Apimaye 10-Frame Full Depth Beehive Box - Insulated

Insulated, Fully Assembled, and Never Needs Painting

A hive in full sun on a 40 degree afternoon is working hard just to hold its temperature. Bees that should be foraging are inside fanning or out hauling water to cool the brood nest, and a share of the honey they do bring in gets burned keeping the colony comfortable. A cold southern winter does the same thing in reverse. Single-wall timber slows neither swing by much, which is why insulated boxes have gone from a curiosity to something many Australian beekeepers now run as standard.

The Apimaye 10-frame full depth beehive box is a double-walled, insulated super moulded from food-grade HDPE with UV stabilisers. It arrives fully assembled, never needs painting, and takes standard full depth frames, working as a brood box or honey super on an Apimaye hive or on top of timber boxes you already own. Sold on its own or with ten Apimaye plastic frames fitted.

Insulation That Works in Both Directions

The walls are two layers of HDPE with an insulating core between them, rated at roughly R7, several times what a standard timber box gives you. The brood nest holds its temperature with far less effort from the bees, fanning less and foraging more in summer, while the cluster stays tighter and burns through less stores in winter, supporting a stronger spring build-up. Warmer inner walls also mean less condensation dripping onto the cluster on cold nights. A small adjustable vent gives extra airflow or a top entrance in summer and closes down once the weather turns.

Built to Be Lifted and Moved

Moulded side handles take a full grip rather than fingertips, which matters when a full depth super of capped honey is pushing 30 kilos or more. Stainless steel latches lock the stack together during inspections and make shifting a hive far less of a wrestle. Because colour is moulded through the plastic rather than painted on, there's nothing to chip, flake, or redo every few seasons.

Fits the Hive You Already Have

This is a standard 10-frame Langstroth full depth box with the same internal dimensions as a timber box. Existing full depth frames drop straight in, whether wired, foundation, or plastic. Sit it on a timber brood box as a honey super, run it as the brood box with timber supers above, and mix Apimaye and timber in one stack without adapters. A moulded slot in the centre takes an Apimaye division board (sold separately) to split the deep box into two five-frame compartments for splits or queen rearing.

With or Without Frames

Choose the box alone if full depth frames are already on hand. Add the ten Apimaye plastic frames and it's ready to drop onto the hive the day it arrives, no wiring, assembly, or foundation to embed. A thin brush of melted beeswax over plastic foundation gets bees drawing comb on it noticeably faster.

What This Box Is Not

It's a box, not a complete hive, there's no base, bottom board, lid, or varroa tray in the carton. It's 10-frame only, so it won't match an 8-frame stack. Insulation doesn't make honey lighter either, a full deep super is still a heavy lift, so an Ideal or WSP super suits anyone managing back strain better. For those who simply prefer timber, OZ ARMOUR boxes in 22mm NZ pine are the right call, this box is for insulation without the maintenance.

Specifications

• Type: 10-frame full depth (deep) Langstroth beehive box
• Material: Food-grade HDPE with UV stabilisers, double-wall construction with insulating core
• Insulation: Manufacturer rated at approximately R7
• Handles: Moulded side handles for a full-hand grip
• Latches: Stainless steel, lock to the box above and below
• Ventilation: Built-in adjustable vent, usable as a top entrance
• Division board slot: Moulded into the centre (board sold separately)
• Compatibility: Standard 10-frame Langstroth full depth frames, stacks with timber boxes
• Assembly: None, arrives fully assembled
• Frame options: Without frames, or with 10 Apimaye plastic full depth frames

Does this box come with a base, lid, or varroa tray?

No, this is the box only. A base, bottom board, lid, and varroa tray come with the full Apimaye hive set or from your existing hive.

Can I use this on top of a timber hive?

Yes, it has the same internal dimensions as a timber box and can sit on a timber brood box as a honey super, or vice versa.

How insulated is this box compared to timber?

It's rated at approximately R7, several times the insulation value of a standard single-wall timber box.

Do I need to paint this box?

No, the colour is moulded through the plastic rather than painted on, so there's nothing to chip, flake, or redo over time.

Does this fit standard full depth frames?

Yes, standard 10-frame Langstroth full depth frames drop straight in, whether wired, foundation, or plastic.

Can I split this box for queen rearing?

Yes, a moulded slot in the centre takes an Apimaye division board, sold separately, to create two five-frame compartments.

Does this box come with frames?

You can choose the box alone or with 10 Apimaye plastic full depth frames fitted, ready to use with no wiring or assembly.

Will this fit an 8-frame hive?

No, this is a 10-frame box only and won't match an 8-frame stack.

How heavy is a full box of honey?

A full deep super can weigh 30 kilos or more when capped, insulation doesn't reduce the weight, so an Ideal or WSP super suits lighter lifting needs better.

How do the handles and latches work?

Moulded side handles give a full-hand grip for lifting, while stainless steel latches lock the box to the one above and below during inspections and transport.