Other Hay and Forage Equipment For Sale in United Kingdom

Like any farm task, the proper equipment and machinery can make bale handling much easier. When searching for new and used farm machinery, go beyond the baler and consider bale wrappers, bale grabs and bale spikes, as well.

Bale Wrappers

A bale wrapper is simply a machine for wrapping bales, usually in sheets of plastic. This allows the bales to turn into silage. Broadly speaking, there are two types of bale wrapper: the satellite wrapper and the turntable wrapper. With the satellite wrapper, you have hydraulic bale support rollers and a satellite hydraulic rotating arm.

The satellite arm is loaded with the plastic roll of film and also supports the dispensing unit. The satellite arm and support rollers rotate in a synchronised motion to deliver an even covering of plastic film to the bale. A higher-speed version for larger operations is available with twin satellite arms to cut the time needed to wrap each bale.

The turntable bale wrapper is equipped with a loading arm, a little like a bale handler. This arm is used to scoop up the bale and place it on the wrapping table. This wrapping turntable will typically have four belts and two rollers and will turn to spin the bales as it revolves. The turning bale pulls the plastic film from the dispenser and it is wrapped tightly around the bale. After 16 revolutions, the bale is ejected, usually by a hydraulic ram tilting the turntable. The film is then cut and attached to the wrapper in readiness for the next bale. The bale wrapper’s operations are usually able to be electronically controlled from the tractor cab.

Some of the larger agricultural suppliers offer bale wrappers and many have combination balers and wrappers which do both jobs at the same time. There are also specialist companies, such as the Austrian firm Goeweil, which offer a range of independent bale wrappers. Bale wrappers are also divided into square bale wrappers and round bale wrappers, but the underlying technology is basically the same. Some bale wrappers will combine aspects of transport, wrapping and stacking. Different models may be suitable for use with the front or rear tractor linkage and many can be attached to either.

The vulnerable hydraulic cylinders, motors and rollers should be well protected and many of these components are often situated inside the rollers for added protection. Many bale wrappers offer independent electronic control units and others are hooked up to the tractor’s control systems. Ancillary equipment includes the bale tipper, film monitoring control unit, counter weights, additional film roll magazines and supporting rolls. In addition to the electronic controls, many bale wrappers also include manual controls to operate baling functions via mechanical levers.

Choosing a bale wrapper is firstly a matter of ensuring compatibility with your tractor. It is then wise to consider the sort of throughput you require. There are also many add-on functions to consider, such as the ability to stack the bales directly from the wrapper, but you should make sure that you are not paying for features you don’t need. There are a lot of moving parts on a bale wrapper and this means wear and tear are factors. All of these components should be tested and in good working order. Fatigue and structural damage are less likely. The hydraulic system is always more vulnerable, though, and should be checked for leaks and smooth working.

Bale Grabs

The bale grab is an essential piece of kit when it comes to moving around, stacking and handling bales. An attachment rather than a machine in its own right, the bale grab comes in a wide variety of sizes and designs to handle both round and square bales.

Size is a major consideration when choosing a bale grab, and the machines come in dimensions that can handle numerous bales in one go or lift high-density bales. The bale can typically be lifted and rotated to allow stacking in the desired orientation. Another consideration when choosing a bale grab is the connectivity it offers with other farm plant. Typically, the machines can be used with tractors or telehandlers, and compatibility with existing machinery must be ensured. Bale grabs may have rotating rollers with reinforced tines to strengthen the grip.

Bale grabs may feature a simple spike operation to allow for two bales to be carried at the same time. Alternatively, more complex units will have hydraulic controls to securely hold the bale, making it safe to transport and reducing the danger of dropping the bales even when operating across rough or uneven ground. Designs exist to handle conventional bales, with hydraulic controls and a number of steel claws or tines to safely restrain the bale.

Bale Spikes

Bales spikes are some of the most straightforward and robust pieces of farm machinery around. Simply put, the bale spike is an implement for lifting bales by spiking into the bale itself and carrying away as the bale is impaled on the spike. This is a tried and tested means of transporting bales, and properly used it carries the material safely and securely. The construction of the bale spike consists of a frame, often of box section steel, fitted with a number of spikes, or tines, on which to impale the bale. As it is not a bale grabber as such, more care and effort is needed to offload the bales if they are to be stacked using the bale spike, as there is no grabbing mechanism to release. The upside of the bale spike being so simple and robust is that there is very little to go wrong, and this makes it an excellent candidate as a second-hand farm machinery purchase.

Even though the bale spike is a simple piece of equipment, however, there are still certain things to look out for. The first of these is simply to select a bale spike that is of the size that you want. Bale spikes come in a number of different configurations to suit different load capacities. A larger frame and increased number of spikes will be able to carry a greater number of bales. Bale spikes are also available for either round or square bale types. Bale spikes can be used with a variety of load weights also, from as little as 500kg or less to more than 1,500kg.