Kverneland has taken the wraps off its latest piece of kit – an updated trailed bale wrapper.
This turntable-type machine (rather than a satellite-dispenser unit) benefits from a new High Speed Pack (HSP).
HSP employs twin-film dispensers to reduce the number of turns needed. While twin-film dispensers give an obvious performance advantage, Kverneland’s engineers have gone a step further.
A spokesperson explained: “Maximum wrapping speed on a turntable wrapper is limited by the stability of the bale rotating on the wrapping table. This is directly related to bale quality, but can also be influenced by other factors, such as working on slopes or in particularly rough ground conditions.
“Rotation speed is therefore generally governed by the judgement of the operator. With the possibility of up to 1t of silage spinning off the wrapping table having serious consequences, an operator will naturally err on the side of caution.
The result is that a turntable wrapper is rarely used at its maximum efficiency.
In contrast, Kverneland’s new OptiSpeed system allows wrapping at higher bale rotation speeds – by monitoring the stability of the turntable via an accelerometer, mounted on the chassis of the wrapper. Bale rotation speed is increased automatically, while the system, which has been patented by Kverneland, monitors for any increase in loading.
This indicates if the bale is becoming unstable. If instability is detected, the system automatically reduces the speed to a “safe” level.
According to Kverneland, the combined boost in output – from twin-film dispensers and the OptiSpeed system – results in its new models having an output potential comparable with much more expensive twin-satellite wrappers. The company claims that, in good conditions, HSP can increase wrapping table rotation speed by 15-25%.
At the same time, says the firm, stress on the operator is reduced – as he can safely operate the machine at “peak efficiency” at all times.