Staple hits the mark

Canterbury inventor Mike Evans’ Fieldays was made when within 15 minutes of him setting up in the Innovations Hub a manufacturer came by who expressed interest in producing his Bona Staple.

The square-shaped staple, which is suitable for use with barbed wire, was entered in the prototype section of the Innovations Awards.

It’s attached to a fencepost by an anchoring screw so can be installed and removed rapidly by a battery drill attachment. This means it stays fixed securely in place and is particularly suited for use on fenceposts made out of recycled plastic.

“They’re the way of the future,” he says.

If a gateway is required at a pressure point for stock, particularly on hill country, the staples can easily be removed, animals driven through and the fence put back up again.

Mike says he received very positive feedback from visiting farmers. He hopes to have the staples, which come in a set of five, on the market in about six months at a cost of around 25-30 cents each, or $1 a fencepost, after further testing and refining.