Krone claims new combi can churn out 90 bales an hour

The most major launch at Krone’s Agritechnica press event was its new flagship CombiPack HDP CV 165 XC combination baler, a machine it claims has been in development for the past eight years and encompasses a number of industry firsts. Alongside a no-chains approach, some of the models innovative features include a variable speed pickup, 41-knife chopping unit and an automatic switching twin binding unit.

Aiming for very much the premium end of the market, the new CombiPack HDP claims to be capable of 30% more throughput, 15% more density and an the ability to produce a wrapped bale every 40 seconds. The platform moves away from the Comprima’s tandem-axle setup to a single axle fitted with 650/65 R26.5 tyres as standard. However, options up to 30.5in are available.

In order to take full advantage of the CombiPack throughput, Krone recommends tractors in the region of 250hp and above. As result, the driveline is rated for 340hp and bale weights up to 1.6t.

Pickup

Starting at the front, it’s clear that Krone has drawn on its BigPack and forage wagon-making expertise. The drawbar has been kept slim to maximise visibility and steering lock. There are two hydraulic cylinders to adjust the drawbars height to suit the tractor in question and to improve ground clearance in tricky scenarios.

Krone has fitted a hydraulic drive version of its EasyFlow camless pickup which is 2.23m wide and is equipped with five tine bars. Plastic stripper bands have also been fitted.

The compact nature of the integrated hydraulic motor has allowed the pickup’s wheels to remain in position during transport and therefore do not need to be folded. Another benefit to the hydraulic drive approach is the ability to manually adjust pickup speed from 75rpm to 180rpm or have it adjust automatically, relative to the tractors forward speed. Crop is guided towards the centre of the feed chamber via the integrated augers on either side.

Crop is then presented to a 530mm diameter Hardox steel rotor and pushed through the new pull out knife bank. Knife groups of five, 20, 21 or the maximum 41 can be manually selected, the latter resulting in a chop length as short as 27mm. Knife groups are moved in and out of position hydraulically, from the cab.

A hinged comb seated between the knives, removes almost all debris, making it easier to remove individual knives.

Driveline

Once the side panels are opened the lack of chains and sprockets comes as a pleasant surprise. This is the result of the new Krone PowerDrive concept.

Instead, the main gearbox channels the 1,000rpm PTO input through right-angle gearboxes and transfer cases to the side of the machine. At the rotor gearbox, power is further split to drive the bale chamber belts at three separate locations, thus reducing rolling losses. A 5,000Nm clutch between the main gearbox and transfer box protects the driveline. Only the drive for the compression rollers still requires a chain.

Chamber

The CombiPack HDP is designed to produce bales from 1m to 1.65m which it does using a full width mono-belt. Not only does the full-width belt minimise forage losses when running a full set of knives, but it increases bale density and uniformity, according to Krone. The possibility of variable belt tension seen with multibelt balers is eliminated.

All parameters relating to bale density and diametre can be set through the Isobus terminal.

As expected, bales can be bound using net or film-on-film. But what’s new is the net/film carrier. From the cab, operators can switch between film or net without the need to manually intervene. The rather complicated-looking unit swivels to present the chosen material to the chamber.

A combination of being able to hydraulically raise the front binding unit and hydraulically lower the drawbar is said to leave the replacement of net/film relatively easy.

Bale transfer and wrapping

Bale transfer is an area in which Krone believes it has made significant improvements. The CombiPack HDP doesn’t use a traditional-style rear chamber door. Instead, a single rocker arm kicks the bale from the chamber onto the wrapping table which moves back into position using an arc-style movement before wrapping can commence. Krone says that the process takes only six seconds from ejection to when wrapping starts and so allows the chamber to close and baling to resume quicker. The satellite wrapping unit turns as a speed of 40rpm.

During the demonstration, it took 24-25 seconds to wrap a 1.3m bale with six layers of film.

Although not available at launch, a weight and moisture sensing system will be available in due course. In terms of storage, up to 16 rolls of film can be stored under the panels in addition to a roll of net. A hydraulically lowering cassette on both sides leaves the rolls easily accessed.

Given the new drive concept with gearboxes means that it is no longer necessary to lubricate chains with oil.

However, there is an automatic greaser fitted as standard. A control panel to the rear left of the machine allows the wrapper to be operated at ground level while a similar control panel at the front left allows operation of the binding unit.

Comment

While the CombiPack HDP CV165 XC has all the credentials for impressive performance – whether it’s the 340hp-rated driveline or a chassis rated to handle bales up to 1.6t – it does come with the downside of being a little on the heavy side.

Before being loaded with wrap and excluding a bale in the chamber or on the wrapping table, the unit weighs 8.7t. However, a pre-series machine did undergo testing earlier this summer across Ireland with good feedback reported on all fronts, in both wet and dry conditions.

Although pricing is yet to be confirmed, it’s a machine that’s expected to command a premium price over other combi balers on the market, purely based on the level of specification onboard.

Spec