Industrial hoses are flexible, durable, and have the capability to bend, which makes them suitable for many different applications. They are used in manufacturing equipment and carry everything from water and Nitrogen gas to abrasive sands and beyond. Many modern industries rely on these products for the most basic transportation tasks that keep operations running smoothly.
Material Possibilities
They all have the function of moving liquids, abrasives, or gasses. They are made of many materials, including PVC, polyurethane, polyethylene, as well as synthetic and natural rubbers. Some are made from layers of multiple materials or even reinforced with small fibers woven into various patterns. Reinforced options are built for strength and flexibility, and they are very common for firefighting, especially in the petroleum industry. There are even some wrapped with steel wire for super strength. Your hot water heater, for instance, might utilize the stainless steel variety. Due to national and international regulations on material and chemical handling, all layers of the industrial hose are able to adjust to varying physical conditions. With this versatility, the possibilities are almost endless.
Applications
Industrial hoses are extremely durable. They have to be tougher, longer lasting, and maintain very high-performance levels because businesses are depending on them to keep their processes optimally operating. Some applications include material handling, steam ventilation, hot water handling, welding, food or beverage handling, petroleum transportation, chemical transmission, and much more. Commercial dairies, for example, must use many thousands of feet of silicone tubes, which have to meet very high sanitization and temperature control standards. The same is true for the food processing and medical industries. In hospitals, doctors regularly rely on sanitized plastic tubes for fluid transmissions or wire protection. These products are ideal for numerous applications because they are easily sanitized and exceptionally functional.
Petro-chem Industry
Heavy industrial hoses must be able to withstand the rigors of aggressive chemicals, highly compressed gasses, and volatile fuels. They often run for many miles, transporting all manner of chemicals to refineries and chemical plants alike. There is little room for error in these applications. A failure along any part of a network in the Petro-chem field can be disastrous and costly. The products used for Petro-chem are, by far, the most durable out there. They lead the industry in thickness, which may cause them to compromise on flexibility. Each plant needs to find the right material combination for their process. It should be highly heat-resistant and have the capability to withstand extreme pressures.
Science is advancing every day to bring us tougher, longer lasting industrial hoses to do almost any job. With so many thousands of applications, it is no wonder that this industry is a booming sector of the manufacturing market.