Members of the Hadley Group sales team recently attended an MWTF event in order to investigate opportunities for a new product, which is already enjoying huge success. Smethwick based Hadley Group, Europe’s largest privately owned cold rolled steel manufacturer, last year celebrated the groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first British company to secure a contract to supply steel vine support pickets into the French Champagne vineyards in Epernay. They have since gone on to develop a full range of pickets to suit the demands of all markets throughout the UK and Europe, and have continued to develop markets in other prestigious wine growing areas such as Chablis, Burgundy, Alsace and Bordeaux.
The Hadley Group has developed a range of products to suit a variety of applications, with mini, midi and maxi variants in a range of finishes including pre-Galv, post-Galv and powder coated. To complement the range of intermediate posts, the Group will introduce a steel end-post during 2010 – thereby offering a one-stop solution for all European vineyards.
All pickets utilise the Groups’ patented UltraSTEEL™ process, which increases the rigidity of the base material, therefore allowing for stronger yet greener products that use less steel. French Sales Manager Yves Rigomont comments, “The French champagne market is very traditional in its nature with established practices and an overwhelming majority of local suppliers. We have worked very hard over a considerable period of time with them to develop a quality bespoke product for use in the vineyards. Our patented UltraSTEEL™ process ensures that the vine pickets are lighter yet twenty per-cent stronger than plain steel pickets, whilst also being more durable and easier to maintain than wooden alternatives. Perhaps most importantly, due to the fact that the UltraSTEEL™ process utilises less steel, it is greener by design.”
Hadley Group’s Marketing Manager, Bob Dunthorne added, “These UltraSTEEL™ products are our latest agricultural application for the Ultrasteel™ process, which has enjoyed phenomenal success in many product applications worldwide. The UltraPIQUET™ is suitable for the many new, automated processes that are deployed in modern vineyards. Hadley’s in-house product development process is unique in the UK because we have a dedicated technological design, tool making and pre-production facility. This gives us significant time advantages in terms of product development, ensuring exhaustive testing to perfect the product in a fraction of the time. Yves’ local experience and knowledge is also a good example of Hadley Group working on a local level irrespective of where in the world the solution is needed.”
To date, the Hadley Group has supplied nearly one million linear metres of vine posts, and stands poised to exploit more European markets with the assistance of MWTF and UKTI.
For more information about the Hadley Group visit their web site http://www.hadleygroup.co.uk/Products/VineyardPosts/tabid/623/Default.aspx or e-mail your enquiry to ask.hadley@hadleygroup.co.uk