A baler for compacting fibrous materials or other compactable materials having a platen operable by two compression devices. One compression device is at least one hydraulic cylinder with a piston rod attached to the platen which performs compaction. The other compression device is at least one hydraulic cylinder with a piston rod which is attached to the platen and performs tramping. The apparatus provides rapid tramping before compaction by the selective activation of only the second compression device. Both cylinders function through a common hydraulic fluid reservoir and solenoid valve.
