Why We Do What We Do Vol 1, Issue 1

 Bolt On Hinges Vs. Weld On Hinges

Reason A. Many contractors like the security and strength a welded hinge can give to a gate system. Modern Fence Technologies offers hinges that are designed to be bolted onto the post and gate. There are several reasons for this.

The process of welding a hinge in place in the field requires extra equipment and skills not always available to the contractor. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and if your welder has an “off” day, the resulting look could haunt rather than enhance your gate.

We will explore other reasons for Why We Do What We Do in coming posts.

Even the Best Hinges Can Break...But Then What?

If you don't work or do business in Florida, you may not be aware of how much disruption was caused by Hurricane Matthew last October.  Along with the loss of life in its wake, Matthew left billions of dollars in property damage, which will take years to repair, and longer to pay for.

Isolated as I am in our Wisconsin offices from the physical effects of the storm, I nevertheless have had the opportunity to see some of the disruption caused in the fence industry by this natural disaster.  Contractors accustomed to being busy through the year have found themselves slammed, trying to meet the needs of prior and current customers.  Some are up to a year out on non-critical repairs, after doing significant triage to determine who needed what work, and how soon.

I talked with a homeowner a few days after the storm, and he said he couldn't get anyone to come out and fix his gate.  His dog couldn't be alone in the yard without it.  So he went online and searched out the hinge that broke, and discovered it was one of ours.  So he called directly to buy a replacement.  As a wholesaler, I cannot sell to a homeowner.  Because I have several contractors that I serve in his region, I knew that there was little likelihood of finding someone to run over and install a new hinge for him.

The solution was simple.  He didn't need to buy a new hinge, which was good, because I couldn't sell him one.  But because every product we make has a lifetime warranty, I was able to send him a replacement hinge at no charge.

It's not often that we hear of one of our products breaking, but when they do, you can be sure of a couple of things.

1. It was probably a natural disaster that broke it.
2. We stand 100% behind what we make.
3. When you buy MFT, you buy it for LIFE.

It's the little things that matter...

 It's the little things that matter. As with most things, the difference between poor quality and excellent quality in gate hardware usually comes down to the little things.

Like metal-to-metal contact. If your hinge or latch depends on two pieces of metal rubbing against one another, sooner or later it is going to cause wear damage and early failure. Modern Fence Technologies uses polymer technology to cushion the places where metal surfaces could rub together with bearings and washers that keep the joint moving smoothly for years.

Or, like packaging. Most imported hardware comes sealed in bulk plastic bags, with pieces rubbing and colliding during shipping and handling. MFT uses proprietary packaging to hold each piece securely to ensure the integrity of the powder coat finish. Even the screws are sealed tightly to prevent damage to components or coatings.

Another detail that is often missed is internal quality. Every single hinge pin on every single hinge we make is machined from stainless steel right here in the U.S. Many hinges sold in America have plastic hinge pins. Imagine the weight and torque of your gate riding on a plastic pin.

One more “little thing” that Modern Fence Technologies provides is peace of mind. Companies that use Modern Fence Technologies hardware are covered by manufacturers liability insurance. Our hardware carries a lifetime warranty. We've been here for over 40 years and we're still growing.

Because at MFT, the “little things” are important.

Easy as 1,2,3...

If stainless steel hardware is the way to go on maintenance free fencing, why should I use Modern Fence Technologies accessories?

1.  Innovative design vs. Copies

   
Copies are never as good as the original. An original design may be
improved, but taking someone else's design and copying it, while   cutting corners to save a few pennies never delivers the value promised.

2.  American manufactured vs. Imported or "packaged/assembled in U.S."

American made products support the U.S. economy. They are subject to strict environmental and labor laws that imports don't necessarily adhere to. Responsible manufacturers in the U.S. provide manufacturer's liability coverage, in the event of the unthinkable, while an import is not covered for defect or damages.

3.  Cost of ownership

        American made stainless steel gate hardware has never been more   affordable to purchase.  Add to that the lifetime warranty offered by Modern Fence Technologies on all hardware we make, and the savings realized by eliminating service calls.  Modern Fence customers are actually paying less for American made hardware in many cases, and because it is American made, are selling their fence jobs at better margins, than many who are convinced that 'imports are cheaper'.

Call Modern Fence Technologies today! (888) 456-6786

Or on the West Coast, call (888) 613-8146

Stainless Steel Hardware, For the Life of Your Fence

The choices made when putting up a fence can have long term consequences. Selecting the right materials and the right installation contractor may help determine whether the fence you buy today is a long term investment, or a long term headache. There are many low-to-no maintenance fence materials and styles available these days, with the most popular being Vinyl and Aluminum.

