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The Swadro BaleTrain TC880 Pro sees a striking combination of twin rotor swather towing a baler/wrapper.
We've all heard of road trains, soul train and gravy trains, but German machinery manufacturer Krone has come up with a novel word for the agricultural sector.
The Swadro BaleTrain TC880 Pro sees a striking combination of twin rotor swather towing a baler/wrapper, with the company suggesting that it saves labour and reduces compaction and fuel consumption, alongside improved time management.
Combining the Swadro with the company’s new ComPack Pro baler/ wrapper, so achieving swathing, baling and wrapping, the unit will measure about 18.5 metres long when towed by a typical tractor, with both machine elements being able to be used individually if required.
At the rear of the Swadro, a reinforced frame incorporates a hitch, hydraulics, PTO and electrical connections needed to power the baler.
The complete outfit uses ISOBUS connectivity, with the rotors automatically lifting when the binding system applies net or film to the bale. The system also monitors bale filling, inputting steering to the rake to ensure the chamber is evenly filled on the left-and right-hand edges. As the formed swath doesn’t need to pass between the tractor wheels, the swath can be set wide enough to evenly fill the baler’s pick-up.
Replacing the Comprima Plus, the ComPack Pro F150 XC and V150 XC slatted chamber balers produce a ‘semi-variable’ 1.25-1.50m and variable 1.00-1.50m diameter bale. These also available as CF and CV wrapper combi models.
The balers continue to feature the NovoGrip, belt-mounted slat system to form the bale chamber, fed by a cam-less pick-up and a rotor featuring extensive use of Hardox steel for durability.
A chopping rotor is available in 17 or 26 knife variants, with the ability to set the number of engaged blades from the cab. This is achieved via the new ISOBUS interface, that also offers the ability to connect up to seven hi-res digital cameras to the CCI800 or 1200 display. The company has also developed an integrated additive applicator with twin 120-litre tanks, with rates controlled by time, weight, per bale or manually.
Already known for its extensive range of mowers, tedders and swathers, German manufacture Krone looks to be joining the trend in the swather sector, following the release of its first belt merger, the Swativo T1040 Pro.
While turnover was back slightly at €2.3 billion in 2024/2025 (previous year €2.4 billion), the German Krone Group saw earnings fall from €107 million to €40.1 million.
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