The S3 AWS Airbar is a premium, high-efficiency air-assist harvesting attachment mounted directly onto a combine harvester's header (both draper and traditional auger heads).

Manufactured by the S3 Group, its primary engineering goal is to eliminate "shatter loss"—where loose, dry, or low-lying crop pods (such as soybeans, lentils, peas, and cereals) impact the cutting knife and drop onto the ground rather than entering the machine.

How it Works

The system uses negative and positive air pressure to shepherd the crop smoothly onto the canvases or into the auger:

 The Blower Mechanism: A high-efficiency, belt-driven blower assembly (mounted centrally on the header) generates a massive volume of high-velocity airflow.

 Targeted Air Streams: Air is routed through a lightweight aluminum manifold out to a series of specialized, evenly spaced vertical nozzles or tines hanging right over the cutter bar.

 The "Pull" Effect: Instead of blowing directly at the knife (which kicks up dirt), the nozzles are finely adjusted to blast air 2 to 5 inches behind the knife. This localized air stream thrusts loose pods, seeds, and short crop material straight off the cutter bar and back onto the header belt before they can fall back into the field.

Key Components & Systems

 High-Efficiency Fan & Chassis: Powered directly by the combine header's drive system (via the feeder house reverser gear). Newer models (like the FDX) feature twin-flow layouts feeding air from both sides to handle wider headers (up to 50 feet) without sacrificing engine horse power.

 Rigid Aluminum Manifold: A durable, low-weight span designed to perfectly fit specific combine makes (John Deere, Case IH, MacDon, etc.) without putting structural strain on the factory reel.

 Contoured Nozzles: Lightweight, die-cast components that supply a completely uniform air blanket across the entire width of the cutter bar.

 In-Cab Controls: Allows the operator to adjust the air throttle intensity and nozzle pitch on the fly to match changing crop moisture levels throughout the day.

Ideal Use Cases & Maintenance

The S3 AWS Airbar is highly recommended for short, bushy, or easily shattered crops (especially soybeans, pulse crops, and lodged cereals). It is not ideal for heavily matted, thick fields like canola, where the air tines can catch—though the system features quick-release bolts so two operators can easily lift the manifold off in the field when transitioning to a different crop.

To keep the system running, daily checks should focus on the main drive belt tension and cleaning the blower’s intake screen to ensure maximum, uninterrupted airflow.

 

Year Founded: N/A

Main Products: Combine Headers, Windrowers, Headers, Tractor Attachments

Brand: S3 AWS Airbar

Country of Origin: Canada

Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/AWSAirbar

Website: https://www.awsairbar.com/

Address: 3890 Wellington St, Mitchell, ON N0K 1N0, Canada

Contact No.: +18773480066

Email: https://s3awsairbar.com/contact