The emphasis on the McHale stand at this year’s FTMTA event will be on balers and tedders, with the new F5 Fixed Chamber Baler Range taking pride of place as the company demonstrates its commitment to developing the machine.
There are four new F5 machines starting with the F5-540, which is a standard fixed chamber baler without any chopping facility. The next model up is the F5-550, which has a bank of 15 knives and is semi-automatic.
This pair is followed by two versions of the F5-560, the standard model being fully automatic with a 25-blade knife bank, while the F5-560 Plus has a fully automatic film binding facility.
Speedier crop flow from McHale
This latest series of balers introduces the newly designed Profi-Flo pick-up, which is claimed to enhance throughput and increase crop flow into the chamber.
The new tapered feed channel encourages the crop to flow from the pick-up, towards the rotor and into the bale chamber, maximising throughput.
McHale has also developed what it refers to as the Adaptive Intake which has been specifically designed to allow the intake area to automatically adjust up and down as material flow varies traveling down the row.
Bale density and bale binding performance has also increased to enable the production of produce higher density bales, encouraging the correct fermentation and reducing transport costs.
A dual feed netting system ensures increased net tension across the range as the net is applied to the bale using a rubber feed roller, while a steel roller clamps the net to the chosen tension.
ISOBUS control
The number of net layers can now be adjusted from the cab if the baler has ISOBUS capability. This comes as standard on the F5-560 models and as an option on the F5-550. If fitted, it also enables bale density to be adjusted from the cab.
The company will showcase the F5-550, which it considers the machine that will most appeal to Irish farmers, as well as the top spec F5-560 Plus.
McHale Propel Tedder Range
The balers will be joined on the McHale stand by the 10-rotor ProPel T10-1260 tedder which has a working width of 12.6m (41’3”).
This is the largest in the range, the other two having six and eight rotors each, yet all share the same robust design for maximum life.
The two larger machines are trailed models and are coupled to the tractor by a 2-point linkage headstock, allowing easier navigation of less accessible areas by pivoting the machine behind the headstock.
The tedder range has also been enhanced, with the addition of operator aides including rotor height and angle adjustment and the Headland Management system.