Optimising branch tying in apple trellis farming
MAX tapeners
NPI has been the official importer of MAX tapeners for many years. MAX tapeners are widely used for binding all kinds of climbing plants and pot plants, as well as for colour coding or marking young trees. These high-quality Japanese tools are designed to make tying work fast, smooth and reliable.
The great thing about a MAX tapener is that it binds, staples and cuts in one single movement; making binding work more efficient and comfortable. The tool allows for quick, trouble-free tying, hour after hour, without causing hand strain. They are perfect for repetitive tying work.
MAX offers several models of tapeners, each with its own specific strengths and applications. This way, every grower can find a tapener that fits their needs.
MAX tapener HT-S45E
MAX HT-S45E is a high-quality tapener that delivers an extra-strong binding. It is specially designed for bindings that need to be extra strong. This way, it is an excellent substitute for tying binding tubes by hand. As such, it offers a great solution for binding in apple tree trellis systems. Why, who benefits from it and what are the advantages?
Who benefits from it?
A trellis system has multiple wires stretched horizontally, used to help plants grow upwards. This optimises the cultivation area by saving space and facilitating heavy machinery to move between the trees without harming them. This increases working and harvesting efficiency. The HT-S45E is the perfect tool to bind branches to each wire layer. Farmers who work with the trellis systems will benefit highly from working with the MAX HT-S45E.
Save time, save money!
The HT-S45E, which can be used with one-handed operation, innovatively improves work speed. It is 5 times faster than tying tape by hand and 3 times faster than using a clip. Het reduces working time and thus labour costs.
Why is it strong?
The HT-S45E uses other tape then the other MAX tapeners. It is a rigid, high-durability tarpaulin tape with embedded fibers, stapled in a special way that achieves a strong binding that can withstand a load of 10 kg. This way, it is very suitable for use in heavy fruit. Moreover, it holds for 2 -3 years, outperforming other tapes such as PVC.
Case study: cost simulation for 2.000 trees
MAX conducted a case study at apple farmers in the USA. Farmers with apple V-trellis systems tried out the HT-S45E. In the study, a cost simulation was made for 2,000 trees using three tying methods: tying tube (hand tied), tying clips and binding with the HT-S45E. The results showed that the HT-S45E needed the fewest working hours (7 hours versus 37 for hand tie), leading to the lowest total cost. This shows that the HT-S45E is not only faster but also much more cost-efficient for large-scale apple farms. The case study led to a rapid expansion of the HT-S45E among US apple fields.
In short, the HT-S45E offers an excellent solution for apple trellis farmers who are seeking efficient cultivation.
Would you like to learn more about the HT-S45E? We would be happy to help!
