After a decade as the man behind Reelenz, Lindsay Hamer formerly of Taylor Built, is retiring and has handed the reigns to Joe and Theunie Wiid from Extrutec.

Reelenz is a unique crop support and plant layering system developed in New Zealand in the late nineties. It is a two-piece unit consisting of a durable nylon hanger and a replaceable reel, pre-wound with polypropylene twine.  Each reel comes with 25m of twine and is replaced when the twine runs out, ensuring that there is not wastage.  The Reelenz unit is not only economical to use but is also designed to make the process of layering easy and efficient. It is often used for fast growing crops like with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, but is also suitable for more demanding crops like orchids.

Layering with the Reelenz system requires only one hand and the need for lifting the plant is eliminated.  The design accommodates both right- and left-handed users, meaning that left-handed users are not disadvantaged as often inadvertently happens.  A simple squeeze of the fingers on the reel releases the required amount of twine.

Reelenz was designed by a grower for growers and this is evident in the unique design.  The clip securing the hanger to the crop wire is flexible to allow for quick fitting and removal, but hangers will not spin off the crop wire when twine is released.  The replaceable reels are designed to release either a short or longer length of twine, as required, and then self-lock so that no twine is wasted.  It can be replaced at any time during the growing season and because the twine is UV protected for 12 months, it can be used for multiple crops in a particular season.  It is easy to fit a replacement reel partway through a crop too.

Joe says he is keen to grow awareness of this unique system and there are already plans to make Reelenz more sustainable by offering a biodegradable version in the future.  He is however committed to keeping the production of the Reelenz unit in New Zealand.

If you would like to know more about Reelenz, please get in touch at sales@reelenz.com or check out the website at www.reelenz.com.

Cover, Joe Wiid, Extrutec and right Lindsay Hamer formerly of Taylor Built.