The new LB436 HD baler has been awarded 'Machine of the Year 2020' in the category 'Hay and Forage', and DataConnect connectivity solutions in the 'Electronics' category at Agritechnica in Hannover, Germany.

The jury, composed of a panel of European agricultural magazine editors, recognized the several benefits of this new baler range, brought by its innovative new features, enabling farmers and contractors to pack more material into every bale, while reducing handling requirements and transport costs.

The new connectivity partnership 'DataConnect' enables mixed-fleet customers to manage farm, fleet and data more easily.

With new designs and components throughout, the LB436 HD is capable of producing bales with up to 22 per cent greater density than the LB434 XL model, which produces the same 120 x 90cm bale size and remains in the range.

Features unique to the LB436 HD include a new main gearbox and mid-ship gearbox with gearshift overload protection for high power transfer and driveline safety.

In addition, an innovative new twine knotter system, named TwinePro, is designed to boost productivity while eliminating field litter and bale contamination.

The LB436 HD is fully ISOBUS Class 3 compatible, meaning not only can it be controlled from an ISOBUS terminal in the tractor cab, but the baler can also control the tractor’s actions, such as increasing forward speed in light areas of swaths, to automatically boost workrates.

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'DataConnect' is the joint effort between Case IH, STEYR, New Holland, CLAAS, John Deere and 365FarmNet aims to enable mixed-fleet customers to view their machine data in the platform of their choice. The participating brands have all agreed to enable cloud-to-cloud exchange of machine information (machine location, speed, fuel level, working status) in their competing telematics platforms. This will even further benefits to the recently launched Case IH AFS Connect telematics portal.

“The new LB436 HD offers higher density for the same bale size, as well as economic and environmental benefits thanks to its new TwinePro knotter system, while DataConnect brings our customers the freedom they need to manage their mixed-brand fleets with the highest possible efficiency,” said Thierry Panadero, Case IH Vice President Europe.