Tanco will be showing the new VariWrap3 wrapper at the Ploughing Championships on stand 281 row 20. This is a 900kg three-point linkage machine, which is aimed at the farmer and contractor market. It can be fitted with two or three wrapping arms.

Tanco claims that this latest wrapper can be used in the same way as a trailed wrapper by driving along the side of the bale. The right-hand side roller arm will go over the bale, roll it in and load up, allowing the operator to drive forward all of the time. It is fitted with the latest easy-to-use interactive RDS controller with an improved graphics display.

There is a ground support roller fitted underneath to allow the wrapper to be used with smaller tractors.

Satellite-wrap arms are designed for more positive wrapping and film application to the bale. Even though Tanco offers wrap arm and turntable wrappers, the company claims that bale and silage quality seems to be better when using satellite wrap arms.

Tanco has patented a number of features of the new wrapper. The new telescopic cut-and-start system allows the machine to gather the plastic film into a rope when cutting at the end of the wrapping process. Tanco claims that this is a far more reliable cutting mechanism.

Tanco is also using an integrated tubular chassis from tower to base in the new wrapper. They claim that this not only reduces the number of parts and welds, but is also far stronger.

Tanco claims that the entire chassis works as a single mesh making it strong and light at the same time. The design allows for three wrap arms and the folding into one cut-and-start system.

Other features

Additional features include a proportional control system that moves away from the restriction of two speeds, fast and slow.

With the new VariWrap3 machine, all functions, particularly the speed of the wrap arms, can be varied. Wrap arm speed can be built up and ramped down, which Tanco claims will give less wear and tear on the machine’s parts.

Finol Oils, Ireland’s distributors for Total and Elf lubricants and Actioil fuel additive, will be offering a calculator to visitors on stand 362, row 25, which shows them how much they can reduce their annual fuel bill by switching to Total Fuel Economy Lubricants.

They will be showing the diesel economy results from an Irish agricultural contractor who has been testing these fuel economy lubricants. Finol claims the tests have shown that the contractor’s machines are getting 20% more output from a full tank of fuel since switching. The company claims that this means his annual fuel bill will be down by up to €20,000 by switching his fleet to fuel economy lubricants.

Finol will also demonstrate the Actioil product, which is claimed to solve injector problems caused by poor quality diesel.

Trailer Vision, based at Artnalivery, Ardee, Co Louth, will be showing its digital wireless vehicle camera system, on stand 470 row 28 at this year’s Ploughing. Trailer Vision claims that its systems can take as little as five seconds to install on any vehicle of any size. The system is designed to give the operator a clear view of what’s in the blindspot area of any vehicle.