Fencing Focus

Building on generations of manufacturing tradition, Munro Engineers continues to innovate with its range of fencing products

1. Post hole digger 2. Wire winder 3. FenceBoss temporary electric fence system

Leading Australian fencing machinery manufacturer Munro Engineers produced its first posthole driver over half a century ago, and has since sold thousands across Victoria and the world. When it debuted at the Australian National Field Days in 1964, Munro’s post driver combined a post driver with a fast drilling auger – an innovation that won the company the prestigious invention award. Company owner Warren McLean said the original Munro posthole driver was manufactured after a bet between two farmers about who could make the best posthole driver. “The farmer who won the bet, Alastair Mackenzie, and his friend Max Brooke, an hydraulics engineer, approached my father Max McLean,” says McLean. “We finished the design and manufactured the first model in 1964. “It was the first machine in the world that combined an auger and a driver for installing posts.” Having started in the 1800s building tobacco presses, chaff cutters and conveyors, the popularity of the new machine prompted Munro Engineers to move to specialise in fencing products. Today, the Ballarat factory employs about 30 people, with McLean family patriarch, Max, 86, still very much a part of the business. Munro Engineers has used its innovation to become a world leader in the design and manufacture of fencing machines. Its suite of fencing products includes the Munro AutoDriver, which combines in one machine a fast action rock breaker-style hammer and an hydraulic auger for drilling pilot holes. Warren says that feedback from customers over the years showed Munro posthole drivers increased productivity, saved time and were cost effective. “Single man fencing contractors who have swapped to the AutoDriver say it’s increased their productivity, with some doubling the number of posts they are able to install in an hour,” he says. “The feedback from customers is about how long the machine lasts, how well it’s made and how well it does the job that it’s designed to do. Our service and spare parts are second to none. “We really look after our customers, many of whom are repeat buyers.” Another innovation is the Munro Multi-Sett, an all-weather system that combines a fast action earth auger for drilling a pilot hole with a powerful post driver for setting a tight post every time. Also new is the recently introduced WireWinder, which allows users to coil 500 metres of fencing in under a minute – which is proving popular with both contractors and farmers. A 300 acre dairy farm with a lane system was wound up in just over two days. This would take almost three weeks by hand. For those involved in strip grazing Munro has now manufactured the FenceBoss temporary electric fence system, designed to make setting up and pulling down temporary electric fencing quicker, easier and safer. It prevents loss and damage to reels and pegs whilst making transporting them a breeze. Munro Engineers has designed its products with the user in mind – safety is of paramount importance. The hydraulics provide inherent fail-safe features – if a control lever is released the action it controls stops immediately. A series of guards prevents the operator from touching moving or dangerous parts of the machine during operation without compromising effective operation.