KARATZIS Bale netwrap is designed to: runs in all balers, wrap bales right to the edge, securing crop protection in complete round bales of hay, straw or silage in all crops. Following our basic guidelines, you will manage a higher haylage output and a trouble-free baling.

KARATZIS Bale netwrap is subject to regular DLG monitoring tests which is performed on all saleable balers worldwide as well as checked for technical specifications requirements. More exact details you will find in our DLG-accredited report www.dlg-test.de

1. MAKING A BETTER ROUND BALE.

Load the bale chamber evenly, driving from side to side.
A good round bale is well-packed, has square corners and has a uniform size across its width. It captures and holds the feed, is easy to handle and will store well with little spoilage.

It is always best to have a windrow as wide as the width of the baler pickup head for making uniform diameter bales. If a box-shaped swath cannot be achieved, baler driving can also assist bale shape.

During ejection ensure that the bale does not snag on the belts or the chamber rollers.
Completed bales can be damaged if they are held in the chamber when they should be ejected, as the continued rotation of the bales damages the net.

Cause

• Rust from a baler which has been stored during winter or paint on a new baler model can slow the bale’s rotation.
• Big size bale that is get jammed in the chamber.
• Bale is not released due to the baler is not set at the right ejection angle.

Remedies

• Clean and free from rust and dirt.
• Disengage or reduce the speed of the tractor’s PTO while the tailgate is being opened and closed for bale ejection.
• Disengage the drive belts during the bale ejection process. It will reduce damage to the bale surface, reduces wear on the belts, and prevents belt mis- tracking while the tailgate is open.
• Bring in the baler at the right angle aligned with the tractor to eject the bale smoothly.

2. ENSURING BALING PROCESS

In order to use the bale netwrap successfully on all round balers, the basic process remains the same.

Both feed rollers must be correctly aligned.

Make sure that the steel or rubber rollers are adjusted accordingly at each side in order to achieve the desired feeding pressure.

Rubber rollers must be parallel to each other.

Check with a sheet of paper along the whole width of the rollers to assure calibration.

The bale netwrap roll can be aligned to the right and left in the center to the baler using a mounting lever.

Set and control bale netwrap tension
Almost all balers allow you to adjust bale netwrap tension when forming a bale as well as the spread across the width of the bale.

Proper bale netwrap tension ensures the net will spread across the full width of the bale, grip the bale tightly to form uniform bales and allows the cutting mechanism to cut the net cleanly after wrapping.

When loading the bale netwrap roll, threading in tight, lengthwise in the direction of the feed rollers. Optimus tension is set when bale netwrap is 5-10% stretched on the bale.

3. HANDLE AND STORE THE BALES CAREFULLY.

Careful handling might prevent significant damage to the bales during transportation. Using improperly the equipment for handling bales can be disastrous for your valued bailage.

It is not recommended use a bale grab to impale the sides of the bale. Bale netwrap may damaged during lifting and may not be able to withhold the bale pressure, which can cause bale bursting.

Bale clamp instead of bale grab is a safer equipment for handling wrapped big bales.

When bales are marketed or stored for more than one season, consider indoor storage or bale covers. The outer 10cm thick layer of a 1,8m diameter round bale contains about 25 percent of the total bale volume, so protecting this layer is important.

Beware of the side forces with stacked bales. A stack can exert a significant load on the walls of a storage structure. Round bales may be stacked either on their ends, if covered, or on their sides in a pyramid. Use bales of the same diameter.

4. THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WRAPS ON THE BALE

It is essential that the bale is wrapped with the minimum amount of Bale netwrap, depending on the crop being harvested.

The following guide shows how to achieve optimum baling and refers to the recommended minimum number of layers on the bale’s surface:

*South Europe, South America, New Zealand, Australia, USA and South Africa

✓ For best results we suggest applying a minimum number of bale netwrap revolutions.
✓ Based upon the type of crop, the weight of the bales and the climatic conditions, it may be necessary to use more revolutions than suggested.
✓ Do not expose the roll to extremely low or high temperatures.
✓ Keep the roll in the original packaging until usage.
✓ The bale netwrap is UV stabilized, nevertheless it is recommended to shelter the bales within several days.
✓ Keep the bale netwrap away from chemical products which could alter the UV-stability, e.g. high concentrations of mineral and chemicals including sulphates (S), chlorine (Cl), aluminium (Al). Don’t bring the bale netwrap in contact with the following chemicals, when their concentration is over 200 ppm: S, Cu, As, Hg, Ti, F, Br, I, Al.
✓ Only Chlorine, max. 40 ppm. This applies when the bale netwrap is in the packaging, around a finished bale and during storage. If the concentration is higher than the started concentration, bale netwrap can be damaged and break!

5. BALE NETWRAP TROUBLESHOOTING AND REMEDIES

Problem: Net Splitting

Cause:

1. Net being snagged or damaged in baler, causing laddering,

• Check net path through baler for sharp edges and rust.
• Check net is not being damaged on end, within the net box space.
• Worn or damaged units will tear net.

2. Insufficient net applied to the bale.

• Bales should always have a minimum of 2 turns of net per bale

Problem: Net wrapping around feed rollers

Cause:
1. Uneven net cutting leaving Long tails of net catching on feed rollers.

• Adjust brake tension to give a cleaner cut on the net and look at the cutting action and ensure the knife is clean and undamaged. Typically, knives need sharpening every 500 to 1000 bales, depending on the material baled, and it is important to sharpen them correctly if they are to stay the course

2. Feed rollers worn or damaged, catching net when running.

• Check feed rollers are smooth and free from anything that may interfere with the bale netwrap.

3. Feed rollers wet or sticky from damp or crop residue.

• Clean rollers and apply talc (chalk) or anti-static spray

4. Bale netwrap feed guide behind feed rollers damp or dirty from crop residue.

• Clean net feed guide plate.

Problem: Net not spreading to edge of bale Cause:

1. Bale netwrap not tensioned sufficiently.

• Check and adjust net wrap tension in baler. More tension will help net to spread better.

2. Uneven bale density.

• Bales with less dense edges will cause the net to “neck down” on the bale and go to the edge.

3. Crop residue jammed in baler.

• Crop jammed between chamber belts and drive rollers will restrict the net from being applied evenly to the bale.

4. Feed rollers miss aligned.

• Check and correct feed roller alignment. Bad adjustment will lead to uneven feeding and therefore application to the bale.

Problem: Bale netwrap snapping in baler Cause:

1. Roll of net jammed tight in bale box.

• Check core is not swollen and out of shape, restricting its operation in baler.
• Check net wrap box is not restricting roll running freely.
• Check there is not too much brake tension being applied to the roll.

2. Excessive friction on the net.

• Ensure baler’s fixed tension bars are clean, free from dirt and rust and that the net is threaded correctly. Incorrect installation can lead to broken net, feeding and cutting problems.