Connection Summer 2013 | Page 29

1investment SUPPLY 50 years of protection Advancements help make fences stronger, longer-lasting f or years, conventional wire products like barbed wire and field fence have dominated the fencing industry due to limitations in manufacturing and technology. Those factors, combined with the widespread availability of these basic wire products, have left land owners with the misconception that the best options for livestock containment and predator control are far too expensive. Over time, manufacturers have done a significant amount of research and have been able to transfer the knowledge they have gained from wire production in other industries, like telecommunications, to the agriculture industry. This research has led to advancement in wire strength and galvanization allowing manufacturers to design products with less steel, making it more cost-effective. Through product innovation, companies like San Antonio Steel have been able to work with large manufacturers, like Bekaert, to bring a better value to their customers. By extending their product offering to include high tensile wire and most importantly, advanced wire coatings, these companies have helped consumers save a significant amount of money on labor and mate ɥ