Bushel Plus cuts John Deere X9 concave changeover to 15 mins with modular system

CANADA – Bushel Plus has launched a modular concave system that reduces the time farmers spend switching crops on John Deere X9 Series combines to about 15 minutes.

The agricultural technology firm shared details of the X9 Split Frame MAD Concaves this week, targeting growers who move between crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans, and barley during the same season.

Traditional concave changeovers can take several hours and require heavy lifting and repeated leveling inside the machine.

Faster changeovers, safer work

Instead of a single heavy concave, the Bushel Plus system uses a fixed frame that stays inside the combine. Operators slide lighter crop specific inserts in and out when they switch crops. This approach cuts downtime and reduces physical strain during changeovers.

“Think of it as a base frame that stays in the machine, while smaller concave inserts… can be swapped quickly and easily,” said Marcel Kringe, founder and chief executive officer of Bushel Plus.

Kringe said the inserts fit with precision, which helps operators maintain steady threshing and separation without extra setup work. Farmers no longer need to remove large parts or re level the machine each time they change crops, which also lowers safety risks during harvest.

Focus on grain quality

Bushel Plus designed the concaves to support both speed and output quality. The company uses abrasion resistant steel to limit wear and keep performance steady across seasons. Kringe said field trials across North America showed lower grain loss and cleaner samples.

“Farmers can harvest faster, maintain grain quality, and reduce fuel costs improving both efficiency and profitability,” he added.

Seed producers and growers who sell into strict quality markets stand to benefit from the system’s flexibility. The inserts allow operators to fine tune setups for different crops while keeping kernels intact and limiting foreign material.

Built to fit existing systems

The company designed the X9 Split Frame MAD Concaves to work with its earlier Classic MAD Concave models. This compatibility allows farmers to mix parts from older and newer systems and keep using equipment they already own.

Bushel Plus said this approach helps growers protect past spending while adding features that fit current needs. The firm has started supplying the system through its global dealer network, giving John Deere X9 operators access ahead of the next harvest window.

The launch follows recent product updates from Bushel Plus that focus on reducing harvest downtime and improving output consistency.

With more farms running larger combines across mixed cropping systems, the company expects demand for faster changeovers to keep rising as growers look for practical ways to manage labor, safety, and grain quality during tight harvest schedules.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.