Increasingly versitile and cost efficient machinery

By David Leroyer
Product manager at Kverneland Group in France. The Kverneland Group produces and distributes agricultural and viticulture implements.

Bale-wrapping was introduced in France in the early eighties with machinery being imported by Blanchot, the importer for Kverneland at that time. The equipment market has developed rapidly since then, first with portable machines then, soon after, with the introduction of trailer-mounted machines, followed by increasingly sophisticated systems. Today, users are looking for reliable, autonomous, versatile machinery, enabling them to increase profitability.

Two types of bale-wrapping systems are currently used: the fixed wrapping arm and turntable and the satellite bale-wrapping system, where the table is stationary and the wrapping arm rotates around the bale. Satellite wrapping is increasingly gaining popularity among farmers and contractors as it offers clear advantages such as the increased bale stability on the table, and an increased wrapping speed and output, with the possibility of having two wrapping arms.

To overcome the shortage of labour on farms, new solutions have been introduced such as the development of combined pressing and baling machines, which can perform both operations at the same time. The popularity of these ‘combi’ machines is growing constantly. Electronics is also playing a growing role on bale-wrapping machines, particularly in the control and management functions, making them easier to use.

One accessory equipment seems to be essential on modern bale-wrapping machines: a vertical unloading kit. This enables the bale to be unloaded on its flat surface, reducing the risks of film puncture and breakage, thus minimizing risks of damage and deformation of bales (important for long-term storage).

Research into machinery developments is currently concentrating on reducing costs per bale while maintaining the quality of the finished product. The 3D bale-wrapping system recently introduced is going towards this direction, optimizing film use to obtain maximum quality at minimum cost.

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