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The hydraulically operated clamp secures the bale, removing its momentum as it leaves the chamber.
Anyone who has been round baling and released a completed bale on a slope will remember the feeling of dread as the bale gathers speed and rolls off down the hillside, hopefully to be stopped by the hedgerow or the paddock levelling out.
In some cases, that dread is shared by passing motorists as the bales clear the boundary and roll across a road. Yep, been there, done that.
German manufacturer Krone has developed a clamp for its VariPack and VariPack Plus Series balers to prevent bales from rolling down slopes.
The speed of bale ejection with the VariPack, with the rear door opening and closing in less than five seconds, allowing operators to achieve high daily outputs, is viewed as a big plus.
Unfortunately, the drawback is that bales can roll away quickly if the operator is not paying attention. The hydraulically operated clamp is designed to prevent this by securing the bale and removing its momentum as it leaves the chamber.
In operation and before the tailgate opens, the bale clamp is closed hydraulically so that the round bale is braked and fixed in place within in the clamp, before being opened in a controlled manner to set the bale down safely.
Presented as an option at the Agritechnica 2023 Event, the system has been met with great interest, especially from customers operating in the mountainous areas in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. Krone is now offering the bale clamp as an option for all Vari- Pack and VariPack Plusmachines, with a retrofit kit available on request for existing machines.
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