Customers Want Sustainability, Safety, and Speed

The biggest trend driving hose product development in the hoses and accessories market is sustainability, according to Salih Karayagiz, global product manager, rubber hydraulic hose and fittings, Danfoss Power Solutions.

“There are three ways we’re addressing this,” he said. “First, we’re focused on developing products with a longer lifetime to reduce hose assembly replacement intervals, which keeps materials out of the waste stream. Our EC881 hose is a good example.

“The second is through robust system solutions,” he continued. “Danfoss produces hose, fittings, and accessories for complete assemblies, not just single components. Having products designed to work together helps avoid in-application leaks, even in the toughest applications, which prevents contamination of the environment and groundwater.

“Finally, products that increase machine efficiency and reduce emissions have a direct impact on sustainability. For mobile machine producers, hose weight and flexibility are key features. Lightweight machines use less fuel and produce fewer emissions. Lighter hoses directly contribute to weight reduction, while more flexible hoses — which offer the possibility to reduce hose assembly length through compact routing — can further contribute to weight savings.”

The new Aeroquip by Danfoss EC881 Dynamax hose is a premium two-wire braided hose that delivers extraordinary performance in terms of working pressure, flexibility, and lifetime. The combination of these features makes the hose unique. Other products on the market can offer improved performance on one or two of these attributes, but only our EC881 hose offers extraordinary performance for all three. The working pressure of the hose is up to 35% higher than conventional two-wire braided hoses, which means EC881 can be used in applications that typically require four-layer spiral hose. Spiral hoses are more expensive, higher in weight, and less flexible. By replacing spiral hose with EC881 hose, the user can reduce cost and weight, thereby increasing the efficiency of the machine.

The high performance of the hose is a result of Dura-Pulse, a breakout technology for the inner-tube material developed through years of research and development by Danfoss chemists and engineers. The compression set of Dura-Pulse inner tube is 40% better than previous generations, which enables superior sealing at the hose/fitting assembly point and long in-application life.

EC881 hose is ideal for a variety of construction, agriculture, and material handling applications. It’s perfect for excavators, articulated dump trucks, and wheel loaders. It can also be used in industrial applications such as injection molding machines and presses.

Not every machine needs a premium hose solution. There are a variety of applications that require a standard product: one that simply meets the industry specification rather than exceeding it. For these applications, Danfoss offers its Winner by Danfoss line. Winner products — including hoses, fittings, and connectors — are an economical solution that meet industry standards for pressure, temperature, and abrasion resistance. In addition, the Winner line offers global distribution and supply chain plus comprehensive engineering support.

What next for hose products? “With the industry’s continued focus on sustainability, suppliers like Danfoss are looking at alternative, non-conventional materials and production methods to reduce overall carbon footprint,” said Karayagiz. “This will be something to look out for in the near future.”

HANNAY REELS COXREELS DANFOSS

Danfoss Aeroquip EC881 Dynamax hose delivers extraordinary performance in terms of working pressure, felxibility, and lifetime.
Coxreels P series High-Visibility Safety Hose Reels create awareness and visibility for the safest environment possible.
Hannay Reels N700SR Air/Water and NSCR700 Electric Cable Spring Rewind Reel packages make it easier to get reel and hose or cable all in one order.

TAKING SAFETY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Coxreels asserts that safety is the first and foremost consideration in business today. Slips, trips and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents, which cause 15% of all accidental deaths. So in January, the company rolled out a new addition to its safety line: High-Visibility Safety Hose Reels.

“When not in use, hose and cable are safely retracted on the Coxreels reel, but when in use, the hose can become a hazard,” said John Kucera, director of engineering. “With the addition of high visibility hose to your hose reel, awareness and visibility are increased to create the safest environment possible.”

Featured on P, SH, and T series, Hi-Vis hose is hybrid bright yellow hose with a white glossy stripe available in 3/8- and 1/2-inch. Hybrid hoses (PVC and Rubber blend) offer similar performance to rubber with the weight of PVC, combining positive features of both hose types. They have increased hose flexibility and better low temperature behavior while maintaining strength and toughness.

With enhanced kink resistance and reduced coil memory, they lay flat for a reduced trip hazard potential. Hybrid hoses also feature a less sticky jacket surface than PVC for better stacking performance and an improved non-marring quality. With a working pressure of 300psi, this hose is perfect to be used in applications involving air and water.

REELING IN TURNAROUND TIME

In addition to quality and durability, quick, easy ordering and a reasonable turnaround time is what most people are looking for these days, according to Jennifer Wing, marketing manager at Hannay Reels Inc.

“The demand for products has remained steady, but supply chain issues still affect manufacturers, so we make sure to keep on top of inventory, sometimes need to find new sources for materials and parts, and look within to see how we can fine-tune our production,” said Wing.

The company’s research and development team is continually looking at new ways to improve production and it has made a considerable investment the past year in manufacturing processes to maintain and lessen lead times for its reels.

“One example is a state-of-the art laser cutter able to produce hundreds of parts in a fraction of the time it would normally take to manufacture the same parts with existing equipment,” she said. “And we will continue to look at more effective ways to build our products while still maintaining the quality and service we are known for.

“We also take the time to know our markets and provide the products that we know our customers need. For example, our line of spring rewind reels are the most commonly reels used in a variety of applications, so we make sure our inventory is stocked and we are able to respond to orders fast.”

Hannay has developed a range of spring rewind reel packages making it easier for customers to get their reel and hose or cable all in one convenient order. Packages from air/water, to welding, to fueling needs are available – and custom packages can be requested without forfeiting quick turnaround.

“Customer service is important to us,” Wing said, “so we try to understand our markets to the best of our ability and make improvements to products and processes every day.”

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INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE

The November/December issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Kimball Midwest. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and Mike Marks, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.