Today everyone knows that the metal post is the basic element for the construction of modern vineyards suitable for producing quality grapes, and also allows the mechanical operations necessary for a rational and efficient management of the vineyard.
The post must be able to withstand the most violent weather (storms, hailstorms, strong winds) and at the same time it must stand up to mechanical stresses generated by machines (especially grape harvesters).
This is why we often talk about metal posts that must be durable but elastic. In common jargon, the post must “vibrate” to be considered suitable for use. Is that right?
Surely the post must have two very important characteristics:
– DURABILITY
– ELASTICITY
Elasticity (as it is defined in our industry) is the ability of the metal post to flex and then return to its original position without having suffered any damage. This characteristic is common to all metal posts, but depending on the specific section and thickness it can be more or less marked (clearly a post with a large, complex section and high thickness will be more rigid than a pole with a simple section and thin thickness).
Often, to demonstrate the elastic qualities of a post a torsion test is performed, i.e. one end of the pole is held still and the opposite end is rotated, producing a rotation that, if significant, makes the post seem very elastic.
However, this test is of little value because when the post is installed in the ground and the wires are attached, the pole is locked in position by the wires, preventing it from rotating.
The elasticity required of the metal post is the ability to stand up to the stresses of the harvester without having to twist like in the tests.
The most important thing, therefore, is not the elasticity itself but the resistance to bending, because it is this trait that determines how much weight and what stresses the post is able to withstand.
This characteristic of the post depends on the type of steel used, the geometric section and the thickness of the sheet chosen.
We can therefore say that elasticity is not synonymous with durability, but only a characteristic that allows it to better cope with some particular stresses.
Remember, however, that the post has to deal with different types of stress and must withstand all of them in all conditions.
For this reason, the Valente post was designed to be elastic, but above all to guarantee maximum resistance to bending.
By defining two sections, 50×40 and 60×40, we offer the possibility of employing different posts for different situations: building an espalier for the areas of eastern Veneto or Romagna is not the same as installing a vineyard in Tuscany or Sicily.
Moreover, the possibility of having posts made with different thicknesses of steel contributes further to improving mechanical durability, which is fundamental to allow our systems to better withstand increasingly frequent and intense weather events.
We’ll conclude by reminding you that our product range offers you the possibility to choose different post protections according to your needs, including the ONE galvanised post (which meets the demands of affordability), the EVO (greater durability) and the EKO galvanised and painted post, which also meets environmental/landscape needs.
Choosing our materials always means having the best product for every type of need in the field of system engineering.