When a header front helps growers put more dollars in their pockets, it is no surprise that harvesting contractors running that equipment are in higher demand.

That has been the experience for Deberi Contract Harvesting, based in Emerald, Central Queensland, which added two German-manufactured Geringhoff header fronts to its fleet earlier this year.

Managed by Benji Schulz and Mitchell Burgoine, the business harvests up to 25,000 hectares of summer and winter broadacre crops each year across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, as well as parts of South Australia.

Alongside its two new Geringhoff fronts, Deberi operates two MacDon and two Midwest fronts, with plans to upgrade the remaining rigid fronts to flexible Geringhoff machines in the future.

Making the move to Geringhoff

After trialling a Geringhoff demonstration machine in 2024, Deberi Contract Harvesting acquired two 12-metre Geringhoff TruFlex Razor demonstration fronts earlier this year.

The early demonstration convinced the team of the benefits, particularly the ability to operate the fronts in either a fully flexible or rigid configuration depending on the conditions.

Distributed throughout Australia by Waringa Distribution, Geringhoff's flexible draper fronts suit all major header brands and a wide range of crops, with working widths from 9.15 metres to 15.2 metres.

Geringhoff TruFlex Razor features

• 12-metre (40ft) TruFlex Razor fronts purchased by Deberi Contract Harvesting
• Three-section frame that independently adjusts across the width of the front by up to 760mm
• Flexible cutterbar providing an additional 150mm of adjustment, for close to one metre of total adjustment
• Ability to operate with both a rigid and flexible frame and cutterbar configuration
• Optional integrated air system positioned behind the knife to guide crop onto the belts and help reduce harvest losses
• Available in a range of configurations, including Flex, TruFlex and TruFlex Razor

More productivity across challenging contours

In northern cropping regions, contour banks can create challenges for harvesting contractors. Previously, Deberi had to cut around the contour banks before returning to harvest along their tops.

The flexibility of the Geringhoff TruFlex Razor allows the team to travel straight across the contours instead, significantly improving harvesting speed and efficiency.

Benji said their previous fronts were limited to around 2.3–3km/h when travelling along contours. With the Geringhoff fronts, they can now travel across them at speeds of 5–10km/h.

Reducing harvest losses with integrated air technology

The Geringhoff knife section and guards help capture and handle large crop volumes, while the optional integrated air system works directly behind the knife to guide crop onto the belts and reduce grain losses.

Benji said the integrated system offers an advantage over aftermarket alternatives, which need to be fitted and removed separately and require additional equipment to be transported between jobs.

The difference was particularly noticeable when Deberi compared harvesting mung beans with and without the air system, recording a difference of 70 kilograms per hectare. At approximately $1,600 per tonne, that represents a significant amount of grain for growers.

The benefits also extend to cereal crops, where the system helps reduce losses off the front, particularly in lighter crops.

Consistent cutting performance across different crops

Beyond contour performance and reduced harvest losses, the Deberi team has been impressed with the fronts' ability to handle different crop conditions, including greener chickpeas and mung beans.

Benji said the fronts deliver a clean cut through greener stems, while also operating smoothly and requiring less horsepower than their previous equipment.

The team has also been able to increase harvesting speeds by around 2km/h, helping improve productivity across their operations.

Simple adjustments for changing conditions

After starting harvest in chickpeas in Queensland before moving into wheat and barley, the only adjustment Deberi needed to make was to the spring tension on the Geringhoff fronts.

Some growers cut wheat higher to retain stubble and preserve soil moisture. When moving back into chickpeas, that taller stubble can cause the fronts to push material rather than move cleanly through it.

Benji said it was straightforward to adjust the cutterbar, allowing the fronts to slide over the stubble and continue operating effectively.

The fronts also operate on a separate circuit with their own oil system. Benji said this provides an advantage over other fronts that run off the header's oil system, where an unnoticed O-ring failure can drain the header's oil reservoir.

Grower confidence and future demand

The performance of the Geringhoff fronts has also generated interest from growers and other harvesting contractors throughout Central Queensland.

Benji said farmer customers have been extremely happy with the results, particularly the reduction in harvest losses, and Deberi is confident it will choose Geringhoff again when upgrading its remaining fronts.

Support that keeps the operation moving

Alongside the performance of the equipment, Deberi has been highly impressed with the service and support provided by Waringa Distribution.

From assistance with adjustments and service enquiries to parts supplied through Waringa's Perth and Wagga Wagga centres, the team has valued the support available throughout the harvest season.

Benji said the response times and availability of parts have been particularly impressive, regardless of the time or day.

A worthwhile investment for Deberi Contract Harvesting

With improved productivity across contour banks, reduced harvest losses and consistent cutting performance across different crops, the Geringhoff TruFlex Razor fronts have made a strong impression on the Deberi Contract Harvesting team.

The combination of flexibility, integrated air technology and reliable support has helped the business work more efficiently, take on additional jobs and deliver better results for its grower customers.