Lightweight knotless NYLON
nets set to catch customers
BY LUKE IRVING
n the worldwide aquaculture industry, knotless Raschel
netting has traditionally been the material of choice for
most fish farming applications; predominantly used for
cage pen enclosures. There are many factories, mostly in
the Asia-Pacific region, that manufacture Raschel, which
has meant a ready supply to the New Zealand marketplace.
However, there are companies who are aware of the
disadvantages of knotless nylon and polyester netting – weed
growth, weakness at high stress areas and heavy working
weights that become worse due to surface growth.
Hampidjan New Zealand Ltd has introduced the use
of lightweight, super strong Dynex netting in their pen
construction. Two fish farms (salt water and fresh water) have
made use of Dynex material in their net designs, one trialling
100 percent Dynex nets, and the other using a hybrid design
of Raschel sides with a Dynex base. So far, both companies
are impressed, with weight reduction being the most dramatic
difference.The lack of bulk has not only made installation of the
nets easier, reduced the number of staff and eliminated the use of
winches, but also significantly reduced freight costs.
The Dynex netting has a 50 percent increase in mesh break
load compared to knotless nylon, and due to its lightweight
fibre construction, is only one fifth of the total weight per
I
square metre. Due to its light weight, a manufactured Dynex
cage net is also of a comparable cost to traditional nets.
Material surface area is also greatly reduced, whilst retaining
a good UV rating.
Calculations have proved that there is up to a 90 percent
decrease in drag during use. Less surface area also gives the
advantage of less growth on the net; consequently there
is more water flow through the pen and higher oxygen
levels for the stock. One company has reported that their
fish appear to be growing faster in the Dynex cage. Unlike
Raschel, Dynex has no shrinkage over time so the shape of
the pen construction is retained, reducing the development
of high stress wear points in the net.
Hampidjan are ready and able to supply and manufacture
Dynex nets to New Zealand farmers. They are the only net
making company in the country who manufacture their own
rope and netting products. With Luke Irving, an experienced
net maker with 15 years of design and manufacture
experience in the fish farming industry, Hampidjan New
Zealand Ltd offer the aquaculture sector a professional
service and are looking forward to an exciting future.
Hampidjan New Zealand Ltd, luke@hampidjan.co.nz
Thinkinahead
for a career Aquaculture
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NMIT are offering the Diploma in Aquaculture (Fish Farming
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Providing the New Zealand
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Graduates of the Diploma in Aquaculture (Fish
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or could pathway into a Degree in Marine Biology.
Parasitology
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CAMPUS: Nelson
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See www.nmit.ac.nz
Search keyword: 'Aquaculture'
or call 0800 422 733
for more information
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013
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