Layens plastic frame

When working with Layens hives without supers, every frame matters: it must serve for both brood and honey, while resisting moisture, heat and constant handling. In that context, this food-grade plastic frame proves to be a solid option.

It’s made of food-grade polypropylene with a shock-resistant plastic border, and comes pre-molded with 3 mm deep cell impressions on both sides. We recommend lightly coating it with wax (using a roller or briefly dipping in warm wax) before placing it in the hive. Don’t fill the cells — just give them scent and texture to make the bees accept them more easily.

Bees clearly prefer natural wax sheets for building their brood nest. That’s why we suggest using wooden frames with wax foundation in the center of the hive, and placing these plastic ones on the outer positions where bees tend to store honey. A smart combo.

After the first season, acceptance improves significantly. Once the frame smells like wax and colony, they work it as any other frame. Plus, since it comes pre-embossed, you save time during installation: during a good nectar flow, they’ll draw it out without hesitation.

One clear advantage: these frames handle extraction better, especially with tangential extractors. No cracking, no breaking — they can be reused over multiple harvests.

Also ideal for Layens nucleus hives or during transhumance, where wooden frames tend to suffer more. These won’t rot, won’t warp, and are easy to clean between seasons.

Technical specifications: Layens frame made of food-grade polypropylene (PP) with shock-resistant plastic frame. Size: 365 x 400 x 25 mm. 3 mm deep cell impressions on both sides. Wax-coating recommended before use.