FarmBuddy
Guest
I've looked over some of the discussion on here, and will throw in some comments. The Bi-Rotor remains a very interesting machine and the Dakota City, NE demonstation to JD in the fall of 1994 convinced JD that it had tremendous harvesting and performance characteristics. We then showed JD the VPS Versatile Power System, during January 1995, a few people also got that video sent to them. That really made JD sit up and take notice. JD hired back some retired engineers in January '95, completed their own internal market and engineering research and decided they better acquire the rights. Frankly, their approach to Agri-Technology included all the warm fuzzys, JD said they needed a rotary design (true),said they needed some tracked equipment (true),might even want to build a new green field factory (considered),liked our grain and MOG _ widespread combined, discharge systems, yadda yadda. I cautioned Mark and Ralph about the probable consequences of a sale to JD, but at the same time, it put the Bi-Rotor into their capable manufacturing hands and we knew their check would please the investors. That was the biggest risk we took. Frankly, twelve years later, it has been gut wrenching to me to see that JD bought up the BR patents so it would NOT be competing against their STS combines (which were already on their CAD "drawing boards" by 1995 with planned intros in 1998). In hindsight, JD was right again, the XBR2 BiRotor with higher Fc rotary concave, simple dual path grain handling, lateral slope compensator, 400 bu graintank and high volume, variable speed conveyor unloader would have been a viable competitor against the STS series and very likely a top performer in today's markets. Furthermore, the VPS configuration would have cut into their 4WD and CCS planter sales. Perhaps even some of their sprayer sales for spring burn down operations. This would have made farming more afforable for smaller operations also, while making better use of machinery investment dollars. One can see that JD acted in their best interest as they have continued to sell more tractors, combines, sprayers and all the related engines, cabs, and powertrains. Eventually the technology will get adopted since so many aspects made good sense. Finally one aspect, the overhead air intake system is on the 2006 STS combines, so more bi-rotor technology will probably come along with the 2008 models. I've been pretty busy working CHIS; Combine Header Interface Standardization proposal which will eventually make it easier and safer to install various headers and bio mass collection systems on various combines. These have both been big challenges but with a lot of potential improvement for farmers. Regarding other comments above: Company X was not Claas, it was New Holland _ in Belguim. Our test in AZ and CA were conducted against TX and a TR combine. The bi-rotor performed well, except for a failed worm gear case driving the concave _ cage. Caused by a cross shaft position error _ flaw from Superior Gearbox in Stockton, MO, Main problem was that NH would not let us isolate between rotor and our shoe losses, which had inadequate inlet area in June _ July 1994. NH seemed to manipulate some of the data and eventually convinced Cat ag managers that their TX series was better. CAt AG also had to concentrate more time and money on the Challenger RC project during the rest of 1994. We corrected our shoe air flow inlet problem back in Ark City before our fall 1994 demonstrations to JD up in Nebraska. Two weeks later, the XBR2 was shown for the first and last time publicly at the USCHI convention in lawrence, KS. JD flew in a few jet loads of upper management, looked things over, were impressed and bought it up within 6 months. Cat eventually became disenhearted with NH, and Claas offered an opportunity to sell green Challengers in EU in exchange for selling yellow lexions in the US. That led to the Cat _ Claas lexion relationship, and the bumper sticker, Nothing runs like a Deere with a Cat on its rear. So I expect the lexion will eventually force JD to adopt some more advanced XBR2 technology maintain their position in the harvesting market. The whole Dream Reaper story is not over yet, just much longer than anticipated and getting better each year. If we had it to do over again, it might have been better to go with our origninal plans to build BiRotors at a new factory site near Wellington, KS. But that was not the path chosen, so now we may never know. The next few years will be just as interesting. Ralf, thanks for posting the website photos. Perhaps we'll add more information and models and videos eventually. I might even include some photos at the ICCHP conference in louisville 11-14 Feb 2007, but manufacturers may not like us talking about the Bi-Rotor, or even CHIS before they are on the market. Alan VN