a bale wrapper, each as a Master or Pro version.

The Master version features a double-acting spool valve offering pre-select functions for the pick-up, chopping system floor and number of knives, as well as a second spool valve for the tailgate.

The Pro version allows all functions to be controlled directly from the operator terminal (power control or ISOBUS). This version provides an automatic function sequence and all functions can be activated directly.

Regarding tyres, the balers are available with tandem axles up to 500/50-17 or single axles up to 500/60R22.5, while the baler/wrapper combinations are supplied as standard with tandem axles up to 500/50-17, or with 500/60R22.5 in tandem as an option.

The five-row controlled floating pick-up is 2.3m wide and is equipped with a wind guard, with swath roller and transfer bars, as well as two cross-conveyor augers.

The new pull-out FlexCut 32 short-chop system features 32 twin-blade reversible knives with non-stop individual knife protection system to provide a theoretical chopped length of 36mm across the entire width.

The overhead Liftup rotor, with its patented spiral configuration of tines, feeds the crop into the bale chamber in a wide blanket. This method promotes a flow that conserves the crop with very low disintegration losses according to the company.

Any material that falls through is fed back into the flow by the patented cleaning rotor. Pottinger claims this is a unique design that solves the problem of disintegration with a higher number of knives.

If a blockage occurs, the cross section of the duct can be increased temporarily on the IMPRESS by lowering the patented vertical-travel chopping system floor. The baler is not expected to be in full operation until 2017.

Agronic MidiVario mini baler/wrapper

Combination baler wrappers come in many sizes. This one from Agronic in Finland is perhaps among the smaller versions. With an overall length of under five metres, 26/12.00-12 wheels and a 1.5-metre wide pickup, the Agronic MidiVario 85-100 stats are definitely mini.

It features a seven-knife chopper and produces 850mm (2ft 9in) wide bales in three different diameters.

Twin dispensers loaded with 500mm film wrap the bales of silage or haylage before they are dropped or flipped on to the ground.

A wide-angle PTO, net system and Canbus controller are all standard equipment. Load-sensing hydraulics and a PDH-10 additive system are optional. The baler is also available on its own in conventional guise.

The bale sizes might make them desirable for the horse industry in particular.