Major design innovations that accelerate the "bale-starting" process, streamline hay pickup and feed performance, and a new bale monitoring system that tracks bale formation, weight and moisture levels, are all available on a new line of Vermeer "Super" Balers built specifically for custom operators and high-volume producers.

The new Vermeer 605 and 604 Super M Series Balers (introduced recently at the Vermeer 60th Anniversary open house) are designed to help producers increase tonnage per day by simplifying the process and reducing the amount of time, steps and guesswork involved in harvesting high-density round bales.

Dual Stage Belt Tightening
To increase starting speeds, a new dual-stage belt tightening system automatically creates a tighter, "more receptive" bale-starting chamber for smoother, more trouble-free starts. The chamber then expands as the bale is formed. "We're seeing a remarkable improvement in functionality and speed with this new, unique, belt-tightener design*," says Vermeer Forage Solutions Director Joe Michaels. "It simplifies the bale-starting process and it improves performance in a wide variety of crops and conditions."

Direct Crop Feed
Both models feature a simple, heavy-duty, user-friendly Direct Crop Feed (DCF) wide pickup system* designed specifically for high-volume haying. The exclusive integrated design comes with a reinforced 5-bar pickup and self-cleaning double augers tucked in front - and on each side - of the baler's lower bottom drum roller.

 "With DCF, everything is direct," Michaels added. "That means there are no stuffers or rotors to maintain or replace, and there's less damage to fragile leaves because DCF totally eliminates the 'stop-and-start' action you find with secondary 'stuffer' drives.

Heavy-duty split tine bars, solid center support and an adjustable dual cam track provide excellent stability across the entire length of the pickup. Rubber-mounted tines improve pickup action and lower replacement costs.

New Bale EXpert Monitor/Sensing System
According to Michaels, the new Bale EXpert monitor system also provides operators with "more in-depth real-time intelligence on what's actually happening in the bale chamber." Three high-resolution sensors located on the belts (standard on 605 Super M models only) provide “comprehensive bale shape and size feedback" to the operator, as opposed to the more typical two-sensor systems used on other baler models. Load cells in the axles and hitch estimate real-time weight information*. Moisture sensors, located in the baler's side panel discs, report hay moisture data*. Both systems link to the Bale EXpert monitor, which provides information on individual bales and average bale weight/moisture data recorded by specific field or customer.

A unique optional netwrap system* feeds the net directly onto the main belts. Brake tension and friction feed (a) maximize the number of bales per roll and (b) maintain tension on the wrap to ensure a clean cut and positive grip when wrapping the next bale. They also automatically adjust tension to the size of netwrap roll. In addition, Super M operators can actually speed up the wrapping cycle using a patent-pending process that triggers the start of the wrap function, even when the bale is completing its final rotation within the chamber. The system handles both standard and over-width net. A robust, center-pivot, electric twine-tie system (with dual feed slots) and is easy to thread, maintain and monitor.

Upper drive, lower drive and starter rollers are all built "through the wall" for increased bearing protection and stability. Large drive shafts and hex drive sprockets and bearings (including heavy-duty triple lip bearings in the idler rollers) reduce contamination and wear. 14L 16.1 flotation tires and semi-pneumatic pickup gauge wheels (w/hydraulic pickup lift) are all standard. (Larger 21.5L 16.1 tires are also available.)

Additional "Super" Series Baler features include Drop 'n Go Bale Ejection, cut-out clutch protection, cushion tailgate cylinders, 10-ball twine storage; safety/highway light assemblies and hydraulic hose guides.

The Vermeer 605 Super M produces high-density bales 30" to 72" in diameter and 61" wide, with a maximum bale weight of 2400 lbs (dry); the 604 Super M also bales 30" to 72" in diameter, but in narrower 47" widths (to accommodate 8-ft wide transport), with a maximum bale weight of 2000 lbs (dry). With an optional silage baling kit, both models can easily harvest high nutrition, high-energy forage at recommended 50% - 65% moisture levels. Minimum tractor horsepower is 80 hp for the 605 Super M; 70 hp for 604 Super M.

Vermeer Corporation manufactures a full line of haying equipment including large round balers, mowers, mower/conditioners, rakes, tedders, bale processors, silage wrappers, bale movers and hay handling equipment; plus a wide assortment of industrial equipment for tree, construction, environmental and underground utility service work. For more information on Vermeer Agricultural equipment, log into the Vermeer Ag website at www.vermeerag.com

* Vermeer patents cover Vermeer Direct Crop Feed (DCF) wide pickup (#7,204074 / #6,948,300) and NetWrap systems (#7,181,900). Patents are also pending on the Vermeer dual-stage belt tightener, the “early” net-wrap system and both bale weight and moisture sensor designs. 

VERMEER®, and the Vermeer logo are a registered trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries.