The history of the systems equipped with an anti-hail cover system is long and articulated, and starts with those known as ‘a Capannina‘, where the net lay along the top wire and along the truss wire, so as to obtain an increased inclination of the net to allow the hail to discharge.
This method was used because initially it was not known how resistant the hail nets actually were; only later it was discovered that the nets were capable of self-supporting themselves once they were hooked together at the centre of the row, and following this discovery a second method was born, still active today, which involves the absence of a truss wire to give the nets their inclination.
Basically, the nets are fixed together in their midsections by means of plates along the top wire, which, in addition to having the stabilising function of the system, serves to sustain the net and the weight of the deposited hail.
This method is still the standard of reference for anti-hail covering systems, but this does not mean that it is perfect and that it is exempt from criticalities that can be improved.
In fact, climate change and the resulting increasingly severe weather events in recent years are challenging the systems structured in this way, especially in terms of safety and durability.
Wind is one of the most critical variables for nets; absorbing strong stresses without compromising the integrity of the net itself and the entire system is a priority issue for manufacturers and installers.
In Valente we are constantly looking for new design and production methods to address these critical issues, with the aim of increasing the safety of installations and improving the lives of installers and farmers.
We have therefore reconsidered some aspects of the current standard and made changes that we believe can achieve this goal; here we will describe them in detail.
Let’s start with the assumption that the system is structurally identical to our current classic anti-hail system, with the only difference being in the way the anti-hail net is installed. In this new modality, in fact, the nets will no longer be very wide nets which are installed over the top wire, but instead they will be much shorter and installed with one end along the top wire and the other hooked at the centre of the row with the plates.
Basically, the nets are laid on the ground and then raised with one of the two end laps along the top wire. Then, using Topix plates, the nets are fastened along the top wire. Each row will then have right and left nets overlapping along the top wire, closing every possible hole and preventing the passage of hail. The top plates will no longer be 1.5 m apart like the previous system but will span 50 cm apart.
The system has been tested on site and works properly.
This new installation method has many advantages:
– It is a better solution for windy areas. As nets are shorter, they absorb wind buffeting better.
– The net lasts longer over time.
– It solves the frequent problem of nets tearing along the top wire.
– Gives you the option of installing the anti-hail net when you want to install it. You do not have to install it immediately.
– The structure of the system consisting of wires and cables can be completed without the constraint of the net as described above.
– With half nets, the problems of rows with different lengths can be better managed.
– The fixing of nets and sheets is simplified and speeded up thanks to the reduced dimensions of the net widths.
– replacement of the nets or parts of nets can be done more quickly and safely than traditional nets without having to loosen the entire system in order to replace the nets.
This is often the case when you have the expertise and the necessary background to understand situations in the best possible way, a small modification of just one aspect within a complex system can lead to great results.
In Valente we are always looking ahead, consolidating and elevating acquired standards to a level of excellence and never ceasing to study every single detail to achieve new goals.