Last week at Nampo Harvest Day André van Tonder demonstrated how the versatile tool, Cortool, is used to form wire clamps on polythene pipes for irrigation systems and general farming operations, like fixing broken wire fences.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
African Farming captured the live demonstration on video, giving farmers a closer look at how the tool performs in real farming conditions.
According to Pretoria-based Van Tonder, the Cortool has been sold in South Africa for more than 20 years and has built a strong footprint across Southern Africa, including Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The tool works with galvanised wire ranging from 1mm to 3mm thickness, allowing farmers to create durable clamps at a fraction of the cost of conventional clamps. Van Tonder explained that the wire clamp can withstand pressure levels higher than the actual strength of the polythene pipe itself.
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Beyond irrigation
The Cortool is not limited to pipe repairs. It is also used for erecting and repairing livestock fences, with the bonus that the tightening method leaves no sharp edges that could injure animals.
Van Tonder also demonstrated how the tool can strap wooden poles to upright supports for livestock enclosures and be used in joining round poles for thatched roof structures.
As farmers continue searching for cost-effective and durable farming solutions, practical tools such as the Cortool attracted significant attention at this year’s Nampo Harvest Day.
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