Shelbourne stripper headers were first sold in the US in 1990 in Kentucky. The concept quickly gained acceptance and sales took off. Initial sales were of 20 foot machines mostly in the Eastern states where the benefits of a fast, early harvest coupled with the benefits of planting soybeans straight back into the stripped straw were quickly recognized. machines were at the same time gaining acceptance in the rice growing states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri. Here the benefits in terms of harvesting productivity were enormous.

The first 20 foot header sold in Kansas in 1993, was mainly as a disaster recovery tool to assist with harvest after hail storms had ripped through the wheat belt and laid large areas of crop on the ground. A 28 foot header was introduced in 1995 and once again sales surged of the wider machine as Western wheat belt farmers started to recognise the benefits of the stripped straw in their No-Till farming systems. It was at this point it was determined that a regional base was needed in order to provide parts and service advice to customers.