Where to finish off anti-hail netting? The advantages of tying off on the top cable

Every detail counts in an anti-hail netting installation. And there is one that many growers are unaware of… until the problems start: the point where the net is finished off. At Novafrut we finish all our systems with knots on the top cable, not on the tensioner sling at the end of the row as others do. Although it means more work during installation, the medium- and long-term advantages are enormous.

Why is the net's anchoring point important?

Because it determines:

• How tension is distributed across the whole installation
• Where stress concentrates over time
• Which part will suffer the most wear from rubbing
• How much room for manoeuvre you have to work with machinery

Advantages of finishing off on the top cable

1. Greater, more even real tension

By finishing off on the top cable:

• The net is anchored with more fastening points
• Tension is distributed more evenly
• We prevent stress from concentrating on a single point or knot

This guarantees a firmer net that stays taut for more years.

2. Fewer tears from chafing

When the net is finished off at the bottom, it is more exposed to continuous rubbing against the top cable or the tensioners. By finishing off high up, we avoid that wear in the critical area and drastically reduce the friction tears that tend to appear from the third year of use onwards.

3. Clear access for machinery

A well-made installation must also take the grower's day-to-day work into account. When you finish off on the lower sling, the net is left hanging or getting in the way at the entrance to the alley, obstructing the passage of machinery or tools. With our system, the front is left clean and accessible, and you can enter without worrying about rubbing against, snagging or damaging the material.

4. More years of service life and fewer repairs

With the knots on the top cable, we reduce wear, improve tension and make the field easier to use. This translates into fewer tears in the medium term and less need for corrective work.

Why doesn't everyone do it the same way?

Because it requires:

• More installation time
• More precision during assembly
• A trained and experienced team

But it is the right way to do it. And at Novafrut we do not build installations for today: we build them to last.