Chris Irvine first thought a 60 tonne Balzer chaser bin would be too big for his needs, but the Victorian farmer now says there is no way he would go back to anything else
While the exact motivation behind every farmer’s machinery purchase is different, the overarching theme of trying to improve on what they already have is a constant.
Investing in something considerably bigger, to the point of thinking it could be “overkill”, is a significant leap – but for Victorian farmer Chris Irvine the decision to purchase a 60 tonne Balzer chaser bin has been everything he hoped for and more.
So much so that when asked if he would go back to the 30 tonne tandem bin setup he used previously, his answer was simple but emphatic: “No.”
Irvine, who farms wheat and canola near Yarrawonga in Victoria’s north, chose the second largest chaser bin available through Balzer’s Australian distributor and importer MJM Equipment.
“I firstly thought it was going to be an overkill, but I needed something that could keep up with three headers and thought this was the way to go,” Irvine says.
“We definitely needed something to go bigger, with more capacity, unloading speed and the scales.
“The speed when loading trucks is second to none and this helps us get back to the header before they are full.
“I don’t think there’s another bin on the market that can do that, hence why we went this way, and it has definitely lived up to expectations.”
Maximising productive use of time at harvest is the aim of the game, with time spent moving grain around or waiting for processes to occur being considered time wasted.
The 60 tonne Balzer chaser bin has achieved this aim for Irvine, with its additional capacity helping to eliminate field bins in his farming setup and therefore streamline the entire process.
“The first thing we did was get rid of field bins because we were double handling grain,” he says.
“That was one huge efficiency gain, because as soon as you’re double handing grain it slows you down, so now it can go straight into the truck and we get back to the header.
“Getting rid of two chaser bins also reduces engine hours on another tractor, plus labour with another steering wheel attendant.
“You’ve got one tractor and one big bin and it just comes with you – we’ve had a lot of efficiency gains there.”
These benefits are based on the size of Balzer’s chaser bins, which are collectively known as the Field Floater 7 range, with Irvine’s 60 tonne tri-axle unit offering a 78,000L tank capacity.
Even the smallest of Balzer’s units – the 42 tonne tandem axle – still provides farmers with a 55,000L tank.
The largest option – the 78 tonne tri-axle – provides a whopping 100,000L capacity tank.
Many of the physical dimensions are standard across Balzer’s range, such as an overall length of 11.02 metres, plus bin length of 8.4m and 3m wheel centres for CTF.
With these dimensions, farmers can fit these large chaser bins on a standard drop deck widener float for transport.
Balzer’s 78 tonne chaser bin could be on the cards for Irvine’s operation as he mentioned there is ‘’no saying you wouldn’t go bigger in the future’’.
The 78 tonne bin is becoming popular with farmers running 60-foot header fronts, which makes unloading on the run easier with the wider chaser bin.
Machine size is an important factor for a broadacre farmer at harvest time, but Balzer’s chaser bins are far from merely being big units with little else to differentiate them.
Each model includes a 61cm (24-inch) diameter unloading auger system as standard, which is complete with Balzer’s patented hydraulic engagement clutch system for the horizontal auger.
An unload speed of 30 tonnes per minute can be achieved with these auger dimensions.
While this unload speed might scare a few people off, it can easily be adjusted right back to a trickle with the gate controls on the joystick.
The unloading auger spout adjusts in every direction, with Balzer setting out to offer exceptional precision.
Balzer chaser bins are also equipped with independent running gear and a distinct axle arrangement which utilises the manufacturer’s patented Auto-Trail steerable axle system.
The load sharing hydraulic suspension distributes the load evenly across all axles.
This leads to heavy loads feeling effortless, Balzer says, while providing superior manoeuvrability and reducing ground compaction.
This endorsement was backed up by Irvine, who praised his chaser bin’s performance in conditions which he described as “not super wet” but still damp under foot.
“With the tri-axle, it floated exceptionally well – better than expected,” he says.
“I thought it would be too big in the wet but that’s not the case at all. It floated better than our dual axle chaser bin.”
The tri-axle system was also praised by Irvine for its usability.
“The three axles are great – if you’ve got to back up, just lock them straight and they’re very easy to use,” he says.
“It’s got a reverse camera on the back so it’s not an issue at all.”
This reverse camera is part of Balzer’s three-way camera kit, which is offered as an optional feature.
Another optional feature is the Agrimatics Libra Cart, which automatically detects and records how much grain has been unloaded.
Every paired mobile device within range can view live weights, enabling the yield monitor to be calibrated from inside the combine harvester cabin.
This data can also be shared through email and the cloud, allowing tracking of important information from anywhere.
This pairs well with the chaser bin’s electronic scale system, which is offered as standard and is described by Balzer as being “cutting-edge”.
It ensures precise data management and instant yield reporting, and its accuracy when dealing with large loads helps to provide certainty for farmers loading their grain into trucks.
“Across a full load, the scales are probably within 100 kilograms,” Irvine says.
“They’re very accurate and I’m really happy with them, and being paired with the Libra Cart is great for record keeping as well.”
Other standard features on Balzer chaser bins include an internal access door, horizontal sweep auger clutch, plus hydraulic suspension which helps to distribute the ground pressure proportionately.
All features are controlled from a central location using the joystick control.
The ultimate test of a machine is how it performs in real-world conditions.
It has certainly passed this test for Irvine, with the ability to efficiently load and unload bags being another advantage.
“It’s great for unloading bags and so is the unload speed – we just haven’t found another bin like it,” he says.
“Having a full road train of grain on hand ready for a truck when it turns up means it’s a single man job – just go and load the truck, then go about your day after that.
“We have loaded into bags too and it worked well.”
Balzer chaser bins are distributed nationally by MJM Equipment – a dealer located in the northern Victorian town of Yarrawonga.
The service Irvine has received from MJM has been consistently good, he says, and he encourages anyone considering the Balzer chaser bin to get out there and test one.
“MJM Equipment has been great with their service, they always answer their phone which is all you can ask for,” Irvine says.
“If you’re thinking about a bigger chaser bin to keep up with more headers and just increase efficiency, I’d definitely give these guys a call, because their service is great and the bin is exceptional.
“Go and sit on a tractor with someone who’s got one for an hour and you’ll walk away and probably buy one in all honesty.”
Balzer chaser bins are distributed nationally by MJM Equipment, with the full product range online at www.mjmequipment.com