Hail Netting for Italian Orchards and Vineyards: Supplier Directory and Buying Guide

How to Source Hail Netting for Italian Orchards and Vineyards

Every summer I get emails from growers in Trentino, Piemonte, and Veneto asking the same question: which supplier should I use? After nearly 30 years supplying protective netting globally—including to Italian co-operatives—my honest answer is: it depends on your lead time, your scale, and whether your cooperative already has a preferred EU-spec supplier locked in.

This guide does not rank suppliers. It lists established manufacturers and distributors active in the Italian market, then gives you a decision framework for evaluating them against your own operation’s needs. If you’re weighing Italian manufacturers vs. direct import from China, jump to the import section. If you need a quick reference list, jump to the directory.

What this guide covers: Italy’s hail risk profile by region → supplier directory (9 Italian companies) → direct import considerations → 5 Italy-specific FAQs.

Why Italy’s Orchards and Vineyards Demand Specialist Hail Netting

Italy is the most hail-damaged agricultural country in Europe. Between 2006 and 2023, the European Severe Storms Laboratory recorded 1,468 large-hail events in Italy—more than any other EU nation, and 72.8% of all giant hailstone (10 cm+) reports on the continent came from Italian territory. For growers, this is not a theoretical risk.

Trentino-Alto Adige alone produces roughly 70% of Italy’s apple harvest from the Val di Non, Val Venosta, and Alto Adige valleys. Anti-hail net coverage among apple growers there runs above 80%, and 95% carry crop insurance—because a single July storm can devastate 500–600 hectares in a day, as happened in Val di Non in July 2021. In Piemonte and Veneto, Barolo and Prosecco Superiore producers have steadily increased net installation following repeated hail events in the Langhe and Valdobbiadene hills. In July 2023, a hailstorm in Friuli Venezia Giulia broke the European record: a 19 cm hailstone fell in Azzano Decimo (Pordenone).

Italian conditions impose specific requirements on netting: UV stabilisation rated for 8–12 seasons at UV Index 7–9 (typical of northern Italian summers), mesh apertures calibrated against hailstone diameters common in alpine convective storms (typically 2–5 cm), and structural compatibility with local trellising systems—pergola Trentina, Guyot, and espalier each load the net differently. These are the criteria to interrogate when evaluating any supplier, domestic or imported.

1. Raschel Drape Hail Netting:Lightweight and easy to install, this type is favored by those looking for a convenient solution.
2. Leno Woven Hail Netting: Among all weaving methods, this type boasts the strongest strength. It comes with the most robust reinforced edges and offers minimal sunlight obstruction, making it particularly ideal for apple cultivation.
3. Raschel Quad Crossover Knitted Hail Netting: This variant is lightweight, highly durable, tear-resistant, and easy to handle.

Why Use Hail Netting?

With its vast expanse of vineyards, orchards, and other agricultural landscapes, Italy isn’t immune to nature’s wrath.

Hailstorms, albeit unpredictable, can wreak havoc on farms, leading to massive economic losses.

For instance, in 2016, a sudden hailstorm in the Emilia-Romagna region caused damage estimated at millions of euros, affecting grapevines, pear, and apple orchards.

Such incidents emphasize the pressing need for preventive measures like hail netting.

5 Crucial Factors to Consider When Selecting a Supplier

We’ve recognized the importance of hail netting, so what should we pay attention to when choosing a supplier?

1. Quality: Always prioritize the quality of the netting. Don’t shy away from asking the supplier for samples or pre-production prototypes to gauge the quality.
2. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): Familiarize yourself with the supplier’s MOQ. Some may require orders of 50,000 square meters or more.
3. Pricing: Don’t be swayed solely by the price. Remember, genuine quality demands suitable raw materials, so a reasonable price signifies a good product.
4. Service: Opt for excellent service suppliers, keeping communication channels open.
5. Delivery and Transportation: Consider the supplier’s lead times and the efficiency of their transportation methods.

Italy Hail Risk by Region: Quick Reference for Buyers

Understanding your region’s exposure guides both the spec (mesh weight, UV rating) and urgency of your sourcing decision. Delivery lead times from Italian domestic manufacturers run 4–8 weeks; from China add sea transit (28–35 days Shanghai→Genoa) plus customs clearance (2–4 days).

