Krone Comprima. Baling silage without net. "Baletite" film for perfect silage. New Zealand 2010.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Hello Trevor. Baletite + prestretch x 4 is cheaper than net + wrap x 6, and much better! The baletite setup puts plastic where it is useful. Customers are seriously excited with this concept.

[@Cassiiir]

@RobertFolkerts At the Beginning we were worried from rollign away, it was a bit tricky, but now its no problem any more you only have to remove that thing in the back ... We are a really small Farm and we use a Krone Round Pack 1250MC, and before we used a Krone Kr130. When you look on my channel, i have got a Video there from our Fields were we bale Silage and Hay. There are only picture but can see a little bit of our Landscape. In August we will do our next and last cut for this season.

[@RobertFolkerts]

I think it depends on the existing setup you begin with as to whether to mod or start over. Space available would also be a consideration. In the case of my Comprima, the Baletite feeds in just the same as the netting does. One of the attributes of the Baletite film, that it can do this. I can alternate between Baletite for silage and net for hay simply by swapping the film roll for the net roll. Nice to note your interest.

[@brownecontractor]

Yes. Although I have been told Mc Hale's net system reduces the likelihood of net wrapping around the rollers. I think the plastic might although I'm not sure. We will probably come up with an entirely new system and test it for next year.

[@Cassiiir]

@RobertFolkerts The wrapper you built is great, I thaught about such a construction about 6 years ago and now i saw something which looked great. The only Problem here in Austria is that we customers whith hilly fields etc, and there its a problem with the small tires in fact that you have 4wd. I Thaught about to built a McHale wrapper which is normally used on the 3 point to built it on for example, a Mercedes Sprinter or something liked that, because they also have a big load platform...

[@aaronjudd2718]

I didn't see the Fusion at the fieldays, couple months back we made the decision to go with the Comprima over the Fusion due to having run Krone balers before, stuck with what has worked before, since then haven't looked at the Fusion seen as I have to get my head around the combi having only run balers alone prior to this season. I'll look you up and be in contact in the near future. Cheers

[@RobertFolkerts]

@fylla2 . You are quite right, however the" Baletite" film in a Comprima, I think you will find this is " new ".

[@brownecontractor]

Baletite is a very good idea. I was wondering how the system pulls the plastic into the baler. Do you need to do much modification or would it be easier to design a new system and leave the old net system on the baler???

[@fnh8340]

@RobertFolkerts are you trying to develop it for mass production? is it patented? it should be. My only suggestion is that four wheel drive is a must for northern europe and 2.5 -3.0l diesel power plant. Very impresive piece of engineering.

[@RobertFolkerts]

As I understand it, there are not many machines which can use this film without some modification. Some can not accommodate the 1280mm roll length. As well the plastic has different characteristics when compared to net and this requires changes to the feeding and cutting systems. My Comprima was initially able to handle the film, but it took considerable modification to produce a system which was 100% reliable.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Tama Marathon. 1.25m bale roughly 4m circumference x2 layers = 8m. 2,300m roll divide x 8m = 287 bales / roll. However 2 layers is unlikely to be enough to hold the bale and certainly not enough to build the micron numbers of the total wrap to exploit the benefits of film x film wrapping. I put on five layers for the above reasons, and then use only four layers of prestretch with the wrapping machine. This produces a very even total coverage over the bale.The ends are not wasted plastic now .

[@RobertFolkerts]

Essentially, the film just takes the place of the netting. The Comprima machine allows this. The rest is just kind of fine tuning to achieve a reliable operation in all conditions etc. Those details are a bit tricky to explain in this kind of forum.

[@RobertFolkerts]

@ulfraskludviksen . Hello. I appreciate you asking this, but I am sorry that at this time I am not willing to describe the modifications. There are commercial reasons for this. However, thank you for favouriting my movie.

[@brownecontractor]

Thats very good. All I know is there is no-one here in Ireland with it. Here the netting tends the wrap around the feed rollers on my John Deere 578. Hopefully I will be able to run it next year. Did you here anymore about the Mc Hale balers running plastic after???

[@RobertFolkerts]

@Cassiiir . Hills and so on are not really a problem for us. The machine is capable to go most places but for us the farmer brings the bales to the wrapper to wrap where he wants them stored. I can't imagine you would want to wrap bales on some of your steep hills. Risk of them rolling away??? Will you get another cut later this season in Austria?

[@brownecontractor]

Thanks. That would be a super idea. It would make it easier alright to catch it for the next bale. Can you use netting still in your baler???