Both have advantages over wood when it comes to longevity, if they are installed correctly, and if your contractor chooses accessories that are designed to last. While aluminum does not “rust”, it does corrode. Most notably, aluminum will rapidly break down in the presence of steel, especially if there is moisture present. This is due to electrolysis, caused by dissimilar metals. The same is true of PVC/Vinyl fencing. Sodium chloride, or common salt, is a major component of PVC fencing. The gases that form in and around vinyl fencing are very corrosive to steel, especially in the presence of moisture.

Many installers choose plastic composite gate accessories to avoid this corrosion. While this prevents corrosion, it does not necessarily lead to longer service life for your fence. Plastics are extremely susceptible to ultraviolet light. The same sun that can give you a sunburn or even skin cancer will drastically reduce the lifespan of most plastics.

Our solution? 100% American made stainless steel hardware for your hinges, latches, drop rods, and even handles. Not only will they last for the lifetime of your fence, they are often less costly to buy and install in the first place. Don't believe me?  Let us help you find a distributor near you!

Call Modern Fence Technologies today! (888) 456-6786

Or on the West Coast, call (888) 613-8146

Don't get Scr***d Buying Screws

Sometimes, it's the little things...

We pride ourselves on offering unique and quality driven products.  Even the screws we include with our hardware are American made.  Not only that, they are coated completely, avoiding the bare threads of one screw rubbing against the painted head of another during transport, causing scratches and chips that mar the beauty of your finished work.

We go the extra steps of buying American made screws, having them custom coated to our specifications, then we count and bag them in shrink tight bags to prevent them rolling around damaging the hardware in its package.

You work hard to provide a quality experience for your customer.  So do we.

Stainless Steel Hinges vs. Mild Steel Hinges

 Every Modern Fence Technologies hinge shares common DNA. Our adjustable T-Rod system uses 100% stainless steel for every component. The threaded stud, the pivot tube, the nuts, the clevis pin and retainer, and even the spacer are all stainless steel. On every hinge. Even the ones marked “mild steel” or “combo”.

  When we make a mild steel hinge for use with steel, iron or wood fencing, the only parts that change in comparison to our “stainless steel” hinge will be the brackets that attach to the post and to the gate. Compare that with common imported hinges and you'll find that in every way, Modern Fence Technologies' hinges are a better hinge, and a better value.

Short Term Gain, or Long Term Success?

Too often we hear the complaint that big companies are putting little companies out of business.  It happens.  With the economies of scale that larger companies can harness, they can often get favorable pricing on their goods, and sell them at a lower price than smaller competitors can, making just enough off of volume to keep going.

That works fine with commodities, items that are identical no matter who makes them.  Most people don't care what company made the table salt they buy for their kitchen, so whoever can get it to them for the lowest price usually wins the battle.  Morton's has won the battle over much of the rest of the market precisely because they are the largest. They have lower unit costs because they have driven the volume up so high.

What's this got to do with fence?  Morton didn't copy someone else's formula for table salt, they simply came up with efficient ways to obtain it, process it, package it and deliver it.  Anyone can mine salt, grind it up, and put it in a box. (I know it is much more involved, humor me, it's beside the point.) Their success is predicated on having a huge footprint in the industry, and it works for them.

What about products that are not commodities, but are unique and innovative?  There are two ways to beat an innovator.  One, you can simply come up with more and better ideas to make oneself more competitive.  The second is by nature anti-competitive and ultimately prevents innovation.  One can obtain a temporary competitive advantage by copying a competitors design, then, by flooding the market with cheaper imitations, drive the competitor out of business, using a cheapened version of his own idea.

This is always temporary because, in the end, the consumer is disappointed in the quality and performance of the product and either switches to the next innovator's product, or switches to the next rip off because it is cheaper.  It is not a sustainable business model.  It destroys true innovation, and it destroys the businesses and lives of the kinds of people who make this country great.  In exchange for temporarily lining the pockets of investors, companies that capitalize on taking the businesses of others rather than innovating new and better products are destroying industry, not building it.  That's not 'the American Way'.

Safe and Sound...

Slam!

Is that the “noise of summer” you remember from childhood? When I hear the sound of a wooden screen door with its long “automatic closer” spring slamming shut it makes me think of endless, hot summer days filled with things to do. It's a happy sound.

When I hear that sound coming from a gate it makes me cringe. Why the difference? Well, a door is part of a structure that supports it on all sides, being connected across the top by the header and across the bottom by the floor, with a stop running the entire latch edge. When a door slams, that energy is transferred to the rest of the house. When a gate slams, all the energy is absorbed by the gate and the latch post. Slam that gate once too hard or once too often, and it soon will not latch at all. It may not even stay in one piece.

