PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
Performing well in areas of light to moderate hail, and also ideal for wind and UV-light protection. It is on the flat-roofed structures where Netpro’s proprietary product, Q net, really comes into its own. The canopy material is supported by a tensioned cable grid. Light falls of hail will pocket in the net, stretching the net down between the cables. In the event of a more severe storm, damage can occur and possible maintenance may be required.
The canopy material and internal post spacings are determined by the canopy’s overall design parameters. The Q net is rigorously tested for distortion before construction commences, enabling NetPro to reduce the canopy sag to approximately 100mm.
Using a stable (non-stretching) net erected in a pitched roof pattern. The falling hail is directed down the valleys so as to exit the structure at an allocated spacing. The structure is best able to withstand heavy falls and is the “rolls-royce” of net systems. Shedding the load reduces the risk of major structural failure during large events.
The Pitch System requires fewer internal posts – allowing increased internal grid spacings. An optional addition to the Pitch design are side-cloths for wind, hail and pest protection. For areas subject to snow fall, a number of modifications can be made to the pitch system to maintain structural integrity.
UNDER THE CANOPY
During the day, soil collects heat, whilst overnight soil loses heat. Covers trap the warmth of the soil, keeping warmer air down close around the plant, thus preventing the rapid surface cooling conducive to frost formation. Additionally then, the cover, rather than the plant, becomes the surface on which the moisture freezes.
It’s common practice to cover frost-sensitive plants, using anything from old baskets and boxes, to bed-sheets, curtains, vinyl and plastic, shade-cloth and hessian (burlap) cloth.
A commercially available cover is Frost-Cloth or Horticultural Fleece, a light, breathable fabric made from spun-bonded polypropylene or poly-ethylene.
Frost-cloth is light enough to be laid on top of plants, but is as effective over hoops or trellis. Ensure the frost-cloth is securely anchored and sealed where it meets the ground. This holds soil-warmth around the plant, and prevent breezes from removing the cloth.
No frost-cloth, is completely impermeable to heat loss. Eventually, over a run of cold overcast days, soil/air-temperature will drop under the cloth. We recommend that on the first sunny day, the covers are folded back, allowing soil and mulch to collect warmth again.
Frost-cloth will not harm plants if it remains on for extended periods of time as it will provide a warm, light-filled and sheltered micro-climate for sensitive plants to flourish.
favour frost-hardy varieties, and place sensitive plants near rocks,walls, or slopes in the garden. The cold air cannot pool around them.
temporary covers over susceptible and stationery plants are very effective – if done correctly.
sometimes even completely covering low-growing plants with a light cover such as straw or leaves.
harvest early, many fruits continue to ripen indoors. Leaves and fruit can be preserved in many ways
move pot-plants under shelter, verandahs, near walls or overhangs.
PROTECTION FROM FROST
HORTICULTURE INNOVATION AUSTRALIA – An investigation of low cost protective cropping
Project Code: VG13075 – CLICK HERE
Shade and protection from Excessive Heat and / or Ultra Violet Radiation can reduce stress and improve production in plants.
Netpro design and build protective Shade canopies for agricultural, nursery, industrial, domestic and stock applications.
Different Nets or Shadecloth provide different levels of protection, as tested to Australian Standards. The exact amount of shade achieved also relates to design and installation variables.
Our Shade System has been developed with a selection of proprietary products specifically for use as stock shade, such as Feedlots, but also used in the aquaculture and vermiculture industries.
The innovative Shade System design uses a network of tensioned wire-rope cables running in opposite directions, creating an overhead grid pattern. This allows “ blocks” of shade to be installed in almost infinitely variable combinations, which can be particularly helpful where there are pens of inconsistent orientation, size and shape.
Netpro is dedicated to designing manufacturing and installing cost effective shade solutions in a variety of styles and colours using our very own Smartshade shadecloth.
Smartshade is essentially designed for use as “people shade” but is very versatile and comes in a range of shade ratings, from 30% up to 95%.
All Netpro Shade Solutions are designed by qualified engineers for the creation of a more usable sun-friendly outdoor space.
