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Styrofoam & EPP hives
Styrofoam & EPP hives offer a lightweight, durable, weather-resistant and excellent insulating solution for modern beekeeping. You can find suitable Styrofoam& EPP hives and accessories in our subcategories. They are ideal for professional and young beekeepers. Discover the different variants and find the optimal hive for your bee colony.
The complete hives are usually supplied without frames, hive paint and Beeswax Foundations. These items can simply be ordered at the same time.
More about Styrofoam & EPP hives »
Why should I choose a plastic hive?
Plastic hives made of polystyrene or EPP offer both experienced beekeepers and young beekeepers a high level of comfort and reliability. The combination of well thought-out design and hard-wearing material ensures very good thermal insulation, high weather resistance and a stable hive construction. This benefits both bees and beekeepers: the colonies live in a stable and well-regulated climate, while handling the magazine hive remains particularly easy.
Overview of all plastic hives and systems
Here you will find a clear list of our Styrofoam (EPS) hives, EPP hives and thermoplastic hives.
Franconian Hive made from rigid polystyrene foam
The Franconian Hive made of polystyrene is popular with many beekeepers as it offers a practical, durable and easy-to-handle solution for daily work on the bee colony.
- Weatherproof and very light: easy to transport and durable.
- Standardized 57×50 cm system dimensions: compatible with frame formats such as DNM, Zander, Langstroth, Dadant Blatt and Dadant US.
- Coordinated range of accessories: specially developed for the Franconian Hive - everything fits together.
Segeberg Hive made from rigid polystyrene foam (EPS)
The Segeberg Hive EPS is one of the best-known plastic hives, especially in northern Germany, and is lightweight, easy to clean and yet very robust. The Segeberg Hive German standard size (DNM)is often used by young beekeepers due to its advantages.
- Perfect dimensional accuracy: thanks to the calculated material shrinkage, Boxes, lids and bottoms fit perfectly in the long term.
- Square format 50 × 50 cm: allows hot and cold setup without conversion or additional parts.
- Extensively coordinated range of accessories: everything fits together and has been specially developed for the Segeberger.
Segeberg Hive made from expanded polypropylene (EPP)
The Segeberg Hive EPP is a well-known German standardhive system made from a new hive material known from vehicle and aircraft construction. The properties and advantages of this material are perfectly suited to beekeeping.
- High compatibility: compatible with all hive parts and accessories of the classic Segeberger polystyrene hive.
- Durable, dimensionally stable and unbreakable: significantly more robust than polystyrene hives and small deformations return to their original shape.
- UV-protected and dyed through: ready for immediate use as no prior painting is required. The colors are selected to be extra natural.
Spessart Hive made from rigid polystyrene foam
The Spessart Hive is particularly compact, robust and ergonomically designed and offers maximum comfort when beekeeping thanks to the 2 cm Handle bars and the lightweight hive material. It is particularly suitable for regions where there are large temperature differences and bees need additional protection.
- Compact external dimensions 55 x 47 cm: Ideal for narrow hives or traveling frames.
- 2 cm Handle bar: Well suited for a firm grip and perfectly suited as a tilting aid for easy working.
- Flexible use: Suitable for many frame formats such as German standard size (DNM) and Zander.
Imgut Multihive made of rigid polystyrene foam and with plastic fold protection
The Imgut Multihive stands out from other systems thanks to its unique composite material made of high-strength EPS and integrated plastic seam protection. The robust EPS material is durable, lightweight and ideal for beekeepers who want to use hive systems with different frame sizes in parallel.
- Innovative composite material made of EPS + plastic rebate protection: Protects all high-stress areas permanently against wear and tear and reduces cementing.
- Uniform external dimensions 54.5 x 45.5 cm: Compatible with Zander, Langstroth, Dadant US and Dadant Blatt frames.
- The multi hive is supplied in individual parts: For space-saving storage, easy assembly and full control over processing.
Taunus Zander Hive made from rigid polystyrene foam
The Taunus Zander Hive is a lightweight and stable polystyrene hive for Zander frames. Thanks to its full-length Handle bars, it is particularly easy to carry and is also ideal for migratory beekeeping. The well thought-out base construction prevents moisture and mold, making it a durable, practical hive for active beekeepers.
- Good from experience: Proven in large-scale beekeeping for over 25 years and used thousands of times.
- Lightweight, weather-resistant and easy to handle: Also particularly suitable for older beekeepers or a lot of transportation work.
