Vicon BalePack fixed-chamber round baler/wrapper: Vicon introduced its BalePack in-line round baler and wrapping system in 2000. Built around the RF 130 fixed-chamber baler, the BalePack system was expanded to include variable-chamber RV 1601 and RV 1901 units from 2003. Here James de Havilland focuses on the fixed-chamber models. Although the wrapping element has changed very little since it was first introduced, the same certainly does not apply to the fixed-chamber RF baler.
Vicon’s fixed-chamber round balers underwent a significant change with the introduction of the firm’s RF 235 models in 2006. Predecessor RF 130 and RF 135 balers make a decent enough bale but, in terms of overall build, are a generation behind the RF 235 and essentially similar RF 2235 of 2007. It is important to establish this difference from the outset, as the later machines are better suited to high annual outputs.
Deciding upon the farm’s likely workload should make it easier to work out which fixed-chamber RF BalePack combi baler/wrapper to seek out as a used purchase. The RF 235-based models are designed to handle 15,000 bales plus a year. An RF 130 or RF 135 unit may manage that type of workload in terms of productivity, but will almost certainly call for more mid-season maintenance to achieve it.
What has been subjected to less change over the years is the wrapping element, which has remained much the same on all machines, including the RV variable-chamber units. An important improvement, though, relates to the film cutters.
The original design has a tendency for profi 1/2009 40 www.profi.com film to build up and impair cutting performance in certain crop conditions. A completely new design of film cutter was fitted from around mid-2005 onwards, and this mod eliminates the problem.
