About Beattie Insulators
The Beattie concept of using an alternate electric and earth wire type fence was
the principal reason for the development of insulators for a permanent electric
fencing system. Doug Beattie has been designing, manufacturing and marketing the
Beattie Insulator range of electric fence products since 1959.
Most Beattie Insulators are made from a low density polyethylene material which
is guaranteed for 20 years. This guarantee has been in place for the past 30 years.
Beattie Insulators have been widely used in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, having
a major share of the permanent fence insulator market dating back to the 1960’s,
most of which are still in use today.
Why Low density Polyethelene?
Permanent and Temporary Insulators were the first Beattie Insulators. The Permanent
insulator was originally made from a high density plastic. After a number of years,
it became evident that the material in the Permanent insulator was losing its black
colour and becoming brittle, while the Temporary insulator made from Low Density
Polyethelene remained completely unchanged. These have now been on fences for over
40 years without any sign of deterioration, giving us every reason to believe these
insulators will last in excess of 50 years. The Permanent insulator has for the
last 30 years been made from the same material.
Beattie Insulators is a family run business which is based on the home farm at Haldon
Downs in Kaikoura. The business and the farm are now run by three generations of
the Beattie family. Doug’s daughter Linda manages the business and her son Matthew
is the marketing manager, a job which Doug has been doing successfully since 1960.
Doug is still actively running the farm along with Linda’s husband Grant Anderson,
which runs Romney sheep and 200 Murray Grey cattle, selling around 50 bulls per
year.
Beattie Insulators now supply a wide range of electric fence insulators and electric
fence products which include
gate breaks and accessories,
fence reels, underground cable,
outriggers, electric
netting and also the
KG prill applicator for applying prills or granules in weed
control.
Doug Beattie