From yesterday’s program, we learned that to produce high-quality orchard protection nets, premium raw materials must go through mixing, drying, heating, extrusion, cooling, stretching, heat treatment and winding to make qualified monofilaments. The filaments then undergo fully automatic warping, warp knitting, inspection and length measuring. Even when the protective performance meets standards, the production process is far from finished at Xinghaiyuan’s workshops.
"This is a patented technology of ours. Last year, we invested 100,000 RMB in upgrading one machine, achieving a domestic industry first. Its core function is to enhance wind resistance. As you can see, we added transverse weaving for extra reinforcement. The mesh density is higher, and the tensile strength here is two to three times stronger than ordinary products. Our nets already have longitudinal reinforcement, and now the transverse reinforcing strips are set every 1.2 meters. This design brings tremendous benefits for practical orchard application."
While the added transverse weaving further optimizes product performance, the next innovative technology is the core highlight that makes Xinghaiyuan nets a reliable all-round safeguard for orchards.
"The most crucial equipment is the automatic fastener attaching machine. To help fruit farmers cut installation costs and improve efficiency, we jointly developed this machine with Weihai Vocational College. Installing fasteners manually is the most time-consuming part of field work. Improperly fitted, tilted or reversed fasteners will greatly compromise the performance of Orchard Multifunctional Protective Net & Accessories. Our machine pre-installs fasteners on the nets to avoid such problems. Besides, fasteners must be placed at standard intervals of 1.2 meters to ensure even stress distribution, which is strictly followed by our equipment. This automatic fastener machine leads the domestic market, and we have yet to see similar products abroad. The 1.2-meter spacing is highly precise, and the fasteners are firmly pressed by robotic arms with guaranteed stability."
For over two decades, Xinghaiyuan has stayed true to its original aspiration: pursuing excellence in production, continuously upgrading technologies and developing new products to create greater value for fruit farmers and the agricultural industry. Thanks to persistent efforts, the company has been awarded multiple honors for five consecutive years, including National High-tech Enterprise, National Technology-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise, Shandong Specialized, Refined, Differential and Innovative Enterprise, Qilu Manufacturing Brand, Shandong High-quality Product and Weihai Agricultural Technology Enterprise.
"Our next major project focuses on rain shelter cultivation suitable for domestic cherries and various apple varieties. Next year, we will prioritize developing a brand-new rainproof product made of NAP composite materials and promote it nationwide."
Inside Xinghaiyuan’s factory compound stands a unique display area. A manually built simulated orchard features lush green leaves and bright red fruits that remain vibrant through wind, snow and harsh weather. Here, we get an early look at the company’s new solutions tailored for rain shelter cultivation.
"This is our self-developed rain shelter, mainly used for cherry orchards. Rainproof facilities are in great demand for fruits prone to fruit cracking, such as cherries, blueberries and peaches. We have created integrated electric and manual rain shelters. Traditional automatic rain shelters work well against rain but offer limited bird protection. To solve this problem, we developed an all-in-one rain and bird protection solution named 'net within net'. Compared with plastic rain shelters that need replacement every one to two years, our products have passed field tests and can last more than five years. The light transmittance is about 74%, which will not affect the photosynthesis of fruits