Hillco Technologies

The Wrap Twine Remover: A Commitment to Safety

We care about your safety!

The Wrap Twine Remover (WTR) has taken the ranching industry by storm since its test-launch in 2021. It endured rigorous testing for two years before finally being released for customer purchase in 2023. A primary focus of the WTR is not only convenience, but safety.

The Skid Steer Attachment

Many wise ranchers have enhanced their tractors with the addition of a WTR, but how about sprucing up your skid steer?

One of the most frequently asked questions about the WTR is:

 “Will it work on my skid steer?”

In short, the answer is a resounding YES! The Hillco Technologies WTR can be fitted with skid steer mounting brackets. Be sure to consult your manufacturer’s load weight rating as the WRT410 has a weight of 1,000lbs and the WTR510 will have a weight of 1,200lbs.

A Rancher Knows...

Every rancher is painstakingly familiar with the hazards of crawling out of your machine in slippery, muddy, muck or icy conditions that add to a fall. Some models of skid steers do not permit the doors to open when the arms of the machine are lifted. Part, if not all of it, is a safety measure.

Safety is the name of the game.

Getting out of a skid steer with a bale, and/or arms, in the air poses a serious hazard. The fact of the matter is that the arms could fall, or the skid may tip under the weight of the load.

Result? Serious injury or death.

The same can be said for loader tractors. You may not be as limited as a skid steer in terms of getting out of the cab or off the operators’ platform to manually cut the netwrap. However, getting caught under a bale or loader that fails still means serious injury or death. Then, in addition to the environmental risks listed before that add to slipping on the ground, there is the potential of:

  • Equipment rolling away if the parking brake is not set properly.
  • Getting knocked over or trampled by the very cattle you are trying to feed.
  • Hovering over a bale processor of pulverizing gears.

Aside from these direct hazards, there’s the waste. If you cut bales when on the ground, there’s then wasted hay that must be dealt with.

At Hillco Technologies, we care about our customers. Utilizing a WTR in your operation provides a solution to help mitigate the risks of operation discussed.

Thought Experiment...

Next time you are fending off a horde of ravenous 1,500-pound cattle, feeding by yourself with frozen hands, slipping on ice and muck, take a moment to think about the difference it would make if you never had to leave the operator’s seat.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top
close-roi-calculator
Return on Investment Calculator

This calculator is designed to determine the return on investment for a Hillco leveling system equipped combine versus a non-leveling combine operating in sloping conditions.

Crop Type
Wheat       Corn and Soybean
Acreage Information

Crop Information

Enter your operation's statistics and estimates.
Wheat
Corn
Soybeans

Acreage / Slope Information

Estimate the percentage of total harvested acres that lay within the various slope ranges in your farming operation.
For all Wheat Acreage
See Slope reference chart
Percentage slope values must equal 100%
100%
Your Harvest Speeds and Machine Harvested Yield (MHY)

Non-Leveling Ground Speed in MPH

Enter the average harvesting speed for your non-leveling combine in the various slope ranges at the average yield entered in the Crop Information section above.

Slope Reference Graph
Wheat
Corn
Soy

Reduction in Machine Harvested Yield (bu/acre)

Estimate the reduction of Machine Harvested Yield (MHY) for each slope range if you were harvesting at the speed you entered for 0-3% slopes. (The calcultor will then project expected reductions in MHY for each slope range at your previously estimated ground speeds.)

You may opt to enter the test data which was determined by actual field testing by Hillco (based on 5 mph harvesting speed).

Reduction in MHY is used in these calculations rather than field loss. Reduction in MHY is a more accurate guage of combine harvesting efficiency because it can be determined by actually weighing the harvested yield rather than estimating the amount of yield lost to the ground.

Use test data or your own
Corn
Soy
Your Combine and Header Information
Enter your expected combine harvesting efficiency. Typically a combine operates at approximately 70% efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too small you may want to decrease the combine efficiency. If the Total Annual Separator Hours calculated below look too large you may want to increase the combine efficiency.
Wheat head width in feet
Corn head width in feet
Flex header width in feet
Combine Field Efficiency (Typically 70%)
(Must enter value other than 0%)
Your Operational Costs
This total should include additional cost of benefits and taxes. If you wish to include the grain cart operator's cost add the hourly wage to the combine operator hourly labor costs.
Combine Operator Labor Cost (per hour, including taxes and benefits)
Combine Fuel Cost

If you wish to include added grain cart fuel add hourly grain cart fuel usage to the combine fuel usage.

Combine Fuel Consumption (Hourly - Typically 11-13 gph)

Cost per added separator hour usually runs approximately $180 per hour for new combines to $30 per hour for older used combines. If you don't want to consider the added benefit of lower separator hours enter $0.

Cost Per Separator Hour
(How much does your combine devalue for each added separator hour of use?)

Use example prices below or obtain a quote from your local dealership.

List price examples for leveling systems used on John Deere combines:
Leveling System Model 2955S for -- 9560-70 STS combine dual tire, w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,960.00 List Price

Leveling System Model 2970S for -- 96-97-9860-70 STS combine,dual tire w/ Hillco Leveler Installed = $42,085.00 List Price

List price examples for leveling systems used on Case-IH combines:
Leveling System Model 2800 for -- 2577-88 combine, dual tire w/Hillco Leveler, Installed = $42,210.00 List Price


See examples or call your local dealership for a quote.
(On Leveling System Financing)

Enter the number of years (from 1 to 5, whole number) for the desired calculation period.

Market value at the end of 5 years regardless of the length of the calculation period.

Used in net present value calculation

Cash Flows (Totals for Calculation Period)
Positive Cash Flows
Labor Savings
0
Fuel and Lubcriation Savings
0
Increased Income from Machine Harvested Yield
0
Residual Value of Leveling System (At end of Calculation Period)
0
Increased Combine Value Due to Reduced Separator Hours
0
Total Positive Cash Flows
0
Negative Cash Flows
Leveling System Cost (Total Principle & Interest Payments)
-0
Remaining Principle Balance On 5 Year Note
-0
Leveling System Maintenance Cost (Annual 2% of Purchase Price)
-0
Total Negative Cash Flows
-0
Total Net Cash Flow (Positive - Negative)
0
Investment Analysis
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (without leveling system)
0
Total Average Annual Separator Hours (with leveling system)
0
Average Annual Separator Hour Savings
0
Total Separator Hour Savings as % of Total Separator Hours
0
Average Payback Period (in years)
The length of time it takes for an investment to recover its initial cost.
0
Total Net Present Value of Cash Flows
NPV compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account.
0
Internal Rate of Return
The internal rate of return (IRR) method allows you to consider the time value of money. It is the interest rate that is equivalent to the dollar returns you expect from your project. Once you know the rate, you can compare it to the rates you could earn by investing your money in other projects or investments. Usually a business owner will insist that in order to be acceptable, a project must be expected to earn an IRR that is at least several percentage points higher than the cost of borrowing, to compensate the company for its risk, time, and trouble associated with the project.
0