Training young vines is one of the most delicate tasks in viticulture. Get it right, and you set the foundation for decades of healthy growth and high yields. Get it wrong, and you risk snapped shoots, poor airflow, and lower fruit quality. That’s why choosing the right tool for trellising is critical—especially during the first two years of a vine’s life.
Enter the INFACO AT1000, a battery-powered tying tool that pairs with the F3020 platform to offer fast, consistent, and gentle ties—without damaging tender shoots. In this article, we’ll explore how the AT1000 can transform how you train your vineyard, reduce labor time, and preserve plant health from the ground up.
Tying without breaking growth: why gentleness matters
Young shoots = fragile structure
First- and second-year vine shoots are highly flexible but prone to:
Splitting at the base
Crushing when tied too tightly
Drying or choking if ties aren’t breathable
Traditional methods like twist ties or hand-knotted twine often result in inconsistent tension and excess handling stress. The AT1000 eliminates these problems with its precision-tension delivery system.
Consistent tension, every time
The AT1000 allows growers to adjust:
Tension level (low, medium, high)
Wrap count (1x, 2x, 3x)
Wire gauge (0.40–0.60 mm biodegradable wire)
For young vines, we recommend:
Low or medium tension
0.40 mm wire
Single-wrap setting
This setup ensures secure, breathable ties that won’t cut into the cane as it thickens through the season.
Speed and accuracy: train faster with fewer hands
Tying is the bottleneck
Trellising often slows crews down, especially when tying by hand:
Inconsistent tie quality
Slower pace per row
More physical strain = lower accuracy
The AT1000 solves all three:
<0.5 seconds per tie
Ergonomic trigger = no wrist stress
No regripping or repositioning needed
Operators report 8,000+ ties per day without fatigue.
The ideal crew companion
Whether you’re working solo or managing a team, the AT1000 offers:
Faster row completions
Standardized tie tension across all workers
Easier onboarding for seasonal hires
No knots, no wrist flicks, no headaches—just click, tie, and move on.
Best settings for young shoots
Optimal configuration for training vines
Recharge and reload tips
Use INFACO’s battery for 8–9 hours of operation
Reload spools in under 30 seconds
Store spare cartridges in a hip pouch or pocket bag
Field case: young vineyard, big results
📍 Paso Robles, CA
Vineyard: 40-acre Cabernet Sauvignon planting (Year 1)
Challenge: Manual tying was too slow for short training window
Solution: 4 AT1000 tools deployed during trellis training
Results:
Cut tying time per row by 53%
Zero shoot breakage during training phase
Improved tie consistency across 6 workers
Ties degraded naturally by harvest—no removal labor
Manager quote: “It’s one of the few tools that makes new hires better on day one.”
FAQ
Is the AT1000 only for vineyards?
No. While designed with vines in mind, it also works in orchards, blueberries, and nursery operations where tying is needed.
What happens when the shoot grows thicker?
The biodegradable tie breaks down naturally before it girdles the plant. For vigorous growth zones, use single-wrap and lighter wire.
Can I adjust settings without tools?
With the AT1000, you can easily select your desired number of twists, ranging from 1 to 4, directly on the machine's display screen. Simply press the "settings" button to adjust and choose between 2 to 7 twists.