The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Birnie brothers have a Bale-Safe way to work
If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, then farming brothers Stephen and Iain Birnie of SIB Services Machinery should be feeling very flattered indeed.
Because since the loadsecuring bale trailer they developed on the farm at Maud in Aberdeenshire won Silver in the 2018 Royal Highland technical innovations awards scheme, their brainwave has spawned a large number of look-alike models.
The aim of the concept they developed with manufacturer Mark Hall Machinery was to simply make securing a load of round or square bales ready for hauling back to the yard a quicker and easier process.
They did that by building vertical structures centrally at each end of a flat-bed bale trailer, and then attaching hydraulic lift parallel arms carrying side frames running the full length of the bed.
With one or both frames lowered to the ground, bales can be loaded singly or in pairs from either side; and with the trailer full, raising the frames holds the bales tight and secure for the journey to store.
It’s a whole lot quicker than tying down the load – and the same is true for releasing the bales to unload; pull a lever or press a button, down goes the side and in goes the loader, with no ropes or straps to roll up and stow for the next trip to the field.
Making the job that quick and easy not only boosts productivity – users say they save up to an hour per load compared with ratchet straps – it also guarantees secure loads every time as a safety measure for farm staff and the public sharing local roads alike
The Birnie Bale Safe continues in production with its telescopic side frames accommodating two or three layers of round or square bales and the unique ability to invert the frames to a lower position to secure loads such as potato boxes, pallets and bulk bags.
The Birnies’ SIB company is also importing a more simple two-layer trailer from manufacturer Dinapolis to match the numerous designs that have emerged as the idea has found favour with farmers.
For example, the Red Heavy commercial axle flat-bed bale trailers from Keith Rose Engineering at Huntly can be equipped with a bale-retaining frame comprising fixed end and one fixed side section, and a lowering frame carried on parallel linkage arms on the remaining side.
Although this restricts loading and unloading to one side of the trailer, it does ensure there is a firm brace to push the bales against when loading and there are some component cost savings.
Stewart Trailers can configure their 26ft to 36ft flatbed models with hydraulically lowered and raised bale securing frames to both sides.
There are two- and three-layer versions, the latter getting a third tubular steel rail that when needed pivots out and upwards from its ‘parked’ position alongside the main structure.
The BH bale transport models are available with either an all-over twopack flexi-paint finish or with the chassis, drawbar and deck galvanised.
Manufacturers also building this style of selfsecuring bale trailer include AW Trailers, Bailey, Joskin, Morris, Philip Watkins, SlurryKat and Staines Trailers.
A different approach has been taken for the Easy Secure System devised by Marshall Trailers at Bucksburn; it comprises one heavy duty bar stretching the length of deck attached via pivots to a straight, tapered arm at each end.
Suspended from this and also attached to the side of the deck is a ‘net’ made from webbing straps and, of course, this assembly on either side is raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinders.
As the beam is lowered, the net folds in on itself to leave the way clear for loading and offloading with arguably less risk of the structure being damaged by a carelesslydriven loader tractor than the steel assemblies of other designs.
Bulk bags of seed or fertiliser, vegetable boxes and other items as well as bales can be secured on the trailer. A further variation on the theme is the ‘cage’ designs from Heath Engineering and its agent PK Sales, and German manufacturer Fliegl.
These trailers have an all-enclosing frame with one side lifting up out of the way for loading/ unloading in the case of the Heath Load & Go, and either one or two-side openings on Fliegl’s tandem axle or turntable flatbeds.
The Load & Go is a bolt-on structure that PK Sales says can be fabricated to fit any bale trailer and on long bed models comes with a central as well as end frames for added structural strength.