Outdated or underperforming concaves are a major source of profit loss during harvest. When concaves can’t keep up with today’s high-capacity combines, farmers risk unthreshed grain, cracked kernels, and restricted machine performance caused by plugging or reduced rotor efficiency.

[September 3, 2025] - Outdated or underperforming concaves are a major source of profit loss during harvest. When concaves can't keep up with today's high-capacity combines, farmers risk unthreshed grain, cracked kernels, and restricted machine performance caused by plugging or reduced rotor efficiency.

Marcel Kringe, Founder and CEO of Bushel Plus and expert in harvest optimization, says many farmers underestimate the impact of outdated concaves. "The concave is the heart of the threshing system," says Kringe. "Yet too many machines still run with concave designs that haven't changed in decades. Every field with old components like this risks losing grain."

Next-Gen Concaves for Every Crop
Engineering advancements in concave design are transforming harvesting efficiency. "Today's concave technology far outperforms the standard designs and combine setups, allowing farmers to optimize threshing for every crop that they grow," he says. "This reduces losses and improves grain quality."

A standout in advanced concave innovation is the Bushel Plus O-Grate MAD Concave™, which replaces traditional round-bar concaves with a precision-engineered design for corn, soybeans, milo, sunflowers, and other pulse crops.

The O-Grate incorporates two key design innovations new to the industry:

1. O-shaped holes for controlled and consistent threshing
2. Rounded staircase-style threshing bars for gentle grain separation

"These innovative design features solve common problems with standard concaves," Kringe adds. "They prevent un-threshed grain, reduce kernel damage, and maintain consistent performance even in challenging conditions."

How the O-Grate Works
The O-shaped holes allow grain to separate efficiently while keeping larger crop material in the rotor without overloading the sieves. This controlled flow prevents plugging and ensures more grain reaches the bin. Meanwhile, the staircase-style bars create a tumbling motion rather than harsh impact, protecting grain quality and storage value.

"We designed the O-Grate to push the boundaries of what farmers can expect from their combines," says Kringe. "By increasing throughput and capacity, improving sample quality, and reducing grain loss, we're helping growers harvest more efficiently and protect their bottom line."

Modular Design for Quick Crop Swaps
Bushel Plus' concave system, in general, is a modular split-frame design, which allows quick insert swaps between crops or conditions. Unlike traditional concaves that are heavy and time-consuming to change, this precision-threshing design enables a single operator to swap lighter inserts within the frames from a cereals or small grains concave to the O-Grates for corn or soybeans in just 10 to 15 minutes, without the need to re-level the concaves - reducing downtime and improving safety.

For the 2025 season, O-Grate MAD Concaves are available to U.S. farmers running: Case IH Flagship and Midrange; John Deere STS, S Series, and X9; Fendt Ideal; and New Holland CR 22-inch combine models.

With commodity prices under pressure, Kringe emphasizes that every bushel counts. "Using outdated concaves isn't just an operational issue - it's an economic risk. Upgrading to next-generation technology ensures farmers capture more yield, protect grain quality, and run combines at full capacity."

For more information on harvest optimization practices and products, visit bushelplus.com or call 1-833-376-7726.


Marcel Kringe is a global expert in harvest optimization, advising farmers, machinery manufacturers, and precision equipment dealers on how to improve combine performance. He regularly speaks at international conferences and serves as the educational lead at Bushel Plus Harvest Academy, a hands-on program teaching farmers and industry professionals best practices in combine optimization, new technologies, and harvest efficiency.

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About Bushel Plus Inc.
Bushel Plus Inc., a global leader in harvest optimization technology, specializes in solutions that help growers reduce grain loss and maximize yield potential at harvest. Trusted in more than 35 countries, Bushel Plus partners with dealers, agronomists, and equipment manufacturers to improve harvest outcomes for farmers. Guided by the belief that ‘you can only harvest once,' the company equips farmers with field-proven tools that turn invisible losses into visible profit.