U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos recently visited Keystone Steel & Wire Co., producer of Red Brand wire products.
At Red Brand, we’re proud of all the ways that ‘American-Made’ is meaningful. The obvious list might include factors like providing jobs for hard-working Americans, impacting local economies, and demonstrating our patriotism. But, it’s also about creating a product for our customers that is consistent and reliable every time. That’s what we’ve built our reputation on for over 125 years, and why we are still considered the best in ag fencing today.
At Red Brand, we offer the agriculture industry’s leading fencing products. It’s not only because of our superior American-made steel. It’s also because of the construction of the fence itself. Red Brand field fence is considered the most reliable confinement option for cattle, hogs and other large animals. Our strong, yet flexible fencing holds up to the pressure of corralling large herds. Another important feature is the special crimp that expands and contracts under extreme weather changes. The result is a reliable enclosure in even the most severe conditions.
Wood fences can rot. Stone fences can crack. And wire fences? They can rust. At Red Brand, we regard fencing as an investment. You work hard to assure your animals’ safety. To protect what’s important to you, we manufacture our fences to stand strong against all types of weather conditions. However, even a light rainfall can harm steel at the atomic level. Due to oxygen molecules that produce iron oxide, rust will appear on exposed steel. That’s why all Red Brand fence features galvanization for lasting performance.
The history of barbed wire is not a well-documented story, but we do know that farming and ranching was forever changed with the invention of this fencing solution. Some farmers were using early homemade variations of barbed wire fencing in the mid-1800’s. However, Joseph Glidden’s later design became the most successful barbed wire of his time. His patent in 1874 was inspired by an earlier version developed by Michael Kelly but was improved by the use of two strands of wire that secured ‘spines’ or ‘barbs’ onto the fence line.
Until the late 1800’s, most fences were constructed from stone and wood. These fences required massive effort to build along with constant attention as weather or livestock caused damage. This led Peter Sommer to create a fence-weaving machine that allowed farmers to protect their land with lightweight, weather resilient, American made steel. Today’s farmers do not have to decide between stone or wood: today’s decision rests between low carbon or high tensile fence.
Red Brand fence products have led the way in the agricultural fencing industry for over 125 years. Whether you are new to our products or a lifelong Red Brand user, we encourage you to take a closer look at where this American-made company, and woven wire fence, got their start.
One Blog – Multiple Resources
Red Brand’s pleased to introduce our new blog where we will build a library of resources like installation advice, product information, planning tips and more. We’re experts in the field, so you can rely on us to help with all things related to ag fencing.
Our Roots Stretch as Far as Our Fences
We’ve been around for a long time. In 1889, Peter Sommer built the world’s very first fence weaving machine because he wanted to provide a faster and easier way to build quality, longer-lasting fence. His determination and innovation resulted in Red Brand fence. And now, generations later, Red Brand keeps Sommer’s legacy alive. We continue to produce high-quality, American-made fence products that are designed to exceed the demands of our country’s diverse agricultural communities.