[@RobertFolkerts]

@fnh8340 . I think it would be too expensive to manufacture for retail. I was able to build with used engine, diffs etc. It is 4wd, 2,0L Toyota diesel and auto trans, It is capable of 80kmh. Has wrapped about 200,000 bales by now. I could not patent the wrapper I don't think, possibly only the self propelled concept. I built all of it myself, but I would not enjoy building another. I only enjoy building one offs. Thanks for your interest. ps, the Baletite film is the only way to.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Hello there, the film is costing roughly three times the cost of net, but this is compensated for by the reduced cost of the subsequent wrapping. There is no need for more than four layers of stretchfilm, in fact I use four layers of prestretch.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Hello Aaron, I am also a farmer/contractor. Benefits of film outweigh anything you might percieve as a difficulty. My customers with your type scenario soon figure a way that works for them. None of them want to see net ever again. Downtime?? There might be a few times in a thousand bales the film goes to the wrong place. A camera can see the film on the bale in the Comprima [modified] so I don't get caught with a naked bale. 3 years with 13 micron film. I try some 20 micron this year.

[@RobertFolkerts]

I think for roller type fixed chamber your only option is to gather the film before cutting. You will need the rope form this produces with the film, otherwise you will never get it to travel with the bale. It will likely go around one of the many rollers and you will have a naked bale.

[@brownecontractor]

I see. What netting do you use?? Also how man bales would a roll of baletite do if you are putting two layers on?

[@eamonnsharkey6742]

hello Robertfolkerts,,,,,,, brilliant idea with the plastic film tying system.... i run a mchale f 550 fixed chamber baler,,,, net tying is all i used,,, but would really like to use your plastic system,,, how much per bale does the plastic cost compared to net tying....

[@RobertFolkerts]

Hello, not just "any usual net system". The Comprima system is rather unique and it is this system only that I am concerned with. The Baletite will function in the original Comprima system to some degree, but there are some changes which I made to produce a setup which functions in all parameters and conditions. The neccessary changes I made do alter some aspects of the system but that does not preclude the ability to alternate between plastic and net.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Stunning observation you make.

[@aaronjudd2718]

As a farmer and an Ag contractor I try to look at things in the industry from both angles, for example what might be great while driving the baler may not be the best thing when the time comes to feed the bale out. There seem to be a lot of pro's to the film tying but for me personally I cut the plastic off at the stack then take the bale away to feed out with the net wrap still holding the bale. How much downtime do you get with film not always doing what its supposed to?

[@GonzoNZ]

Fantastic Robert- Cheers.... Wayne Alltech(NZ)

[@RobertFolkerts]

Yes they are. However the bale in the video is quite dry silage. They don't normally disinegrate quite so readily. I only have two customers who prefer unchopped silage.

[@brownecontractor]

Thanks. What do you mean about gathering the film before cutting???

[@RobertFolkerts]

@Cassiiir . Some nice pictures there. You would not want to make a mistake and send a bale down into the village !!!

[@RobertFolkerts]

@crazyirish765 . Thanks for that compliment.

[@jamielaurie8909]

Very interested in the film instead of net. Do you find they stand up to being moved to the wrapper OK?

[@RobertFolkerts]

Hi Jamie, That video I made in 2009. I used that baler till 2017 when I made the new film system on the CF 155. As far as a stand alone baler and film goes, one needs to be careful, if a tear starts, sometimes it doesn't stop till it goes right across the bale. Rubbish like sticks and rocks just under the binding can also generate tears. Having said that, I did persevere and made more than 70,000 bales with film using that v150 machine. One learned to watch for the likely problems, a couple of straps of tape would be enough to hold a tearing bale. Now with the combi, those stresses are no longer there. I did however use the 13 micron Baletite as that was all there was then. The 16 micron now available as well, is much more forgiving

[@jamielaurie8909]

@@RobertFolkerts I have a 2015 comprima v150. It would be good if we could use film instead. But we tube wrap the bales so they are all to move to the wrapper

[@RobertFolkerts]

You say the netting wraps around rollers, so do you think the film will as well? Feed pinch rollers are a problem for film, esp. because of the likelyhood of tack buildup. Forunately the Comprima system does not use those rollers anymore. All I heard was the film worked ok in the McHale here. Was told it was a variable chamber but I can not confirm. Small number of bales, while promising, does not prove a system. eg tack build up issues, weather, etc can be expected to take time to show.

[@FeighLegend]

are the bales double-chopped? if so would they collapse as easily if they were not?

[@RobertFolkerts]

You will need a mechanism, in front of the cutter, which will drag the film from each outside edge to the center so the film is gathered from 1.28m to about 20 or 30mm. Will make it look a bit like a rope. Then the film is cut. This is so the thick ropey bit will be fed for the beginning of the next bale. With all the rollers in the fixed chamber you will not likely have success trying to feed film the width of the roll, as I am able to do with the Comprima.

[@brownecontractor]

I see. Could you explain to me the system on your baler for the plastic???

[@SlyFoxl]

@RobertFolkerts How thick is the film? how many balls per roll?

