Case IH has topped its range of variable chamber round balers with the new RB HD Pro. Designed for larger livestock farmers and contractors, the new machine produces higher density bales in a wide range of crops, from wet silage to dry straw. For top reliability and throughput, it has been fitted with heavy duty components and fewer moving parts.

“We know that for farmers and contractors who use their balers a lot – typically 10,000 bales a year or more – durability and reliability are really important. With their needs in mind we have looked at every aspect of the baler, not only to produce the best bales from every crop quickly, but also to make sure that they get them time after time after time,” says Michal Jankowski, Case IH Product Marketing Manager.

“To do this, we have strengthened and enlarged the rolls, shafts and tailgate and introduced a more powerful gearbox and driveline – which also increases the numbers of bales per hour. In some places we have simplified things to help reliability and maintenance, for example reducing the number of driveline chains and sledge rolls.”

Able to handle up to 30 tonnes per hour, the RB HD Pro has been designed to manage everything from straw and hay to haylage and silage at different cut lengths, thanks to new no-slip dual drive rolls and a wide range of knife sets selectable from the cab. An extra-wide diameter rotor helps prevent blockages while a new Active Drop Floor means any that do get through can be cleared quickly.

“We have completely re-designed the bale chamber and belt path,” adds Michal, “to give us neatly formed, very dense bales that will stack well and efficiently. Bale size, wraps and density pressure can all be set up on same screen page in the cab”.

In developing and testing the new baler, it has been put through its paces with farmers around the world to understand and match their needs and priorities. 150,000 bales were produced in a wide variety of crops and weather conditions in the testing programme.

The new balers come in two bale size options: the RB456 HD Pro makes 120cm-wide bales from 90cm to 165cm in diameter while the RB466 HD Pro’s are also 120cm wide but from 90cm up to 190cm in diameter. Each size comes with three rotor options: a feeding rotor, 13 cutter knives or 25 cutter knives, making six models in all.

The new RB HD Pro can be ordered from July 2022 onwards for the spring season 2023.