Hail Netting Supplier Directory: Companies Active in the Italian Market

The companies below are listed for reference only, not in ranked order. All are known to supply or manufacture hail netting products used in Italian agriculture. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement, and EyouAgro has no commercial relationship with the Italian companies listed.

Arrigoni

• Location: Via dei Boschi, Lurano (BG)
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1936
• Number of employees: 160
• Main product: Insect protection, hail netting, Rain protection, Thermo-reflective screens, Sun protection, Open field crop protection, Wind protection, Weed protection
• Other Products: Accessories and packaging

The Arrigoni group’s vast range of nets and fabrics also includes accessories and other goods made by renowned companies and always guaranteed based on quality and service tests completed both in the lab and in the field. Arrigoni has a competent, knowledgeable, and talented crew. It stands out for its strong dedication to product and process innovation and wealth of experience dedicated to the product’s quality and dependability. Thanks to its distributors, Arrigoni hail nets are available in over 72 countries.

Best for: Large orchards and vineyards needing certified EU-spec netting with laboratory-tested durability; operations requiring full technical documentation

Not ideal for: Buyers on tight budgets or small-scale plots where production-grade specs are overkill

Helios group

• Location: Via Monte Prato, Uggiate Trevano (CO)
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1981
• Number of employees: 50-100
• Main product: hail netting, anti-hail system
• Other Products: Netting accessories

HELIOS GROUP manufactures anti-hail nets, and their distinctive characteristics exceed the highest levels of quality needed by national and international markets. Their nets are woven in the field on specialized flat weaving looms to make assembly and tensioning easier, and therefore to facilitate protection against hail storms.

Best for: Growers needing flat-woven nets compatible with automated tensioning systems; international-quality requirements

Not ideal for: Customers needing very fast delivery or small custom orders

Tenax

• Location: Via dell’Industria, Rivoli Veronese VR,
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1960
• Number of employees: 51-200
• Main product: Hail netting, plastic nets, fences, decorative edging, shading, and screening woven nets, synthetic lawns
• Other Products: Geosynthetics, Vegetable Plot and Garden, Home accessories

TENAX is known for its marble development and manufacturing. The brand has now evolved to become the leading company, proudly promoting Made in Italy quality throughout the globe.  The goal of the organization is to give excellence, dependability, professional service, and a proactive attitude to its customers, placing them at the center of its world, due to a highly qualified team.

Best for: Operations valuing Made-in-Italy branding with established export track record; buyers wanting a diversified product range

Not ideal for: Highly specialised custom weave requests or buyers prioritising price over brand heritage

Retificio Ribola

• Location: Via del Campasso, Corte Franca BS
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1945
• Number of employees: over 31
• Main product: Hail netting, anti-bird netting, pool netting, aquaculture, fall prevention
• Other Products: Sports netting, sports nets, recreation net, anti-jellyfish systems, animal husbandry, aviaries

By merging old-world craftsmanship with contemporary production skills, Retificio Ribola has flourished. Their anti-hail nets are green, trimmed, and packaged ready to deploy, with perimeter rope woven in to prevent hail from harming the plant and flowers. They produce and distribute hail netting that is appropriate for their customers.

Best for: Buyers wanting ready-to-deploy nets with perimeter rope pre-installed; small-to-medium orchards in Lombardia/Brescia area

Not ideal for: Large commercial operations requiring complex custom sizing or international certifications

Larioreti

• Location: Via Gondola, Lecco
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1989
• Number of employees: 2-10
• Main product: metal fabrics and mesh, electro-welded and corrugated grilles, textile mesh and mesh items, anti-icing mesh
• Other Products: geotechnical mesh, and geotechnical fabrics, anti-hail and anti-insect mesh, expanded metal, openwork metal, and belts

Larioreti has always worked in the metal mesh industry, but his expertise has subsequently expanded to include hail nettings, shad netting, and other agricultural protection textiles. Larioreti is a good place to go if you’re looking for a supplier that can advise you on the finest items to fit your needs and then produce them in the size, quality, and quantity you need in a short amount of time with the reliability that comes with a quarter-century of expertise.

