John Deere 7200 and Two AT3000 Applicators - Two-Farm Consolidation

The shipment

Meridian connected two existing farming customers and coordinated one consolidated shipment for their separate requirements. The John Deere 7200 was purchased for a farm in Central Russia, while the two AT3000 fertilizer applicators were intended for a farm in Krasnodar Region. The two AT3000 units used different opener configurations: one had disc openers and the other used shank-type openers. The customer required ground-driven mechanical pumps operated through the implement wheels. One applicator lacked the complete system, so Meridian purchased a new pump and the related drive equipment before export. The principal loading risk came from combining delicate planter components with the large, heavy applicator frames. Plastic parts could be crushed if the frames shifted or were stacked in the wrong sequence. Meridian first placed the vulnerable plastic components on racks near the container roof and protected them with carefully positioned wheels. Heavy frames were then arranged through the center and toward the door end of the container, together with the associated connections, hoses and wheels. The sequence preserved access for unloading and kept the approximately 18.5 metric tons of equipment distributed around the container's longitudinal centerline rather than concentrated to one side. Ro-Ro and Flat Rack transportation were considered, but consolidating all three machines in one container provided the more practical economic solution and allowed the sealed cargo to continue to the receiving farm without intermediate unpacking. Meridian's responsibility ended at the Port of Novorossiysk. The complete load continued to the Krasnodar farm, where it was unloaded and divided. The Central Russia customer collected the John Deere 7200, assembled it and placed it in service; the Krasnodar customer retained and commissioned both AT3000 applicators. No delay, damage or route change was reported.