[@aaronjudd2718]

Yup, Roto-o-rangi to be precise, Your practically just down the road, would you mind having a catch up at some point to talk about this? Understandable if you would prefer to keep some cards close to your chest but it would be greatly appreciated. Ive heard that McHale have been trying to push this with their new fusion3's but searching on the net hasn't thrown up a lot about it

[@trevorwhepburn]

great job robert. how do you find the cost difference between net and plastic, would be great to save on amount of wrap needed.

[@RobertFolkerts]

I have no problems whatsoever with the feeding of the film. What difficulties are you anticipating? I was of the understanding McHale has a small number of machines running film. Apparently there was one experimenting with film in NZ late last summer. They "borrowed" some film from my stock.

[@flevaca]

Hello I just bought a v180 comprima xc and I would use Baletite. Is that you give or sell information Krone has to change anything. thank you

[@brownecontractor]

I see. I am looking at getting a baler manufacturer here- Mc Hale to design and build one for us. It is some job. Any problems with pulling in the plastic??

[@ulfraskludviksen]

what kind of modifications have you done? we drive comprima cf 155 xc and f 155 xc in norway

[@endamc79]

will a roll of baletite work in every modern round baler?

[@RobertFolkerts]

Do you mean Cambridge in NZ. I am up on Mt Pirongia 30km south of Hamilton.

[@garyscales4808]

Great idea - can't get Baletite here in the States. Am very interested in your adjustments. How can I reach you? Got some questions.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Gary Scales If you find the "discussion " tab on my youtube channel page you should be able to email me directly.

[@MCFAGRI]

Is there a retrofit kit you can buy from anywhere that can be fitted to a fusion 1 or fusion 2 baler or fitted to any baler really .

[@RobertFolkerts]

ben01269 I think Krone might be the only one able to be retrofitted, when they have theirs finalized. There will never be a "universal " type kit. There are too many factors specific to each type of machine.

[@MCFAGRI]

how did you do the baletite for your krone

[@RobertFolkerts]

ben01269 Too complicated to outline the specifics of it here. Suffice to say a combination of thinking and engineering. It was easy to get the system functioning initially, but it took some years and experience in differing conditions to get the system to the 100% reliable status I have managed to achieve.

[@fnh8340]

that's a great wrapper, is it only in New Zealand?

[@RobertFolkerts]

Yes, I simply remove the film roll and install the netting. No adjustments are necessary, but the threading route is slightly different.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Yes, by all means. Sounds like McHale have sold a few here with film tying. There was one on display at the field days, lives at Parawera. Can Krone supply you a working kit? You can find us in the phone book Te Awamutu section. Look forward to it.

[@aaronjudd2718]

The only negative thing I can see is having to cart the plastic around with me rather then cut it off the bale on the loader while at the stack. We have a new Krone Comprima combi for this coming season and ive been looking into this as an option, I am in Cambridge and that I know of I haven't seen any local boys using it. Where are you located Robert?

[@brownecontractor]

Yes I see.

[@RobertFolkerts]

@GonzoNZ . Thanks for that Wayne !

[@krumikrummi2191]

Hello We have also a comprima. Can you give me more Information about your System? Many thanks

[@RobertFolkerts]

Where abouts are you?

[@krumikrummi2191]

Hello. i come from Switzerland. We have customer, they will the bale with blastic and not with net.

[@RobertFolkerts]

Do you have modifications from Krone to operate with film, or maybe you have the newer Xtreme model? As you can see, I modified my machine four years ago, and it is excellent. I have no experience with Krone's own system which they are still working on, although I have been told it is ok in dry crops, but not so good in moist ones. If your machine is unmodified I suggest you begin with a film kit from Krone. Some aspects of my system are quite different compared to the factories set up and require substantial engineering. If you got the Krone system installed, you should get backup help from them??

[@krumikrummi2191]

Hello. Yes, we have a system from krone, but it work not perfect. When its dry, then its ok. But when its wet, then rolls the plastic around it. The problemroll is the roll with the scraber on the top of the rotor. What have you four a solution?

[@RobertFolkerts]

Krumi Krummi Did you receive the message I sent to your You Tube account?

[@jamesmorrisseyvvti]

so really there is no mechanical changes made to the baler for this to work, in other words you dont need to have different blades, rollers and such compared to any usual net system, of course with adjustments to tying itself suit plastic of course.

[@SlyFoxl]

@RobertFolkerts Yup :D

[@RobertFolkerts]

I'm sure that once you were to experience using "Baletite" bales you would not go back to net again.

[@SlyFoxl]

Wide film is not something "new" my dad tried it for ten years ago on his variabel chamber baler. Norwegian Orkel HiQ balers have this on their fixed chamber baler

[@berndreiner7159]

yes thats a Baler 👌 ... good, better, the best ---->>> KRONE.... Made in Germanny

[@RobertFolkerts]

@fnh8340 . Only one in the world.

[@larshopp]

Haha, this is old. Orkel whas first out with thar!