Best for: Projects requiring metal mesh or multi-material netting alongside HDPE; Lecco/Como area buyers

Not ideal for: Pure agricultural HDPE hail netting buyers; metal mesh is their primary focus, not soft agri nets

Artes Politecnica

• Location: Via Lago Maggiore, Schio (VI)
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1966
• Number of employees:11-50
• Main product: hail netting, bird netting, frost protection, sunburn protection, anti-insect netting, anti-cracking nets,
•  Other products: Zip system, car cover and fences, accessories, greenhouses, and zootechnics

Artes’ mission is to preserve agricultural progress by developing and manufacturing high-quality goods.

Anti-hail nets from Artes are available in a variety of widths and colors, including black, grey, white, crystal, and Total Grey, and are custom-made by Artes experienced tailors. All goods come with a solid warranty and may be customized to the customer’s specifications.

Best for: Growers needing colour-specific netting (black, grey, white, crystal, Total Grey) with custom tailoring; vineyards and orchards wanting premium Italian craftsmanship with warranty

Not ideal for: Buyers needing commodity pricing or very fast turnaround

Retificio Padano

• Location: Via Padana Superiore, Ospitaletto (BS)
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 1980
• Number of employees: 10-50
• Main product: hail netting, nets, and ropes, bird nets, windbreak nets, agricultural nets, shade net, hail net, anti-algae textile,
• Other Products: building netting, olive gathering net, monofilament nets, scaffolding nets, scaffolding protection net

Retificio Padano specializes in the manufacture of nets for agriculture, construction, industry, sports, and recreation. Using consolidated partners, they can supply a comprehensive spectrum of nets for a variety of utilization areas. They have a fantastic price-to-quality ratio. They are one of the premium Italian hail netting providers.

Best for: Operations wanting competitive price-to-quality ratio from an established northern Italian manufacturer; buyers needing nets across multiple categories from one supplier

Not ideal for: Buyers who need highly specialised agricultural certifications or very bespoke technical specs

Agrotec Agrotecnologie

• Location: Quartiere Sante Ferroli, Monteforte d’Alpone
• Company type: Manufacturing, Supplier
• Year founded: 2005
• Number of employees: 20-50
• Main product: hail netting, hail protection plate with securing clip
• Other Products: Spacer bracket, inter-row structure, headland kit

Agrotecnologie is a young, dynamic company with a wide range of agronomic skills, competencies, and capabilities. The firm develops and creates projects that assist the agriculture sector. Traditional hail protection is combined with many benefits for espalier fruit trees management in the HTS multifunction system. Originally designed as a hail protection system, the device’s true potential became evident after many redesigns.

Best for: Growers interested in integrated hail protection systems including structure, support, and netting; newer operations wanting system-level advice alongside product

Not ideal for: Net-only buyers; Agrotec’s strength is the complete protection system, not loose netting alone

Stocker Garden

• Location: Via Industria, Lana
• Company type: Supplier
• Year founded: 1985
• Number of employees: 20-50
• Main product: Hail protections, Protective clothing, greenhouses,
• Other Products: Binders, knives, axes & bill hooks, binding material, drop spreaders, plant supports

Whether you’re looking to protect your entire crop or just a portion, Stocker has the netting you need. Stocker is a supplier of hail nets. They stock Premium quality hail nets, designed to protect your yield during the spring period. Growers, suppliers, and agricultural contractors can rely on Stocker for a wide range of netting, including hail nets, bird control nets, animal protection nets, deer fence nets, and floating debris prevention nets.

As a direct manufacturer with 28 years of experience, EyouAgro ships hail netting to Italy and across Europe. Our range includes Raschel drape netting, Leno woven netting, and all installation accessories. Request a quote with CIF pricing to your nearest port.

