AN upgraded to Kuhn's largest fixed chamber round baler, the FB 3135, includes a fully automated version for functions such as chamber opening, plus closing and unblocking functionality.

There's fully automatic tailgate operation, with visual and acoustic signals on the baler’s control terminal giving all the data at all stages of the baling and netting process.

The chamber unblocking feature has an overload protection clutch, which is activated whenever the baler’s crop intake is too high, automatically retracts the baler’s cutting knives and lowers the drop-floor system. After the pto is re-engaged, the baler’s rotor restarts and the crop is guided into the bale chamber – this process is also illustrated on the machine’s control terminal.

Also automated is knife cleaning, with the baler’s knives cleaned after a pre-defined number of bales to keeps the knife slots clean and debris free for easier knife removal and replacement.

The system is also available as a retrofit option on the existing FB 3135 at a cost of £2428.