Machine Pre-Compacts Hay, Straw

Machine pre-compacts hay, straw HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 17-1-21 First-of-its-kind "pre-compactor" for hay and straw was shown for the first time at the EIMA show in Bologna, Italy. It's designed to boost density of hay and straw bales 15 to 40 percent by pre-compacting windrows ahead of the baler. It was developed as a joint project between a government research group and a private company, which hopes to complete testing in 1993. Although the first prototype developed operates by itself in a separate pass through the field, the company - which makes round balers - says it eventually plans to mount pre-compactors on the front of its balers. The machine is fitted with a normal pickup which feeds cut hay or straw to a pair of horizontally-mounted high-speed rollers that rotate toward each other. The rollers "condition" the hay or straw, breaking down fibers, and throw it at high speed out a back chute into a tight windrow. By breaking down the straw and blowing it into tighter windrows, Gallignani says balers can make significantly heavier bales, which is especially important in Europe where high-yielding grain crops produce tremendous volumes of straw. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gallignani, SpA, Via Molinaccio 10, 48026 Russi (RA) Italy (ph 0544 580203; fax 0544 581222).

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