Krone has added Plus and Pro variants to its Series Six BiG Pack large square baler range, extending a lineup that now spans more tiers than a farm supply catalogue in January.

The announcement, reported by Rural News Group, confirms the German machinery maker is widening the BiG Pack family rather than replacing it. Krone builds the BiG Pack series at its Spelle plant in Lower Saxony, and the balers have long sat in the professional contractor and large-arable segment, where throughput per hour and knotter reliability decide the purchase.

What does this change for baler buyers?

For now, less than you'd hope. The headline tells us the range is growing; it does not yet tell us what separates Plus from Pro, or either from the existing Series Six models. Typically in this market, tiered suffixes signal differences in:

• binding systems (net, twine or wire)
• knife banks and chopping configuration
• Intelli-style automation and ISOBUS functionality
• bale density and chamber specification

Until Krone publishes full specifications, contractors comparing the new tiers against competitors' big balers are working half-blind. The practical question — which tier suits a 400-hectare arable operation versus a high-output contracting fleet — has no published answer yet.

Why tiering matters now

Baler makers are segmenting ranges the way tractor makers did a decade ago: same chassis, different automation and comfort levels, priced accordingly. For buyers, that's mostly good news. It means a farm can spec down to a simpler machine or up to a fully automated one without switching brands, dealers or parts pipelines. It also means the price list gets harder to read.

What to watch next

Expect full specifications, horsepower requirements and UK and Irish dealer availability details as the launch rolls out over the coming months. Anyone in the market for a large square baler this season should wait for the spec sheets before signing anything. The Series Six just got more complicated. In this trade, that usually means it also got more interesting.