- Very robust, hard-foamed polystyrene construction: suitable for 9 Zander frames in cold setup.
Find out more about the Taunus Zander Hive made of polystyrene »
Combihive made from hard foam polystyrene
The Combihive is one of the flexible plastic hives that you can use for different sizes and operating modes. It is ideal if you want to switch between frames or gradually expand your system. Its design makes it particularly user-friendly.
- Uniform external dimensions 54 x 45 cm: Compatible with DNM, Zander, Langstroth, Dadant US and Dadant Blatt frames.
- More stable than classic polystyrene hives: The dovetail corner joints increase stability enormously and offer maximum protection for the bees.
- Seamless design: All Boxes are butt-jointed and can be freely combined. Even the lid can be used as a solid bottom board.
Infinity Hive made from rigid polystyrene foam
The Infinity Hive is one of the modern polystyrene hives with very high insulating power. It is extremely light, yet stable. The material is weatherproof and effectively protects your hive from cold, heat and moisture. This allows the colony to develop stably and remain calm during stressful weather phases.
- Multiple Entrances at the front and rear: For flexible installation and variable operation.
- Compact format: Ideal for limited space on the stand or when traveling.
- Uniform external dimensions 55.5 × 38.5 cm: Compatible with Zander, Dadant US and Dadant Blatt frames.
Thermoplast Dadant Blatt Hive made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
The Nicot Thermoplast hive is a state-of-the-art plastic system made of food-safe, recyclable HDPE and has been specially developed for maximum durability, hygiene and professional beekeeping operations. It is virtually indestructible, rot-proof and excellently designed.
- Food-safe, recyclable HDPE: Safe for bees and honey as it is BPA and phthalate-free.
- Virtually indestructible & rot-proof: Extremely durable thermoplastic system for Dadant Blatt frames, ideal for professional beekeeping.
- Sophisticated system design: lid holds without straps, hive top feeder serves as a modular lid, everything can be combined.
Anel Langstroth hive made from polyurethane PU plastic
The Anel Langstroth hive consists of a modern, very stable plastic system. It is dimensionally stable, UV-resistant and almost indestructible. This makes it a good choice for active or mobile beekeepers looking for a reliable system for Langstroth frames.
- Box-Lock latches: Boxes do not slip, a great advantage especially for transportation and migratory beekeeping.
- Robust plastic cover with PU or polystyrene internal insulation: Ideal for temperature regulation and durability.
- Extra handles & ergonomic handling: Makes work easier, even with heavy honey chambers.
Find out more about the Anel Langstroth hive made of polyurethane »
Advantages of plastic hives at a glance:
- Better insulation & faster spring start - Plastic hives retain heat much better, which means colonies start brood earlier and stronger.
- Significantly lighter - A wooden box is generally heavier than a polystyrene box - ideal for back protection and migratory beekeeping.
- Easy-care & weather-resistant - Plastic does not rot, does not warp and does not require a protective coating - wood does.
- Easy to clean & hygienic - smooth, non-porous surfaces can be thoroughly cleaned with caustic soda, which is only possible to a limited extent with wood.
- Better winter warmth & less feed consumption - High insulation values ensure less energy loss in winter and save feed.
Conclusion on plastic hives:
Plastic hives are lighter, warmer, easier to maintain and more durable than Wooden Hives. They support rapid spring development, offer better insulation and are particularly advantageous for migratory beekeepers or physically demanding work. Browse through our product range of Styrofoam & EPP hives and many other plastic hives now. If you have any questions or need help with your selection, we will be happy to help you. Your Team Holtermann.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about plastic hives
Plastic hives made of polystyrene or EPP generally offer very good thermal insulation, allowing the colony to retain heat for longer in winter and protecting it from strong temperature peaks in summer. Many beekeepers observe that this can contribute to a more balanced climate within the hive and a harmonious start to spring.
In most cases, yes. Many hive systems - especially Segeberger, Frankenbeute or multi-hives - are compatible with classic wooden interior parts or frames such as DNM, Zander or Langstroth. The only important thing is that the system dimensions fit.
Plastic hives are very easy to clean:
- Styrofoam/EPS and EPP are usually cleaned with caustic soda (2-3%), hive cleaner or hot water.
- Smooth surfaces hardly absorb any dirt or propolis.
- Mechanical pre-cleaning is often sufficient.
Compared to wood, plastic is more hygienic and quicker to disinfect thoroughly. Make sure you wear suitable protective equipment when cleaning the hive.