Just listened to the podcast referenced.  Glad to hear that Blue Sky is now
offering the polystyrene hives manufactured in Finland.

Some 15 years ago Bob Stevens (Betterbee), Nick Dadant (Dadant), and I
gathered as many of the then manufactured polystyrene hives as we could and
set out to determine 'the best' and try to manufacture it in North
America.  We eventually determined that one made in Finland was superior
and used that to set specifications.  It was probably the same manufacturer
that Blue Sky is buying from.

Along the way, we learned that the density offered by various manufacturers
varied greatly and, as a generalization, the more dense the better as far
as suitability for beekeeping is concerned.  Such density is measured, by
the way, by determining how much water is displaced by a given mass of the
polystyrene.

Unfortunately, as the years went on somehow the density was reduced in an
attempt to lower the cost and better compete with pine or spruce and
polystyrene quickly fell out of favor as the lower quality boxes would not
hold up to beekeeping demands.

I hope that Blue Sky is successful selling these.  If so, perhaps someone
will again invest in producing this quality in North America as the molds
are not at all expensive.  I share the sentiments that polystyrene hives
and nucs can be considerably superior to wood and if the costs can be
reduced the entire industry will benefit.

--
Lloyd
Office/Honey House 518-573-8246
Lloyd Spear Beekeeper Inc.
Ross Rounds Inc.

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