Get FinancingCase IH Announces Baler Updates At Agritechnica
Case IH is upgrading its LB 436 HD large square baler and RB 545 and RB 545 Silage Pack fixed-chamber round balers for 2024 with improvements to baler operation, durability, user interfaces, components, and more.
The company also introduced efficiency-enhancing Baler Automation technology for all LB6 Series and 2024 model year LB4 Series large square balers at the Agritechnica trade show this month in Hannover, Germany.
Case IH Bale Automation Benefits
The Bale Automation solution helps operators reach peak productivity in the field, says Case IH. The tech enables a tractor to automatically adjust its speed to achieve optimal crop feeding and the preferred baler slice quantity, resulting in enhanced throughput, blockage prevention, reduced fuel consumption, and less stress on operators.
“Even when you’re not the one in the cab, you can get a lot more done with the Case IH Baler Automation,” says Monte Weller, Case IH global product leader for crop production and hay and forage product lines. “There’s an opportunity to view jobs remotely, understand service needs, and import bale drop data by field or job—including bale weights, moisture, density, flake count, the list goes on. You don’t have to be in the seat to know how well things are going.”
LB 436 HD Developments
Upgrades to the LB 436 HD, designed for large farms and contractor operations, include several focused on a new load-sensing hydraulic system. The system lets operators use the baler monitor or tractor ISOBUS terminal to control operations usually activated at the baler’s rear, including full or partial bale ejection and opening and closing the bale chute. Operators can also lock tandem-axle steering from the terminal, which automatically locks the rear steering axle when reversing or in road mode.
Case IH is announced improved plunger rollers, stronger stuffer brake springs, a more durable rotor driver chain, an easier-to-reach pickup greasing point, and options for a Hardox 400 packer feeder bottom plate and an improved hydraulic jack. The baler has a reinforced crop-holding finger shaft and more guides on the bale chute’s front-end hinges for greater strength.
User interface improvements include a new menu to access Bale Automation functionalities, a swath feed left/right indicator to enhance steering for even feeding, bale length calibration, and an offset setting for the moisture sensor.
Case IH RB 545 Updates
Refreshed exterior styling is on tap for the RB 545 and wrapper-equipped RB 545 Silage Pack balers. Both use 18 rollers to produce high-density bales 4 feet (1.22 meters) wide and 4.1 ft (1.25 m) high. The rollers receive a new profile that improves bale rotation and mounts them on automatically greased bearings, leading to better overall baler durability and reliability.
Buyers can also expect better power consumption and cleaning due to a redesigned rotor scraper.
Both balers now include an option to replace the standard 540 rpm driveline with a 1,000 rpm power take-off (PTO) for benefits such as smoother crop flow and less chance of blockages in heavy grass. On the Silage Pack model, Case IH tilted the main gearbox upward 3.5 degrees to improve the PTO shaft alignment.
Silage Pack models also add a deflector in the bale transfer area to prevent crop buildup, while the tailgate for each model now opens 38% faster.
Source: CNH Industrial