A vertical baler includes a frame defining a compaction chamber, a platen configured for vertical travel within the compaction chamber to compact refuse contained within the compaction chamber, a linear actuator coupled to the platen and configured to raise and lower the platen within the compaction chamber, an electric motor coupled to the linear actuator and configured to control extension and retraction of the linear actuator, an encoder coupled to the electric motor and configured to measure rotation of the motor, and one or more processors.

A gear assembly is disclosed for driving a ram arranged in a pressing channel of a square baler so as to be movable between end positions. The gear assembly comprises at least one side gear, which may be driven indirectly by a power take-off shaft of an agricultural production machine, and at least one reduction gear which is connected downstream from the at least one side gear and may be connected on the output side to a crankshaft on which the ram is mounted. The gear assembly further includes at least one flywheel that is connected between the at least one side gear and the at least one reduction gear, and at least one shiftable clutch device that is connected between the at least one flywheel and the at least one reduction gear.