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scmn | You are also looking at 2 different markets. There are a lot of used self propelled sprayers around because of the advances in spray technology. With the advances in section control, auto-guidance, and VVR driving the markert, the cost of retrofitting new technologies onto older machine platforms made it more economical for custom operators to update machines which resulted in a lot more used machines on the market which made self propelled sprayers more affordable for the smaller operators. Once they were accustomed to the self propelled sprayer, they demanded more from a spray and were more willing to invest more money into a sprayer. The same can be said about the pull type round baler market. Round balers have been around for over 40 years, but the major shift from small squares to rounds really only occurred in the last 20 years as baler advancements (net, shape monitoring, heavier bales, auto cycle, auto stop tractor, etc) kept the big guys trading resulting in a large variety of used machines that are affordable for the guys making 50-1000 bales/year.
It will be some time before there are a lot of the ZR5-1200s on the secondary or even tertiary markets because the productivity/$$$ equation needs to change to make it more economical. I would think it will be 10-15 years before they become really popular based on the fact that is took close to 20 yrs before self propelled combines took over the combine market and similar time frame for the self propelled sprayer market. Had Vermeer come out with the self propelled baler prior to the T4 emissions the cost would likely have been more favorable making the switch to self propelled occur at a faster rate. If the custom guys can show that the SP baler is far more efficient (lower operating cost/custom charges) you will see a quick shift in the market, however, if the operating costs are similar or higher, the market shift which take significantly longer. A portion of the market will be held back the convenience of tossing a different tractor on the baler when the first one goes down due to emissions, electronics, t-post in tire, etc and won't be up and running for a few days vs having the SP machine dead in the water until the dealer gets there. With combines and sprayers you can get SP models with fewer electronics and pre emmissions engines, that is not the case with the SP baler. | |
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Playing around with Vermeer Self-propelled baler ZR5-1200