Best for: Alto Adige/South Tyrol growers wanting a regional specialist with deep knowledge of alpine orchard conditions; buyers needing hail protection alongside greenhouse supplies

Not ideal for: Southern Italian operations or buyers outside the alpine/pre-alpine zone seeking a large-volume supplier

Considering Direct Import from China

Italian distributors and even some domestic manufacturers source HDPE yarn or finished hail netting from China. If your operation is large enough to justify a container-load purchase (typically 5,000 m² or more), buying direct from a Chinese manufacturer can reduce per-metre cost by 25–45%. The decision is not simply about price—it involves lead time, quality verification, customs logistics, and post-sale technical support.

Purchase Decision Matrix

Hidden Costs Italian Buyers Often Overlook

Many Italian distributors of “Italian” hail netting are themselves importing HDPE yarn or finished goods from China and adding a 30–60% margin. The net you buy from a regional Italian distributor may have left a factory in Qingdao or Ningbo eight weeks earlier. Buying direct removes this margin but transfers logistics responsibility to you.

• EU import duty: HDPE agricultural protective nets fall under HS 5608.90 — approximately 12% ad valorem duty applies to China-origin goods under the EU Common Customs Tariff
• Italian VAT (IVA): 22% applies on the CIF value plus duty, applied at customs clearance in Italy
• Port costs: Genoa (Liguria) and La Spezia handle most China–Italy container traffic. Venice is used for northeastern Italy. Port handling, trucking, and customs brokerage typically add €300–€600 per container
• Quality inspection: A third-party pre-shipment inspection (SGS or equivalent) in China costs approximately €200–€350 but can prevent a container of non-compliant goods

A Practical Hybrid Strategy

Many growers in Trentino and Veneto use a hybrid approach: local Italian suppliers for small top-up orders and urgent replacements; direct China import for bulk re-installation or new orchard sections. This preserves the responsiveness of domestic supply while capturing the cost advantage of factory-direct on high-volume orders.

7-Step Import Process (China to Italy)

1. Specify and sample: Request samples with your exact mesh size, UV rating, and colour. Leno woven vs. Raschel knitted performs differently on your trellising system—test before committing
2. Verify the factory: Request factory audit photos, production capacity documentation, and existing export references to EU buyers. Ask for EU lab test certificates (tensile strength, UV resistance)
3. Negotiate price and Incoterms: FOB Shanghai or Ningbo is standard. Get CIF Genoa pricing to calculate true landed cost including freight and insurance
4. Pre-shipment inspection: Book a third-party inspector (SGS, Bureau Veritas, or equivalent) to verify mesh weight, UV stabiliser content, and dimensions before loading
5. Sea freight and transit: Shanghai/Ningbo to Genoa or La Spezia: 28–35 days. Book through a freight forwarder with China–Italy lane experience
6. Customs clearance in Italy: Your EORI number, commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, and HS code are required. A licensed customs broker in Genoa/La Spezia typically handles this in 2–4 business days
7. Final delivery: Trucking from port to farm; allow 1–3 days depending on your region. Total door-to-door from China: 10–14 weeks from order confirmation

About EyouAgro

EyouAgro (Joyeyou Industry Co., Ltd) is a Chinese manufacturer based in Qingpu, Shanghai, established in 1996. We produce Leno woven and Raschel knitted hail netting, anti-bird nets, shade cloth, and insect nets. Our hail netting is exported to Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Spain, France, Germany, the UK, and South Africa, among other markets. We have supplied Italian agricultural businesses on a direct-import basis.

We are not an Italian company, and we are not a ranked “top” supplier in Italy—we are one option among many, suited for specific situations: high-volume orders (one container minimum), buyers comfortable managing international logistics, and operations where price per square metre is a primary decision driver. If you are a small orchard needing 200 metres of net next month, an Italian domestic supplier will serve you better.

If you are a cooperative, large estate, or distribution business evaluating a China direct-import trial order, contact us for a CIF Genoa quote with full specification sheet.

Conclusion

Hail netting decisions in Italy are driven by regional exposure, crop value, orchard trellis system, and your supply chain preferences. Trentino apple growers and Veneto Prosecco producers face different agronomic conditions than Puglia table-grape farmers—and the right netting specification differs accordingly. Use the regional risk table and supplier directory in this guide to build a shortlist, then verify lead times, certifications, and pricing directly with each supplier before committing. If a direct China import trial makes sense for your scale, the 7-step process above gives you a starting framework.

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