Kondex representatives recently returned to Australia to gain first-hand validation of its concave success down under. Kondex and its distributor, Harvestaire, visited nearly a dozen different farmers throughout Western Australia, many of whom have used Kondex concaves for multiple seasons.
“Since our last Australian visit, Kondex expanded the box insert options for our KX7 concaves,” commented Senior Application Engineer Andy Theisen. “This trip offered the opportunity to compare 2023 harvest results that used our traditional MaxThreshTM and MaxRoundTM box styles to the 2024 harvest using a MaxThresh and MaxGrate combination. This change elevated the performance from very good to exceptional!”
Due to climate and growing conditions, the Western Australia crop mix is primarily small grains. The shape of the openings in the MaxGrate concave assemblies is more conducive to their crops, as it’s open enough for grain to pass through, but less elongated than MaxRound inserts to minimize material other than grain (MOG) from entering the cleaning system.
Above: The primary KX7 box inserts in Australia include (left to right) MaxRound, MaxThresh, and MaxGrate
Below: Commonly recommended small grain Australian configuration
Many Australian farmers have their concaves set up with what Harvestaire has coined, “The Kondex Australian Kit,” which is a combination of either KX7 or Kondex RevolutionTM MaxThresh concaves in the front positions and KX7 MaxGrate concaves behind them. One of the farmers Kondex visited is in his second year with this Kondex Australian Kit and his third year with KX7 MaxThresh concaves. Harvestaire posted exceptional videos and photos of the canola sample quality he gained. The farmer is extremely pleased with the concave performance, specifically for the sample quality, reduction in rotor loss, and longevity – his MaxThresh concaves have harvested more than 6,500 hectares (approximately 16,000 acres).
“No other concave system matches the balance of threshing performance and separation capacity that Kondex provides,” Theisen noted. “Between increased productivity, reduced losses, and machine efficiency, the farmers using Kondex concaves reap the benefits to their bottom line.”
Drone footage of canola harvest in Australia. Using Kondex concaves resulted in a very clean sample
Multiple farmers Kondex visited had purchased additional sets of Kondex concaves for new or additional combines after experiencing improved performance with them in the past. Additional praise was received for the boost in capacity that was gained using our concaves. The team also heard accolades from farmers running John Deere S-Series combines who felt their throughput with Kondex concaves elevated their machine to be equivalent to a stock X9 combine.
“Hearing all the positive feedback for our products was extremely rewarding. Kondex is well represented in Australia, with its farmers now understanding how to best utilize our concave system as part of their performance upgrade package,” Theisen added. “Harvestaire and General Manager Dirk Vorster have been great advocates for Kondex. Their dedication to helping farmers maximize their harvest results is genuinely commendable.”
Kondex Senior Application Engineer Andy Theisen (left) and Harvestaire General Manager Dirk Vorster