Who makes the PR 145 baler in China? 

To be honest, when you hear about the PR 145 in China, you immediately think - well, probably some kind of copy or assembly from old components. But in reality, everything turned out to be not so simple, and I delved into it for a long time.

First impression and search

I remember when I first started becoming interested in this baler, there was little information. The names of different factories flashed on the Internet, but specifically forPR 145often confused with other models or simply resold under the old index. Many colleagues believed that it was no longer produced, but only remnants from warehouses. I thought so too at first.

Then I came across several Chinese sites where the model appeared in catalogs, but without indicating the manufacturer. It became clear that this is not an accident - it often happens that manufacturing plants work through trading companies, and the name of the equipment “lives on?” separate from the actual plant. I had to call, clarify, even compare drawings.

In one of these searches I came across a companyShandong Shenyang Mechanical Equipment Co.,Ltd. On their website https://www.shengyangjxgroup.ru in the product section a model was listed that was very similar to the PR 145, but under a different internal index. It was already a trail.

What is the manufacturer

As I later found out,Shandong Shenyang Mechanical Equipment Co.,Ltdis not just a trading company, but a manufacturing enterprise that positions itself as high-tech. In their description there is a phrase that they are engaged in the development and assembly of agricultural equipment, including balers. But here's a nuance - straight ?PR 145? may not be included in the assortment, because in China this model is often produced according to customer specifications or under different commercial names.

I contacted their technical department. It turned out that they actually produce analogues that, in terms of characteristics and design, correspondbaler PR 145, but with some modifications - for example, they strengthened the frame and changed the hydraulics to components that were more available in the region. This is a typical practice: take a proven design and adapt it to the local aftermarket.

At the same time, the company’s website shows that they have their own design bureau and test site. Not that this is a guarantee of ideal quality, but it does mean that they are not just welding iron, but are at least trying to control the process. This already means a lot in our field.

Identification problems and pitfalls

The biggest headache is just determining who the real manufacturer is. BecauseShandong Shenyang Co.,Ltdmay be the final link, and some components, for example, a pressing chamber or a feed mechanism, can be supplied from other related factories. I came across a situation where they bought equipment under the brand name of one factory, but inside they found nameplates from three different manufacturers. CPR 145this is also possible.

Another point is documentation. Sometimes one factory is indicated in the passport, and another in the service book. Judging by the communication, Shenyang tries to keep documentation uniformly, but they also have discrepancies if the batch was assembled for an urgent order. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it creates difficulties for spare parts logistics.

From experience I can say that if you need exactlybaler PR 145in its classical sense, you most likely will not find it in China. There will be an analogue, perhaps very close, but with differences. And here it is important to look not at the name, but at the drawings of the components and the specification of materials. Shenyang, for example, provides them upon request, which is already good.

Quality and operating practices

A couple of years ago we purchased a batch of balers, which under the contract were supplied as analogues of the PR 145. The manufacturer was indicated exactlyShandong Shenyang Mechanical Equipment Co.,Ltd. In the first months of work there were no problems, but then minor breakdowns began - mainly in hydraulics and in the piping unit. During disassembly, it turned out that some of the hoses were of the wrong pressure, and the strapping needles were from a different supplier.

When we contacted the plant, the response was adequate - they sent an engineer, replaced the components, and provided updated diagrams. From their explanations it became clear that at that time there was a shortage of some components, and we had to use what we had. This, by the way, is a common story among many Chinese manufacturers, not only them. What matters is how they solve the problem after the fact.

Since then they seem to have overhauled their supply control system. At least in the latest models that I have seen, I have not encountered such jambs. But I made a conclusion for myself: even when buying from a trusted manufacturer, you need to immediately request a complete specification for the components and have a stock of critical components.

Conclusions and recommendations

So, to summarize, when asked who producesbaler PR 145 in China, there is no direct answer. There are factories that produce functional analogues, and one of them isShandong Shenyang Mechanical Equipment Co.,Ltd. They have their own facilities and are engaged in development, but their products may differ from the original PR 145 in a number of parameters.

When choosing, I advise you not to get hung up on the model name, but to request detailed technical specifications, drawings of critical components and a list of main component suppliers. In Shenyang, judging by their website https://www.shengyangjxgroup.ru and communication practice, this information is available, which simplifies the assessment.

And lastly, always keep in mind that even with one manufacturer, quality can vary from batch to batch. Therefore, if possible, it is better to visit the plant in person, look at the assembly process and communicate with the engineers. This will do much more than any sales brochure or even a detailed website.