Yet that is what some self closing gate systems do. Unless there is a way to control the closing force on your self closing gate, you may be creating memories you'd rather forget. Lost security from a broken gate, high repair bills on your fence and gate, maybe a runaway dog or a toddler injured by the gate or near your unattended pool. These can all be consequences of a poorly designed or installed gate system.

Make sure the hardware you use is reliable, safe, and adjustable.

 Modern Fence Technologies

As If You Needed Another Reason to Buy American

  

The inevitable rate increases caused by the failure of Hanjin containerized shipping from Asia to the U.S. are about to hit...Just in time for Christmas shoppers and businesses utilizing their capital before years' end.  You can add price increases due to product shortages to the higher transport cost.

See here for more details.

  Don't get caught paying for someone else's mistakes.  Buy American, get better quality, lower cost of ownership, and better service.  You'll be glad you did!

Hard(ware) to Get

   

Hanjin Shipping, a major player in the importation of goods from China has filed for bankruptcy.  This means that if you regularly buy products imported from China, you may find yourself waiting much longer than you expected.

  Hanjin has gone into receivership, and their ships and containers may have to wait to be off-loaded until settlements have been made. (For details click here)

  Don't wait for the mess to get better.  We have superior quality American made hardware, at excellent pricing, on the shelf and ready to ship.  With warehouses in the Midwest and on the West Coast, we are within 3-4 day delivery for UPS packages, anywhere in the continental U.S., with orders in California usually arriving next day.

  Call Modern Fence Technologies today for fast, knowledgeable, friendly service, and top quality American made solutions for the professional fence installer at excellent prices.

West Coast: 888-613-8146
Midwest and East Coast: 888-456-6786

Specifiers are always right...until they're not.

Most commonly, when you see a specification for hinges, you will see that gate manufacturers offer 180 degree opening hinges, and you will see that they almost always call out a minimum weight rating for the hinge.

The number they give is almost never going to be accurate.  Why? Because that number does not take into consideration the differing loads that gates of different proportions place on the hinge system. Consider a gate that is six feet by ten feet.  Hung horizontally, that gate will put much higher stress on the hinge system and post than if the same gate were hung vertically.

This is because the gate acts as a lever, with the fulcrum at some point between the bottom hinge and the point where the post enters the ground.  The longer the lever, the more stress a given weight will create in the system.  That stress is what causes most hinges to fail.

At Modern Fence Technologies we have made the effort to determine the actual load bearing capacity of our hinges, taking into account the proportions of your gate, as well as its weight.  Using our handy Proportional Load Charts is an easy way to make sure that the hinge you buy will support the gate you are hanging, and that you won't pay for more hinge than is necessary.

We offer American made hinges that open 180 degrees, are adjustable, fit on any combination of round or square post or gate members, have 100% stainless steel moving parts, and, when selected using our Proportional Load Charts, will offer a lifetime of service.

Most gate builders are experts at building gates, but when it comes to hanging gates, we are the experts.  Call your MFT service rep at (888) 456-6786, or, on the West Coast, call (888) 613-8146.

Quality Products + Quality Service = Satisfied Customers

It happens on a regular basis. The phone rings and an anxious homeowner asks what we will do about a broken gate hinge. I just dealt with a customer whose gate fell off because the hinge broke. He told me what size it was, and I shipped him a replacement, at no charge, asking only that he return the broken hinge to me so I can examine what went wrong. We do this so we can see how we can make our hinges better.

I got his old hinge back today. I was excited to see what had gone wrong. Whenever I get one of our hinges back damaged, it is because an unsecured gate has been forced back the wrong way through the opening, which bends the hinge against the gate post. A simple gate stop will prevent that, but even when contractors neglect to install a proper gate stop, we warrant our hinges. Forever.  (And we stress to our contractors how important a gate stop is!)

When I opened the box, this is what was inside:

This hinge wasn't broken by abuse. It wasn't forced backward through the opening. It fell apart under normal use because it is junk.  I don't know who made it, and quite frankly, don't care.

When people ask me why they should buy an American made Modern Fence Technologies hinge, this is why. That hinge was installed eight years ago. It broke because it was made of inferior quality materials, using an inferior design, and improper construction techniques. The contractor saved at most five or ten dollars per set of hinges on a fence job that cost the homeowner thousands. Do you think the customer would have paid a little more to avoid the hassle?  Do you think he's ready to give a referral to his friends for the contractor who sold him that?