UNDER THE SUN
Windbreaks are a major component of successful agricultural and commercial operations throughout the world. They can help control erosion, blowing snow, enhance habitat diversity, control air blown litter and dust, reduce evaporation etcFor a windbreak to function properly, it must be designed with the needs of the landowner in mind. The ability of a windbreak to meet a specific need is determined by its structural design: both external and Internal – for example the Width, Height, Shape, Orientation as well as the internal membrane density will determine what effect the windbreak has on its surroundings.
NETPRO have had the pleasure to work on a number of industry windbreaks over the years and welcomes the opportunity to work with clients that require some relief from the elements.
REDUCING WIND EFFECTS
Evaporation occurs through wind and heat – a protective canopy will reduce both these factors and hence dramatically reduce water lost through evaporation.
Between 2002 and 2007, NetPro Pty Ltd was involved with a research project coordinated by the NCEA (National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture) for the development of technology to control evaporation from water storages. Ref Below *
From this research our most popular dam cover structure was developed, The NetPro Evaporation canopy uses a combination of specially designed high-tensile steel cable, terminations and a modified knitted high-density shade-cloth cover.
REDUCING EVAPORATION
Craig I, Green A, Scobie M, Schmidt E (2005) “Controlling Evaporation Loss from Water Storages”.
National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture Publication 1000580/1, USQ, Toowoomba.
Abridged NetPro version of this report – PDF – CLICK HERE
Damage to crops from insect attack has been a common problem for some time. Moths, flies, wasps and beetles cause problems for growers, and at times chemical control has created further problems.
Exclusion structures, utilizing a range of knitted and woven netting products, have been developed as a way for the grower to reduce or eliminate this problem. In addition, protective canopies can open new avenues of chemical-free production and marketing opportunities.
Methods of protection from bird damage can be varied to suit the crop to be protected and the type of birds causing the damage.
Permanent Bird protection structures can use a simple but durable bird-netting, designed with wide spans, allowing minimal use of internal poles in the supporting structure.
If non-permanent bird protection is more suitable, NetPro stocks the standard Vineyard Throw-over nets in a range of widths. Vineyard Throwover Product Sheet – Click Here
UNDER THE CANOPY
NETPRO have developed a Hail Protection Canopy that has been designed especially for the Australian climate and extreme hail events, THE NETPRO PATENTED PITCH SYSTEM’. For light to moderate hail events, ‘THE NETPRO FLAT CANOPY’ is the recommended choice. Protecting rows, trees and vines temporarily from some hail damage can be achieved with ‘THROW OVER NETTING’, such as our Q Net product.
Performing well in areas of light to moderate hail, and also ideal for wind and UV-light protection. It is on the flat-roofed structures where Netpro’s proprietary product, Q net, really comes into its own. The canopy material is supported by a tensioned cable grid. Light falls of hail will pocket in the net, stretching the net down between the cables. In the event of a more severe storm, damage can occur and possible maintenance may be required.
The canopy material and internal post spacings are determined by the canopy’s overall design parameters. The Q net is rigorously tested for distortion before construction commences, enabling NetPro to reduce the canopy sag to approximately 100mm.
Using a stable (non-stretching) net erected in a pitched roof pattern. The falling hail is directed down the valleys so as to exit the structure at an allocated spacing. The structure is best able to withstand heavy falls and is the “rolls-royce” of net systems. Shedding the load reduces the risk of major structural failure during large events.
The Pitch System requires fewer internal posts – allowing increased internal grid spacings. An optional addition to the Pitch design are side-cloths for wind, hail and pest protection. For areas subject to snow fall, a number of modifications can be made to the pitch system to maintain structural integrity.
UNDER THE CANOPY
During the day, soil collects heat, whilst overnight soil loses heat. Covers trap the warmth of the soil, keeping warmer air down close around the plant, thus preventing the rapid surface cooling conducive to frost formation. Additionally then, the cover, rather than the plant, becomes the surface on which the moisture freezes.
It’s common practice to cover frost-sensitive plants, using anything from old baskets and boxes, to bed-sheets, curtains, vinyl and plastic, shade-cloth and hessian (burlap) cloth.
A commercially available cover is Frost-Cloth or Horticultural Fleece, a light, breathable fabric made from spun-bonded polypropylene or poly-ethylene.
Frost-cloth is light enough to be laid on top of plants, but is as effective over hoops or trellis. Ensure the frost-cloth is securely anchored and sealed where it meets the ground. This holds soil-warmth around the plant, and prevent breezes from removing the cloth.
