A bale opener • for opening pressed fiber bales deployed in a deployment direction: and • comprising - a removal unit; - a machine frame that · has a column element at which the removal unit is directly or indirectly arranged in a vertically variable manner, comprising · a first side wall that extends perpendicular and that forms the column element; and · a second side wall extending perpendicular, · wherein the removal unit is received between the side walls (17, 18); and wherein · the machine frame is travelable in the deployment direction so that o the fiber bales can be traveled over by the removal unit; and o fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales in this process; - a suction air passage extending in the deployment direction, • into which the suction air having the fiber material can be led from a suction device; and • that is covered by a cover strip at the upper side; and - a belt raising unit by which the cover strip can be locally raised from the upper side of the suction air passage, characterized in that • the suction air passage is mounted at the base side, with • the belt raising unit being arranged at an outer side of the column element remote from the removal unit; and • a suction air duct (19, 58) of the suction device being led from the column element into the belt raising unit. • for opening pressed fiber bales deployed in a deployment direction: and • comprising - a removal unit; - a machine frame that · has a column element at which the removal unit is directly or indirectly arranged in a vertically variable manner, - a removal unit; - a machine frame that · has a column element at which the removal unit is directly or indirectly arranged in a vertically variable manner, · has a column element at which the removal unit is directly or indirectly arranged in a vertically variable manner, · a first side wall that extends perpendicular and that forms the column element; and · a second side wall extending perpendicular, · wherein the removal unit is received between the side walls (17, 18); and wherein · the machine frame is travelable in the deployment direction so that o the fiber bales can be traveled over by the removal unit; and o fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales in this process; - a suction air passage extending in the deployment direction, · wherein the removal unit is received between the side walls (17, 18); and wherein · the machine frame is travelable in the deployment direction so that o the fiber bales can be traveled over by the removal unit; and o fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales in this process; - a suction air passage extending in the deployment direction, o the fiber bales can be traveled over by the removal unit; and o fiber material can be removed from the fiber bales in this process; - a suction air passage extending in the deployment direction, - a suction air passage extending in the deployment direction, • into which the suction air having the fiber material can be led from a suction device; and • that is covered by a cover strip at the upper side; and - a belt raising unit by which the cover strip can be locally raised from the upper side of the suction air passage, - a belt raising unit by which the cover strip can be locally raised from the upper side of the suction air passage, • the suction air passage is mounted at the base side, with • the belt raising unit being arranged at an outer side of the column element remote from the removal unit; and • a suction air duct (19, 58) of the suction device being led from the column element into the belt raising unit.