Initially, this was for small square balers and, more recently, round and large square.

Today, New Holland still manufacturers square balers of different sizes, plus round balers, both fixed and variable chamber. Its recent acquisition of the Orkel licence saw New Holland enter the fixed chamber round baler market with a product suitable for large-scale farmers and contractors, both with balers and combination baler wrappers.

The latest change to the New Holland baler line-up sees the firm replace its BR7000 variable chamber baler series with what it describes as its new Roll-Belt variable chamber round balers. These are available in 1.5 and 1.8 metre maximum diameters.

New Holland claims that its new Roll-Belt series can deliver a capacity increase of up to 20% when compared to the BR7000.

To achieve this, New Holland has incorporated a new pick-up, a new dual density system and an endless belt design into the Roll-Belt series. Externally, styling has been revamped with two gull-wing side panels supported by gas struts to give ease of access for servicing and maintenance.

At the front of the baler, New Holland has redesigned the pick-up, which it claims boosts capacity by up to 20% in silage. Its new heavy-duty two metre pick-up features five solid tine bars instead of four.

Tines are reinforced with rubber mountings and are 10% stiffer laterally, lasting five times longer, according to the firm. Carrying the pick-up are folding castor wheels which, instead of being removed to go from field to field, are swung up and around and are then locked in the transport position.

Directly above the pick-up is the option of a new feed-assist roll to aid transfer of the crop from the pick-up to the rotor while simultaneously managing the flow of the crop to ensure that it matches the exact width of the bale chamber. Rotor options are the SuperFeed rotor on non-chopper balers and CropCutter rotor on chopper versions.

The SuperFeed standard rotor has a diameter of 455mm and features New Holland’s ‘W’ pattern fingers. The CropCutter variant incorporates 15 knives to chop the silage.

New on the Roll-Belt series is a drop floor to clear blockages should they occur. The hinges are at the front of the baler, directly behind the pick-up, and it can be operated from the driver’s seat.

Forming the bale are four 273mm wide belts which are now endless, according to New Holland. These splice-less belts are constructed using ultra-modern endless belt technology and are much stronger as there are no joints. The belts’ surface texture has been engineered by design to assist cleaning and to prevent clogged belts. The surface also allow a 30% increase in drive force from the baler’s new modified drive rollers.

The balers have a second hydraulic density cylinder. This has increased bale density by up to 5% when compared to the BR7000.

Bale density is now controlled by a density cylinder on each side of the chamber, which the firm claims provides improved density control and more uniformly dense bales, which is especially important in producing consistent silage and haylage.

Bale tying options include twine only, net only, or net and twine. The twine placement system has been redesigned and now uses an improved centre pivot, dual twine tube to keep a consistent tying pattern to maintain bale shape.

The duckbill net wrapping system is now closer to the bale, which New Holland says will mean full wrap coverage for faster baling.

Standard baler control is the firms advanced Bale Command Plus II monitor, while the Roll-Belt baler series is also fully ISOBUS compatible for single monitor control.

The former features a larger monitor than the previous series balers, while the latter allows owners to specify the ultra-wide colour touch-screen IntelliView IV or use the existing monitor in their tractor.

There are more tyre options, including ultra-wide 500/55/R20 tyres to suit baling silage in ‘damp’ conditions and helping to absorb some of the impact of our roads.

Both the new Roll-Belt baler series and the old BR7000 baler series will be available side by side as the old series is phased out. Prices start at €38,450 plus VAT, for the Roll-Belt 150.