No frost-cloth, is completely impermeable to heat loss. Eventually, over a run of cold overcast days, soil/air-temperature will drop under the cloth. We recommend that on the first sunny day, the covers are folded back, allowing soil and mulch to collect warmth again.
Frost-cloth will not harm plants if it remains on for extended periods of time as it will provide a warm, light-filled and sheltered micro-climate for sensitive plants to flourish.
favour frost-hardy varieties, and place sensitive plants near rocks,walls, or slopes in the garden. The cold air cannot pool around them.
temporary covers over susceptible and stationery plants are very effective – if done correctly.
sometimes even completely covering low-growing plants with a light cover such as straw or leaves.
harvest early, many fruits continue to ripen indoors. Leaves and fruit can be preserved in many ways
move pot-plants under shelter, verandahs, near walls or overhangs.
PROTECTION FROM FROST
HORTICULTURE INNOVATION AUSTRALIA – An investigation of low cost protective cropping
Project Code: VG13075 – CLICK HERE
Shade and protection from Excessive Heat and / or Ultra Violet Radiation can reduce stress and improve production in plants.
Netpro design and build protective Shade canopies for agricultural, nursery, industrial, domestic and stock applications.
Different Nets or Shadecloth provide different levels of protection, as tested to Australian Standards. The exact amount of shade achieved also relates to design and installation variables.
Our Shade System has been developed with a selection of proprietary products specifically for use as stock shade, such as Feedlots, but also used in the aquaculture and vermiculture industries.
The innovative Shade System design uses a network of tensioned wire-rope cables running in opposite directions, creating an overhead grid pattern. This allows “ blocks” of shade to be installed in almost infinitely variable combinations, which can be particularly helpful where there are pens of inconsistent orientation, size and shape.
Netpro is dedicated to designing manufacturing and installing cost effective shade solutions in a variety of styles and colours using our very own Smartshade shadecloth.
Smartshade is essentially designed for use as “people shade” but is very versatile and comes in a range of shade ratings, from 30% up to 95%.
All Netpro Shade Solutions are designed by qualified engineers for the creation of a more usable sun-friendly outdoor space.
UNDER THE SUN
Windbreaks are a major component of successful agricultural and commercial operations throughout the world. They can help control erosion, blowing snow, enhance habitat diversity, control air blown litter and dust, reduce evaporation etcFor a windbreak to function properly, it must be designed with the needs of the landowner in mind. The ability of a windbreak to meet a specific need is determined by its structural design: both external and Internal – for example the Width, Height, Shape, Orientation as well as the internal membrane density will determine what effect the windbreak has on its surroundings.
NETPRO have had the pleasure to work on a number of industry windbreaks over the years and welcomes the opportunity to work with clients that require some relief from the elements.
REDUCING WIND EFFECTS
Evaporation occurs through wind and heat – a protective canopy will reduce both these factors and hence dramatically reduce water lost through evaporation.
Between 2002 and 2007, NetPro Pty Ltd was involved with a research project coordinated by the NCEA (National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture) for the development of technology to control evaporation from water storages. Ref Below *
From this research our most popular dam cover structure was developed, The NetPro Evaporation canopy uses a combination of specially designed high-tensile steel cable, terminations and a modified knitted high-density shade-cloth cover.
REDUCING EVAPORATION
Craig I, Green A, Scobie M, Schmidt E (2005) “Controlling Evaporation Loss from Water Storages”.
National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture Publication 1000580/1, USQ, Toowoomba.
Abridged NetPro version of this report – PDF – CLICK HERE
Damage to crops from insect attack has been a common problem for some time. Moths, flies, wasps and beetles cause problems for growers, and at times chemical control has created further problems.
Exclusion structures, utilizing a range of knitted and woven netting products, have been developed as a way for the grower to reduce or eliminate this problem. In addition, protective canopies can open new avenues of chemical-free production and marketing opportunities.
Methods of protection from bird damage can be varied to suit the crop to be protected and the type of birds causing the damage.
Permanent Bird protection structures can use a simple but durable bird-netting, designed with wide spans, allowing minimal use of internal poles in the supporting structure.
If non-permanent bird protection is more suitable, NetPro stocks the standard Vineyard Throw-over nets in a range of widths. Vineyard Throwover Product Sheet – Click Here
UNDER THE CANOPY