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Claas has updated its Variant round baler and monster Quadrant square baler.

The Variant now has four models: the 460RF and the 465RF both offer bale sizes between 0.9m and 1.55m; while the larger 480RF and 485RC can throw out a round of 1.8m. All four machines have

the same 2.35m wide pick-up reel as standard.

The stronger bale chamber now houses a standard drop-down floor that can be hydraulically lowered by 30mm to force stubborn lumps through without becoming jammed.

An improved rear tailgate means the bales now have a discharge time of just six seconds, says Claas, while there is an option for extra wide netting to help keep the rain out.

For the firm’s big square balers, the company has developed its automatic pressure control system, which maintains the weight of each bale and monitors the stress on the drive system to

improve the consistency of bale density.

Linked to this is a knotter control system that has sensors to gauge the stress on each of the six knotters and alert the driver if there’s a broken string or a missed knot. The knotters

also get the benefit of an upgraded fan forcing air at 140kph over the six units to keep them clean from debris.

All models come as standard with a 2.35m wide pick-up and a double crop roller press for even feed-in. However, an optional extra is hydraulic drive to the pick-up and press roller to help

let the driver match forward speed to the swath density, which is particularly useful when minimising damage to crops such as Lucerne.

This year’s Grassland and Muck is the place to see all the latest developments in the world of farm machinery, including from some of the major players in the GPS sector.

Visitors can find out how to save cash by improving the accuracy of applications, as well as how to make the most of new, more sophisticated operating systems.