Rising Costs in the Fence Industry...

Have you noticed prices going up at your local fence supply house?  I just talked with a wholesaler who has experienced 2-4% increases WEEKLY for the last two months, and anticipates this trend will continue through June!

That means that, on average, with 3% per week increases, an item that cost you $10 on February 1, 2018, will cost you $16.78 on June 1, 2018.  Contrast that with MFT pricing, where many of our prices have gone down over the past six years.

Talk of tariffs and trade war have driven up the cost of imported goods, even before the tariffs take effect.

Modern Fence Technologies proudy makes our products in the United States of America, and we use American sourced materials to make them.  Our prices have been stable for years, and we plan to keep it that way, by making the best quality hardware and building on a proven, sustainable business model.

Call your MFT sales rep today!

Frequently Asked Questions...

Q:  Why do so many brands of hinges look similar? 

A:  Most are based the same model.  

MFT Fence has introduced dozens of innovative new designs in the past twenty years. Companies from all over the globe now offer their versions. 

Q:  What makes MFT hardware unique?

Originality, Quality, Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Stability, and it's made in America, with American made materials.

Call your MFT Fence rep today, and see the difference!

Confessions of a Cold Caller...

As a business owner, your time is valuable, and always in demand. One way to guarantee that you have fewer distractions is to have whoever answers your phone “filter” calls. The number of “I'll let him know you called”, and “give me your number and if he's interested he'll call you back” responses I get is staggering. I know when I hear this that the chances of you ever hearing about the truly unique products I can offer to differentiate you from your competition in quality and value are next to zero.

Here's what you didn't learn. I offer American made products designed and built here by professionals with decades in your industry. The products you are using are almost certainly imported, inferior copies of products we introduced to the industry.

Contrary to opinion, the cost of using our product is usually lower than that of using our competitor's, and the margins are higher. But you won't know that because you've trained the person who answers the phone to take a name and number, with no compelling reason for you to call back. So you never talk to me.

Instead, I find the one guy in your market who is really into quality. He sells top notch products at prices that make him profitable, and at the same time, attractive to the kind of customers who don't mind paying for good quality work, and who pay on time. I work with that guy, helping him to grow his business, ultimately, at the cost of your business. 

Have at it.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

At first glance it looks like many other well made vinyl enclosures, however, the installer did two things that will likely result in greater need for repair over the life of the gates.  First, the installer chose what looks to be an imported hinge set.  These are made to look like a copyrighted American made hinge, but they are not.
Second, the hinges are installed incorrectly.  This is a common error.  Look at the picture and notice how close together the hinges are spaced.  Look at all the room above the top hinge and below the bottom hinge.  This placement makes the entire gate system weaker than it ought to be.  This is especially critical when using inferior imported hinges.
To make your gate system as strong and stable as it can be, always move the hinges as far apart as they can be.  Think of the forces on the gate as a triangle.  The distance between hinges is the base of that triangle, and the center of the leading edge of the gate is the apex.  Gravity pulls down at the apex.  The broader the base of the triangle is, the better it can resist that gravity.  Applying this extra force to a hinge that is poorly made to begin with is a recipe for call backs and dissatisfied customers.
It may take a little more effort to do it right if you're too short to place the top hinge without a ladder, or don't want to get down low to apply the bottom hinge, but in the end, it's always worth doing a job right.

Hinge Mounted Springs...And Why They're a Bad Idea

Hinge mounted springs are in the least effective place to close a gate. They have no leverage. Even hydraulic closers are more effective when the pulling arm is at a distance from the hinge.

Just like when you were a kid on the teeter-totter at recess, where a skinny kid could lift a fat kid, as long as he was far enough away from the pivot, so a small spring, crammed up against the pivot, will struggle to move a gate.

Yes, we still sell hinges with springs for customers who demand them, but we are offering a smarter, more effective way now. It offers positive latching, every time, with an even power curve that doesn't get weaker as the gate closes. Designed for safety, durability, and minimal maintenance, our new gate closing option should be on your gate.