Hesston by Massey Ferguson has a new small square baler on the market. Producing two rows of bales per field pass — doubling output over a single baler producing 14-by-18-inch bales — the baler is advertised as delivering optimal field performance, good bale consistency “to help commercial hay producers meet today’s challenges.”
“The SB.1436DB is built to meet the needs of modern hay producers who face increasing pressure from labor shortages, tight harvest windows and demanding quality standards,” says Dane Mosel, marketing manager for Hesston. “With its heavy-duty design and groundbreaking technology, this baler helps operators achieve better efficiency and superior results, reducing costs while increasing profitability.”
By producing two rows of bales per pass, the SB.1436DB doubles its capacity, reducing labor needs, equipment wear and fuel consumption. Its 105-inch pickup width is the widest in the high-capacity, small square baler category.
The SB.1436DB has double the capacity of Hesston’s standard 4-by-20 baler. In combo with its larger width, “we can create double the number of bales in the field,” said Jessica Williamson, marketing manager for hay and forage equipment with Agco at a media event in Louisville. Ky.
The baler features Hesston’s SimplEbale system, an advanced electronic monitoring and control system that automates critical baling processes for consistent bale density, weight and dimensions. From the cab, operators can monitor flake thickness, flake count, bale length and bale weight in real time, ensuring maximum throughput. SimplEbale also eliminates common operator errors.
“With a target of 40 pounds and 12 flakes per two-tie bale, an operator can lose 71 bales per hour and 1.43 tons per hour of productivity by just averaging two extra flakes per bale,” Mosel said. “This can cost over eight hours of additional baling time. SimplEbale eliminates this issue by automating bale production, helping operators achieve better results.”
The machine also features twine spools that work independently of each other to create consistent bale length. Operating at 90 strokes per minute with a 21.9-inch stroke length, the MF SB.1436DB requires a 1,000-rpm PTO, a minimum of 120 PTO-hp and a minimum tractor weight of 11,000 pounds.