Here is a picture of the hinge I sent him, of course, I sent him a white one:

Instead of buying poorly made inferior hardware and risking angry customers, contractors who use MFT hardware sometimes pay a little more, (and sometimes a little less), use American made, high quality hinges, charge their customers accordingly, and walk away with better profit, and more satisfied customers.

If you are ready to sell quality, American made gate hardware, make more money, and have more satisfied customers, call Modern Fence Technologies today.

Innovation by any other name is stealing...

Putting a round peg in a square hole?

When a round shaped object touches another object, it does so at one small point. A flexible round object, like a tire or a water balloon, then conforms to the shape of whatever it is touching, which is why an under-inflated tire has a flat-looking spot where it touches the road.

A rigid round object then presents a single point of contact and maintains that single point until forces overwhelm the rigidity.

Now look at the way most fence posts are set. You bore a round hole into the ground, three, four, maybe even six feet, then you put your post in the hole with some concrete. The concrete hardens. Now, whenever there is a side load on that post, the round shape of the concrete plug you created presses into the surrounding earth at a single point, directly opposite the line of force applied.

This concentrates that load onto a very small point of earth, which can cause it to compact, or to shear, or to simply slide past the post and its anchor, as the force causes the post to move away from the applied force.  Think of a rolling pin forcing pie dough into a flat shape as it rolls.

One way to counter that and achieve a side load bearing capacity much higher than what a round concrete post foundation offers is to dig a square hole. You might even start with an auger and shape the hole after the majority of the dirt has been removed. What does this accomplish?

Once the concrete is poured around a post in a square hole, the resulting block of concrete is contacting the earth over several square feet, instead of a single point, or line opposite the application of force. Take for example an 18” hole, four feet deep. If the hole is round, the surface area transmitting a force to surrounding earth is pretty much just a four foot long straight line.

Same 18” hole, made square, affords six square feet of surface area to spread the load to surrounding earth. That flat face is much less likely to compress the earth on the “downhill” side of a force. This means the post stays more stable, right where you want it.

Stainless Steel Chain Link Fence...American Made

Tennis anyone?

It doesn't happen often, but when it does, what do you do?

  Recently Modern Fence Technologies was asked if we do stainless steel chain link fence fittings.

 We do now.  In response to the request for fittings, pipe, and fabric, of domestic origin, we were able to manufacture all the necessary components for a tennis court enclosure that is now somewhere on an island in the Indian Ocean.

  The job specs required American made materials throughout, and called out a specific type of stainless to endure the conditions expected, and we were able to source American made pipe, while manufacturing all the fittings necessary, from required materials, to assemble the fence.  We can also source the fabric, again, of domestic materials.

  Of course, this was a one time thing.  The chances of you ever needing to get an American made stainless steel tennis court fence shipped to Sri Lanka are likely pretty thin, but if Modern Fence Technologies can do all that, at a price that allowed the contractor to make considerable profit, what can we do for you?

Good enough?

  Don't settle for good enough. 

 Demand the best. 

American made hinges, latches, drop rods, vinyl caps and other accessories for your next fence!

Give Your Customers What They Really Want, in Three Easy Steps!

Even if they don't know what that is.

Buying a fence can be a daunting experience for a homeowner. The huge variety of styles, materials, and types of fence available can be overwhelming. Add to that the wide range of options in quality, whether or not a do-it yourself option is worth considering, and the overall price of a residential fence, and it's no wonder that sometimes, customers feel let down by the process.

When it comes right down to it, your customer wants the peace of mind that they are getting good value for their money, and getting what they paid for.

There is a way to avoid customer disappointment with your work. 

 1.Wherever possible, written orders, including all customer concerns, need to be signed by the contractor and customer as part of your work order/customer contract. Be sure to include site prep, clean up, and disposal of old fence and excess fill, if necessary. This won't prevent disputes, but it does provide a common frame of reference when settling questions that arise.

 2. Wherever possible, specify in the work order the name of the manufacturer of the product you intend to install. Name the grade and species of lumber, along with accurate measurements of boards. (If you are using a full 1” thick Clear Select Western Red Cedar picket, call it out in the contract.) It will differentiate you from the competition, and justify your price. If the customer calls for an “economy model” fence, make sure that the 1/2” thick #2 pickets are specified, and consider a section that lays out the relative advantages of the various grades of materials you offer.

 3. The same goes for hardware and accessories for the fence. Let the customer know that you offer the very best American made hardware from Modern Fence Technologies. Always choose materials you are proud to stand behind. Don't let the customer force you into inferior products to meet an unreasonable price point.

If the customer is unable or unwilling to pay for the quality of materials and work that go into the fences you build, then that customer is probably better off going to another contractor.

