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The revamped Case IH HD-Pro baler.
In May, Case IH released details of upgrades to the RB344, variable chamber baler and has now indicated multiple redesigns to the high-end RB456 and 466 HD-Pro models.
Designed to make high density bales in crops, including dry straw or wet silage, the company reports an extensive development and pre-production phase that saw machines producing more than 150,000 bales.
Aimed at farmers or contractors who make 10,000 bales a year or more, much of the development has centred around ensuring reliability and consistent bale shape. In the case of the former, machines have been fitted with heavy-duty components and fewer moving parts. Engineers have also enlarged and strengthened rolls, shafts and the rear door assembly, while also introducing a heavier duty gearbox and driveline.
Up front, an extra-wide diameter rotor is said to help prevent blockages, while a newly introduced, active drop floor means blockages can be cleared quickly. The bale chamber has also been redesigned to incorporate a revised belt path, said to deliver well-formed, dense bales that will stack efficiently.
The RB456 HD Pro makes 120cm-wide bales from 90cm to 165cm in diameter, while the RB466 HD Pro is also 120cm wide, but offers increased diameters from 90cm up to 190cm.
Each model offers a choice of three rotor options, including a basic feeding rotor, 13 or 25 knife chopping rotors. Bale size, number of net wraps and density can be easily set on the in-cab control panel.
Massey Ferguson has announced a strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL), a manufacturer of low-horsepower and compact tractors, with recognised brands such as Sonalika and Sollis, to expand its portfolio with a new tractor range.
With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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