Gongs for best field days site
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
The somewhat unique format in New Zealand of seven or eight high tensile wires, used in combination with wooden battens, leads to its own unique problems. Firstly, the battens coming loose, and then animals pushing them laterally, mean that the gaps between the wires are not maintained, with the risk of animal liberation.
The typical solution is the time-consuming repositioning of the battens, followed by re-stapling, a task that Kaukapakapa lifestyler Lloyd Altham sought to improve, calling on his past career of engineering and the fastener industry.
Setting out to develop a solution that was cost effective and easy to install without specialised tools, the Batten Buddy addresses the problem of ‘batten slip’. The clever clip that fits over the high tensile wire without damaging the plating is then secured to the batten with a screw.
Easily fitted with a cordless battery drill or impact driver, the clips and fixing screws are manufactured from zinc plated steel to AN/NZS 1397 standards and said to deliver up to 20 times the typical grip of a standard staple, as with aggressive points digging into the timber.
Compared to the conventional method of repair, initially sliding the batten back into position and rehammering the original staple, which undoubtedly loosen again over time, Batten Buddy is a long-lasting solution that ultimately saves time.
Not a replacement for staples, as the clips cost a little more, Altham suggests that they should be fitted to the second wire down from the top of the batten and the second wire up from the bottom. In areas where sheep are prone to ‘burrowing’ under the bottom wire, they can be beneficial in being used here too. In situations where warning signs need displaying on wires, they also offer a solution for mounting plywood mounted displays.
Available in a variety of pack sizes, including a 50-piece starter pack including a magnetic drive socket, or 100, 250 or 800-piece Jumbo packs, Batten Buddys are available via mail order from www.battenbuddy.co.nz
