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 ; 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 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 ; 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 ; 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 of the suction device being led from the column element into the belt raising unit . <EOS>