Made in America?

 When you buy an American made product, what does that mean? According to the Federal Trade Commission, the product must be “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. Simply being headquartered in the U.S., or having a distribution hub in the U.S. does not qualify the products sold through a company to be identified as American made.

Why is this important? Because many companies imply that they are selling quality, American made products, pointing to their distribution facilities here or a misleading label as proof. The imported products they sell are not necessarily made to standards you would expect. Their manufacture definitely does not benefit the U.S. economy.

Products brought in from overseas rarely have manufacturers liability insurance to protect the end user and all people in the supply chain from damages in the event of failure. Ask your suppliers where their products are made. Ask if you can tour their facility. Ask them for certificates of origin for their materials. If the answer to any of these questions isn't what it should be, can you afford to use their products?

Is your hardware supplier “improving” their product right out of existence?

Take a look at the last set of hinges you bought from your supplier. Do they look like the hinge you bought the first time you switched to their hardware? Chances are, unless you are using American made Modern Fence Technologies hinges, latches, and drop rods, the product you are getting is not the same as the product you initially decided to buy.

Brackets are getting smaller, welds are getting weaker, hinges sold as “stainless steel” include aluminum and plastic parts where ours are all stainless, and even the thickness of the steel is being reduced. Today's hinge from some of these manufacturers uses 25-30% less stainless steel. Has your price dropped to reflect that? Did anyone ask if you wanted a lower quality hinge?

Modern Fence Technologies hinges. American made quality you can trust, at competitive prices.

Nationwide Exposure...Modern Fence Technologies On the Air!

Mark your calendars!

Set an alarm on your smart phone!

You don't want to miss Home Talk USA with host Michael King, the “Cajun Contractor” and our own Mark Knudson, founder of Modern Fence Technologies. The radio show will air Live at www.lifestyletalkradio.com at 11:00 am Eastern time and our TV segment at 11:00 am  on the BIZ TV Network at www.biztv.com. 

Saturday March 19th

Don't worry, you don't have to choose, they will be available as podcasts as well at http://www.hometalkusa.com/.

Modern Fence Technologies leads the fence industry with American made hardware and tools designed to add value to every fence and create a future with American made products.

Choosing the Right Hinge

Choosing the Right Hinge

  Modern Fence Technologies hinges are designed to be the strongest, most durable hinges of their type on the market. In order to assist you in the selection of the proper hinge for your application, we offer our Proportional Load Charts, that display the relative sizes and capacities of the hinges we make. 

  Choosing the right hinge is made easy, by having the weight, width, and the measurement between points on the gate where you will mount your hinges, and referring to the handy Proportional Load Charts available to registered users of the Modern Fence Technologies website, www.mftfence.com.

  ***Caution***These charts are compiled from test data based on Modern Fence Technologies' hinges.  The information contained in them will not apply to any other manufacturer's products,

 as they do not use the same quality materials and processes to make their products.

  To determine if one of our hinges will support a proposed gate, find the chart referenced in the hinge description on our website, then compare the measurements of the width, across the top of the chart, and the height*, or distance between hinges, on the side of the chart, and connect those lines across the body of the chart.  If the weight of your gate is the same or less than the number on the chart, the hinge will support your gate.

  You can see a video of this in action here.

* Note: For strength, hinges should be mounted as far apart as gate design will allow.

American made...Or is it?

  

So your contractor assures you that your fence will be American made.   What does that mean?  Is he referring to the material the fence is made of?  Is he referring to the fact that it will be assembled in your yard, in America?  What about the post caps, or gate hardware?

  The fact is, very few companies can honestly tell you that they are offering an American made product through and through.  In some cases they have been sold products purporting to be American made, that just aren't.  In other cases, they rationalize using imported parts for a portion of the job, figuring "99.5% American made is close enough".

  If it is hinges and latches for your gates, this leaves you with the only moving parts on your entire purchase being imported, of inferior quality, and not covered by manufacturers' liability insurance, which means in the event of a loss, your chances of recovery go only as far as the contractors check book.

  Post caps and gate hardware typically make up less than one percent of the total cost of a fence job.  Is it really necessary to risk the integrity of your investment over such a small initial savings?  When asked, American consumers overwhelmingly prefer American made products.  When offered, Americans will choose more often than not to purchase American made products, even if they cost more!

  So why don't more companies offer American made products?  Is it because they honestly can't see the difference in quality and value?  Or is it because they are willing to risk the failure of a gate in your yard, if it means a few dollars in their pocket?

  Ask your contractor to use genuine, American made Modern Fence Technologies hinges and latches on your next gate.