High-density round balers weren’t the only updates in the baler range, with Krone introducing a new BiG Pack HDP II square baler. It features a new design, which starts the camless EasyFlow Active pickup, with a hydraulic crop press that can be infinitely adjusted from the cab.
When the VC variant is specified, the crop is then fed into a 720mm cutting rotor. Two variants of this are available, one with 26 blades for a 44mm chop and one with 51 blades to chop down to 22mm. In both cases, knives can be brought into work in one of five groups.
A revised packer system has been integrated with the variable filling system (VFS) to ensure a uniform feed into the chamber regardless of conditions. Fully electronic, all the VFS settings can be adjusted via the terminal in the cabin. There have also been adaptions to the bale chamber, with hydraulic cylinders controlled via the on-board hydraulic system automatically controlling bale density.
The V-knotter system uses eight double knotters to leave eight rows of strings around the bale to contain the density and avoid blowouts and tie the knots without plastic remnants making their way into the bale or onto the field. It’s backed up by the PowerClean system, which injects air downwards over the knotters to avoid deposits of chaff and dust.
For improved maintenance, Krone has developed AutoCheck, which enables the machine to be slowly activated and checked from several positions using a control panel. According to the company, this reduces maintenance to a one-man job. Using a self-diagnostic process, the timing of the pre-chamber to the piston and piston the knotters can also be checked.
Rounding out the updates is the 600kg flywheel, which reduces peaks in the load across the machine, and a new hydraulic starter system to reduce shocks at start-up.