they would use Fence Master if the site manager liked it, but the operator was unhappy, saying that he had 21 kilometres to complete and he didn’t want to be wheeling the unit from one post to the next all day. This got us thinking. There was nothing on the market doing the same job, but we thought something that could be attached to a HIAB or digger for transportation might work.


“From that day, it took about a year to go from our initial ideas to a CE- compliant machine. We pretty much got the design right with the first prototype - the only change we made was to strengthen a bracket.”


The Fence Master and Barrier Master are certainly distinctive and undoubtedly effective, but how easy is it to protect these devices, and how much time is spent doing so?


The Barrier Master grips with a force of 13 tonnes.


“It’s quite a lengthy and prohibitively expensive process to ensure effective Intellectual Property Rights on products, but both units are now protected by granted patents, trademarks, copyright, and both UK and EU Registered Community Designs,” says Stuart. “A manufacturer did try to copy the Fence Master last year. I saw the photographs


of their device, and actually thought it was our design - they had even copied the operating instructions from our website. However, the IP and our patent attorney were successfully put to the test, did their jobs, and prevented a copy from coming onto the market.”


As mentioned at the top of the article, the demand for Postpullers products is starting to spread outside the UK. How is this achieved?


“Postpullers is quite small. We sell the Fence Master ourselves, but we have licensed Barrier Master to Strimech, who have the manufacturing capacity and marketing clout,” says Stuart. “Recently we have appointed dealers in Japan and Ireland. We are about to sign another one in France, and we are actively seeking more worldwide.”


And is having just two products in the company portfolio restrictive or problematic in any way?


“One of the main issues is that both products are aimed at such different markets,” Stuart explains. “This is particularly difficult when it comes to trade shows, as they’re so expensive and there aren’t


23


Barrier Masters ready for market. The device has proven itself to be ten times faster than conventional methods of post extraction.


many where you could exhibit both - we wouldn’t really take the Barrier Master to the Executive Hire Show, for instance.


“There is so much room for expansion worldwide, though. We’re only dipping a toe in the global market at the moment, and we’re looking for other worldwide distributors, but this is another reason why we work with Strimech.


“The Fence Master is a relatively straightforward sell, but marketing the Barrier Master overseas is a trickier prospect. Highways are managed differently all over the world - especially in the US, where it can be like speaking to 50 different countries! We really need people on the ground in these territories who understand their local markets.”


So where or what next for you and the company?


“There are huge opportunities out there, but I’m an engineer at heart, not a salesman. We are busy with what we already have in the UK, but I think we’d need a much bigger company to take this on in order for the current products to reach their full potential worldwide. I’m not desperate to do anything, but if the right proposition comes along I’m open to looking at it,” says Stuart.


“In terms of further product developments, we are just finalising the Mk2 Fence Master, which has been made more compact, with improved accessibility to posts. We have also included features asked for by customers, such as storage for the Claw, which is an attachment for removing concrete foundations of broken posts, and detachable ‘boots’ for use on soft ground.


“There is another thing which may even become the next project, but I can’t really speak about this until we have IP in place - it’s nothing to do with pulling posts or barriers, but an idea that could improve site safety massively…!”


And that seemed like a fine way to wrap up the interview. A tour of the Strimech premises followed, where I was to learn a lot more about assorted agricultural attachments than I was expecting - bonus facts are always appreciated. My thanks to Stuart Archer and Strimech MD Justin Blades for an edifying and highly enjoyable day.


• www.postpullers.co.uk


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