We started several years ago as a farming family in rural NSW with an idea for a revolutionary fence post. A simple slot and keeper that completely eliminates the need for tie wire. After experiencing the benefits on our own farm, we began working to get the innovation into the hands of fellow farmers.

But as is often the case, things aren't always as easy as they seem. After approached existing Australian manufactures, who weren't that interested, we looked into setting up our own manufacturing facility here in Australia. But when quotes for local raw material were more expensive than most other finished products on the market, we knew we had to re-think our strategy.

Our next move was probably the darkest chapter in the our history but most people can completely relate with the experience with the mention of just three words, "Made in China".

In our pursuit to see the invention come to life we criss-crossed Asia looking for a suitable manufacturers to partner with.

It was definitely an eye opener, seeing a different world and many things that most people just wouldn't believe. Our journey took us to some poor quality back yard smelt shops that made fence posts already landing in Australia, but none of them were ever going to be suitable to meet the standard we wanted to set for Clipex.

Eventually we came across a large manufacturer who employed over 700 workers, making some top quality parts for the high-speed railway industry in China. We had some considerable experience fabricating and making agricultural products, so we thought we were pretty safe, but how wrong we were.

What followed was pretty much a disaster. After ongoing problems with the chinese negotiations, quality problems and large currency fluctuations left us with 30,000 over-priced faulty posts sitting in our back shed, that the family had to re-process by hand. As you can imagine, the Clipex story nearly ended right there.

However, as we slowly fixed and sold the stock, the testimonies started pouring in as to how amazing the product was, how much time and money it saved, how easy it was to use.

Despite our very limited and problematic supply, and demand was growing. As frustrating as this was, it drove us towards the point where, after much research and discussion, 5 Olsson family members decided to move to and live in China, to try and set up our own 100% Australian Owned and managed manufacturing facility.

There were initially 3 Aussies, Ashley Olsson, Aj Olsson and Ned Olsson, and 1 chinese national, who started haggling with government departments, land owners and builders, whilst trying to "dog paddle" in a foreign culture, and progress our R&D with one clear goal in sight, making the worlds best fence posts.

After 12 months solid R&D we managed to develop a patent pending method for making a Y section. Which produces a stronger section per weight than any previous Y shaped design on the market.

With this breakthrough, we were confident that the CLIPEX idea could survive and make it's way to Australian farmers.

In late 2010 armed with our own Y section machine, we started to achieve what no other fencing or cattle handling manufacturer had achieved before them, producing High Quality products out of an Australian Owned and operated facility in China.

We know have what is locally called a "WOFE" company, meaning a "Wholly Owned Foreign Enterprise" owned that's controlled by Ashley and his sons. Several Aussies work there full time and exercise complete control over the training of staff, material supply, manufacturing process and quality control.

Over the last 2 years, we've begun working with Reg Tretheway of Ti industries in deepwater NSW. Reg has over 20 years experience in cattle handling design, designing innovative Cattle handling gear used by nearly all of Australia's top stockyard companies. With Reg's help Clipex has expanded it's range to include a wide range of world class cattle and sheep handling products.

We currently employ about 70 full time Chinese staff, and due to the ability to put more effort and labour into each product at a lower cost, we are capable of producing some of the highest quality products on the Australian market.

Clipex operates out of Blacksoil QLD, where we have a retail outlet and our own delivery vehicles. When it comes to selling their products we want to be constantly in touch with our customers. This gives us a big advantage over other manufacturers, because we are engaged with the people who use and really understand the product, helping us constantly improve our offering.