CLAAS round balers with new variable bale wrapping

For the round balers in the ROLLANT 400 UNIWRAP family, CLAAS now offers a newly developed system for bale wrapping in the bale chamber. Instead of the usual net wrapping process, for the first time round bales can now also be wrapped with film. 

Net wrapping remains possible as before, along with a fast changeover system for alternating between net and film wrapping without any conversion operation. Another new feature included as standard in the new round baler is the roll ramp, making it much easier to load new rolls.

Less film, easy disposal

The film wrapping process is exactly the same as the familiar net wrapping operation – only the material is different. Once the bale in the bale chamber has reached the desired size, it is automatically wrapped in up to eight layers of film. Unlike the net system, the film layers project a few centimetres over the side edges of the bale. During the subsequent wrapping of the bale on the wrapping table, this means it is no longer necessary to apply six layers of wrap in the usual way, thereby saving on the amount of film. Film wrapping also does away with the laborious process of separating net and film when the bale is opened, resulting in easier handling and tidy disposal of the bale wrap.

Number of film layers selected as desired

The decision on how many layers of film to be wound around the bale can be made by individual contractors and their customers. The more secure the storage facilities available, the fewer layers of film are required. The system allows the selection of anything from 1.2 to 8.0 winding layers. This setting is easily adjusted at any time by the driver in the cab. Along with the savings in the quantity of material used, another advantage of using film wrapping rather than net is that less oxygen tends to end up in the bale, with potential benefits for the fermentation rate.

Fast change between the two systems

For customers who prefer to use different wrapping systems, the operator can change over from net to film wrapping and vice versa in a matter of moments. The driver simply has to change the setting on the cab terminal, and load the required wrapping material in the baler. The film feed and start of wrapping processes take place completely automatically. The extent of film stretching required can also be set on the terminal in the cab.

Roll ramp for easy reloading

To simplify the process of loading the baler with a new roll of film or net, the new ROLLANT 400 UNIWRAP models include as standard equipment a foldable roll ramp mounted at the side. This provides a fast and easy way to load the rolls – of up to 50 kg in weight – into the machine. CLAAS supplies CLAAS COATEX film, for example, which has a roll length of 2,000 m, with a film width of 1.40 m and thickness of 17 µm.

ROLLANT 400 UNIWRAP machines produce round bales with diameters from 1.25 to 1.35 m, with a bale width of 1.20 m.

The new ROLLANT 400 UNIWRAP models with variable film and net wrapping will be available as from the 2018 harvesting season.