Andersons Group – from Quebec, Canada – will shortly launch what it describes as a “unique bale collecting trailer”.
It can pick up wrapped round bales from the field (on the move) with “no risk of damaging the wrapping”.
According to the manufacturer, its RBM2000 PRO trailer transforms bale collection into a “one/man machine operation” – resulting in quicker field clearance, as well as requiring less labour and fuel.
It also, says the company, reduces the risk of soil compaction.
It can do all of this thanks to a lifting arm with an “innovative” design, which has a bale detector that initiates the loading sequence as soon as the arm contacts the bale.
Also Read: Disease for design: A Kilkenny man and his ‘clever’ bale collecting trailerAs the tractor and trailer approach the bale the arm slides forward, so as soon as contact with the bale is made it can slide backwards. That means that, while tractor and trailer continue to move forwards, the arm is effectively stationery in relation to both the bale and ground.
This enables it to grip the bale and apparently lift it without scuffing it on the ground – thus supposedly reducing the risk of damaging the wrapping film.
The trailer can carry 20 bales, with two lines of seven on the bottom and a single line of six placed on top of them.
All the trailer’s operations are overseen by the machine’s Danfoss Plus 1 Controller and Danfoss DP720 touch-screen monitor. These controls, says the manufacturer, enable the machine to be operated efficiently by less experienced operators.
The trailer’s bale-picking claw normally runs horizontally to collect bales placed on their end, but the operator can turn it to a vertical position to collect those that have fallen on their sides. All bales are placed on their sides on the trailer and then moved backwards by a sliding headstock.
Bales are unloaded by tilting the trailer rearwards and pushing them off with the headstock, so they land on their end – ready for stacking.
Todd McMyn, export sales director, says the trailer offers several valuable benefits to users. He explained: “Normally, loading wrapped bales is a slow operation with one person in a fork-lift carrying bales to a static tractor and trailer. Both vehicles then have to move back to the yard to unload.
Like other Andersons’ trailers, the RBM2000 PRO enables one operator and machine to pick up bales on the move and transport them back to the yard for stacking.
“With a conventional system, there is always the danger of the loader causing localised compaction as it shuttles back and forth to the trailer.
“The fact that bale removal is now so swift and easy means the fields get cleared more quickly, enabling slurry or fertiliser to be applied so the next forage cut gets a good, fast start.
The trailer is 11.75m long, 2.55m wide and 3.72m high when the loading arm is fully extended, as it would be to load a row of bales on top of the bottom two rows.
The trailer bed is 1.53m high. The trailer is mounted on a pendular tandem-axle fitted with flotation tyres (648 550/45-22.5 1lTL). This means that its weight, even when loaded to its full 21.8t capacity, is “well spread”.
The trailer will get its official debut at Agritechnica.