Wednesday, 01 March 2023 14:55

New baler from McHale

Written by  Mark Daniel
The New Fusion 4 combo is said to offer greater comfort to the operator and improved efficiency in the field. The New Fusion 4 combo is said to offer greater comfort to the operator and improved efficiency in the field.

Although Irish manufacturer McHale used the September 2022 Irish National Ploughing Championships to showcase the latest updates to its baler/ wrapper combination, it’s taken until recently for the first example to arrive in New Zealand.

The New Fusion 4 combo is said to offer to greater comfort to the operator and improved efficiency in the field. This is largely thanks to an improved pick-up that promotes smoother flow into the baler’s intake channel.

The new range will include the base Fusion 4, the McHale Fusion 4 Pro and the McHale Fusion 4 Plus, equipped film binding technology. The latter with “film on film” will be the standard offering for NZ, although the other models are available under the indent programme.

All machines in the Fusion 4 range offer new features, while the higher specification Fusion 4 Pro and Fusion 4 Plus feature ISOBUS compatibility. This is said to offer higher levels of customisation that will lead to increased performance.

A new 2.1 metre pick-up, called the Profi-Flo, is designed to increase crop intake through more efficient crop flow. This, in turn, is said to increase throughput, bale density and wrapping speeds. Offered with a conventional 5-tine bar or cam-less, 6 bar format, the pick-ups feed a redesigned tapered feed channel that encourages the crop to flow from the pick-up to the rotor and onwards to the bale chamber.

The introduction of an Adaptive Intake, that automatically adjusts up and down to meet changes in crop flow, allows a more positive feed into the bale chamber. As well as gaining an extra tine, to reduce maintenance, the Profi-Flo pick-up is fitted with a heavier driveline which is intended to increase chain life.

All new balers are fitted with dual grease and oil pumps, connected to the movement of the bale tip, ensuring that grease and oil is applied evenly and continuously during operation.

Other detail changes include a larger net/film brake, offering an extra 25% pre-stretch. This is said to be useful when operating in cold weather or when using film that needs a greater pre-stretch. For ease of use, a keypad is fitted to the rear of the two higher spec models, offering the operator the ability to control the wrapping unit and new work lights fitted under the side panels. Modified cut and hols slider bushes help to avoid film tears in very dry or windy conditions. Meanwhile, an increase in the maximum bale density should lead to more tightly formed bales and better fermentation.

A range of options includes a 1,000 rpm gearbox, providing better fuel economy and a 10% increase in clutch capacity, achieved through reduced torque loading.

Interestingly, the company suggests the optimal speed for fuel economy and output is around 890 rpm. However, depending on machine specification, there will also be options including selectable knives, a net loading device and side tipping of the wrapped bale.

More like this

New parts distribution centre for Agco

Agco Corporation has unveiled plans to build a new Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) at Amnéville (Les Portes de l’Orne) on the outskirts of Metz in the Mosselle region, just 12km from its existing Ennery site.

Auto feeding system keeps cows well fed in paddocks

Dutch manufacturer Hanskamp, perhaps best known for its Cow Toilet that collects urine, has developed a mobile unit to automatically feed concentrates to individual dairy and beef cattle while they are out in the field.

Telescopic front-end loader

An interesting concept emerged at the recent EIMA show in Italy, where Italian company Aries - a front linkage manufacturer - showed its concept FL S3 Tele-End telescopic front-end loader for tractors.

AI-powered robotic feed pusher

While most New Zealand farmers operate with animals at pasture all year round, unlike their European counterparts, several operations in the South Island have invested in cow barns to beat the often-inclement weather.

How to make perfect silage

Creating perfect silage is both a science and an art, and it all begins with the right tools, according to machinery maker Claas.

Featured

Major shakeup for the NZ science system

The government has announced a major restructuring of the country's seven crown research institutes (CRIs), which will see them merged into three public research organisations (PROs).

Putting theory into practice

Hamish and Rachel Hammond jumped at the chance to put their university learning into practice by taking up a contract milking offer right after graduation.

Workers a big part of the farming business

"We couldn't do this without our team. They are integral to everything." That's the first thing that Te Awamutu dairy farmers Jayson and Stacey Thompson have to say about their team.

Editorial: O Canada

OPINION: The Canadian government's love affair with its lifestyle dairy farmers has got it into trouble once again.

Tough year for UK farmers

Volatile input costs, fluctuating commodity prices, a reduction in direct payments and one of the wettest periods in decades that resulted in a disastrous harvest, have left their mark and many UK farming businesses worse off.

National

New insights into rural fire risk

New student research from the University of Canterbury in partnership with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) could improve knowledge…

Embrace mechanical weeding now

Mechanical weeding is exploding in Europe because increasing resistance means they have "run out of herbicide", says Canterbury agronomist Charles…

China still a good option

The ongoing rise of the Chinese middle class will drag up demand for New Zealand products there in the future.

UAE FTA signed

New Zealand’s free trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now been signed.

Machinery & Products

Batten Buddy - cleverly simple

Stopping livestock from escaping their environment is a “must do” for any farmers or landowners and at times can seem…

U10 Pro Highland a step up

A few weeks after driving the CF MOTO U10 Pro ‘entry level’ model, we’ve had a chance to test the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Drunk on power!

OPINION: The end-of-year booze-up at the posh Northern Club in Auckland must have been a beauty, as the legal 'elite'…

Time has come?

OPINION: It divides opinion, but the House has passed the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter