The cost of replacing large poly products can quickly run into thousands of dollars but did you know a lot of damage can actually be repaired?
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Ararat-based business Plastic Fusion will showcase how many products can be repaired to continue their working life at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days.
Plastic Fusion has been providing poly-repair services across Victoria and South Australia for the past 11 years.
New owners Brian (pictured) and Suzy Sewell and their son Ben are continuing this service and they have put another vehicle on the road.
"We realise the importance of turnaround time and another vehicles means less time waiting for our customers," Brian said.
Servicing the cropping and mixed-farming industry through the repair of a range of poly products including water tanks, transport tanks, spray tanks and tractor fuel tanks makes up the bulk of the work for the team.
"Repairing, where possible, can end up being considerably more convenient and less costly," Brian said.
"When you consider the inconvenience of plumbing in a new water tank as well as disposal of the old, repairing makes good sense."
Brian and Suzy, both run a small farm and understand the importance of getting water to stock or keeping a tractor or header going, especially at critical times.
Poly tanks, troughs and even transport tanks break for a range of reasons.
A significant number of problems result from poor foundations or mounting systems, stock trampling around tank, rabbits or water overflows that can erode the foundations and without maintenance can result in damage to the tank.
"We endeavour to help out as quickly as possible when situations like this happen," Brian said.
The mobile service takes in the area from Gippsland to the Yorke Peninsula and the SA Mid North, however the focus is on the South East, Wimmera, Central Victoria, Melbourne and Western District.
Sometimes farmers are a little reluctant to think about poly repairs, which Brian said is often a result of a bad experience with a DIY job gone wrong.
"It's a job requiring specialised equipment and it's better if people don't try to do it themselves," he said.
"It will become a much bigger fix if we're dealing with a bodged up repair rather than just repairing the original problem.
"We are always happy to discuss a poly repair people have, often they are surprised with what we can repair.
"Some people discard reparable equipment because they don't realise it can be fixed."
Find Plastic Fusion Service on site G1 at the east end of the Moore Exhibition Centre at this year's Wimmera Machinery Field Days. The business has occupied this site for the past 11 years.
"While our service might not be needed today, it's handy to have a contact should the occasion ever arise," Brian said.