Stripper Header Saves Fuel, Boosts Harvest Capacity
The new Raptor stripper header grabs grain but leaves the crop stems standing, where they can catch snow and retain moisture for the next crop. Processing just the grain, not the straw, cuts costs and speeds harvest. Fuel use is reduced by up to 50 percent and capacity is increased by an equal amount. There’s also significantly less wear and tear on the machine.
“We had been selling our no-till disk drill to conservation-minded farmers for years, and many of them were interested in stripper headers,” says Scott Ousdahl, K-Hart Industries. “We saw an opportunity where there was more demand than suppliers could meet, and there was potential for an innovative North American supplier.”
The company decided they had the knowledge base they needed on stripper headers, and the product would be a good fit with their customer base.
The Raptor has an 8-bat stripping rotor that rotates opposite the direction of travel. Teeth on the bats grab grain on standing stems and toss it back to the hi-capacity auger. It’s equally effective in picking up lodged grain.
While the Raptor is similar to other stripper headers on the market, K-Hart made some improvements and expects to make more. The Raptor features a double-acting deflector cylinder for positive control in both directions, as well as a variable-speed rotor drive. The optional 2-speed gearbox provides rotor speeds from 450 to 870 rpm’s without pulley changes.
“We changed the linkage for the adapter to the combine to make it more responsive to ground conditions,” says Ousdahl. “We also narrowed the drives by balancing them on both sides and narrowed the end shield to only 9 in., so there’s less push-down on bushy crops like canola.”
This year they’ve sold a limited number of 41-ft., pre-production models. They include one that’s started working its way north from Kansas with a custom combining crew. The company will be seeking feedback from these users to refine the Raptor before bringing it to market for 2024 sales. The price will be announced at that time.
“Our first goal was a really solid machine that would fit a common size and class,” says Ousdahl. “The input these users provide will verify that we reached our goal.”
The company’s base market is in the prairie provinces of Canada, within about 200 miles of the border with North Dakota and Montana. Ousdahl notes that they are looking for growth beyond that base.
“The beauty of farmers is they’re always looking for innovation,” he says.
K-Hart plans to introduce 31, 35 and 45-ft. models in coming years.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, K-Hart Industries, Box 520, Elrose, Sask., Canada S0L 0Z0 (ph 306-378-2258; info@khartindustries.com; www.khartindustries.com).
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Stripper Header Saves Fuel Boosts Harvest Capacity COMBINES Headers The new Raptor stripper header grabs grain but leaves the crop stems standing where they can catch snow and retain moisture for the next crop Processing just the grain not the straw cuts costs and speeds harvest Fuel use is reduced by up to 50 percent and capacity is increased by an equal amount There’s also significantly less wear and tear on the machine “We had been selling our no-till disk drill to conservation-minded farmers for years and many of them were interested in stripper headers ” says Scott Ousdahl K-Hart Industries “We saw an opportunity where there was more demand than suppliers could meet and there was potential for an innovative North American supplier ” The company decided they had the knowledge base they needed on stripper headers and the product would be a good fit with their customer base The Raptor has an 8-bat stripping rotor that rotates opposite the direction of travel Teeth on the bats grab grain on standing stems and toss it back to the hi-capacity auger It’s equally effective in picking up lodged grain While the Raptor is similar to other stripper headers on the market K-Hart made some improvements and expects to make more The Raptor features a double-acting deflector cylinder for positive control in both directions as well as a variable-speed rotor drive The optional 2-speed gearbox provides rotor speeds from 450 to 870 rpm’s without pulley changes “We changed the linkage for the adapter to the combine to make it more responsive to ground conditions ” says Ousdahl “We also narrowed the drives by balancing them on both sides and narrowed the end shield to only 9 in so there’s less push-down on bushy crops like canola ” This year they’ve sold a limited number of 41-ft pre-production models They include one that’s started working its way north from Kansas with a custom combining crew The company will be seeking feedback from these users to refine the Raptor before bringing it to market for 2024 sales The price will be announced at that time “Our first goal was a really solid machine that would fit a common size and class ” says Ousdahl “The input these users provide will verify that we reached our goal ” The company’s base market is in the prairie provinces of Canada within about 200 miles of the border with North Dakota and Montana Ousdahl notes that they are looking for growth beyond that base “The beauty of farmers is they’re always looking for innovation ” he says K-Hart plans to introduce 31 35 and 45-ft models in coming years Contact: FARM SHOW Followup K-Hart Industries Box 520 Elrose Sask Canada S0L 0Z0 ph 306-378-2258; info@khartindustries com; www khartindustries com
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