Industrial Layflat and PVC Hose Guide

What are in Industrial hoses?

While there are many types of industrial hoses, all have the same purpose — to transfer different substances between two locations. Industrial hoses are made from a range of materials and come in different widths and lengths, all depending on what it is they have been designed to transfer and the quantity and pressure of the material. For example, there are different hoses to convey substances at various pressure levels including low, medium and high pressure of up to several tens of bar.

Unlike permanent pipelines, industrial hoses are simple to assemble and do not vibrate. Depending on their type, industrial hoses are suitable for transferring a huge range of products including water, petroleum-based substances, chemicals, oils, gases and bulk materials. The transported products can be either under pressure (this is where delivery hoses are used) or under vacuum (this is where suction hoses are used).

Can I use any Industrial hose?

Selecting the right industrial hose is crucial. After all, choosing an incorrect hose for a job can damage materials and even result in an injury. With this in mind, here are the different types of industrial hoses on the market today. 

Layflat Hoses

Made from PVC, layflat hoses are used for the delivery and discharge of water for irrigation purposes. As such, they are often used in the farming and construction industries. Layflat hoses can also be used in conjunction with a pump to suck up water and transfer it to flood plains or safe areas in cases of flood clean-ups. 

Layflat pumps are simple to operate and convenient to store. They can be joined together with lever lock couplings to customise the length of the hose for specific tasks. As their name so aptly suggests, layflat hoses are also simple to store since they can be laid flat. Plus, they are very flexible, which makes them resistant to kinks.

Here are the main features of layflat hoses

• They are durable: Layflat hoses are made from fused inner and outer walls and reinforced with woven yarn. This sturdy composition gives them resistance to many oxidising and reducing agents and diluted acids and alkalis. Layflat hoses are also resistant to rotting and use-associated abrasions. Plus, they can also be used as protective oversleeves. 
• They are lightweight: Despite being sturdy, layflat hoses are lightweight, making them simple to both use and transport. Plus, their collapsible design makes them easy to store. 
  
  
• They are flexible: Layflat hoses are made from PVC, which makes them flexible, resistant to kinks and easy to compress for storage.

PVC Hoses

Usually reinforced, PVC hoses are designed to transfer pressurised and unpressurised liquids, gases and chemicals. Highly flexible, PVC hoses have been approved for transferring consumables including food and beverages. Not only are PVC hoses safe, but they also do not transfer odours and flavours that could affect the quality of food or drinks. PVC hoses are abrasion-resistant and can withstand a great deal of pressure.

PVC hoses have the following applications: 

• Food and beverage transfer
• As beverage and fluid lines
• Compressed air and gas transfer
• Chemical transfer

Here are the main benefits of PVC hoses:

• They are abrasion and chemical resistant: The reinforced nature of PVC hoses makes them resistant to damage from coming in contact with abrasive surfaces and chemical substances. 
• They are flexible: Not just strong and durable, PVC is also highly flexible. The rubber-like material can withstand temperatures as low as -45°C while remaining pliant. PVC hoses can also be constructed from semi-rigid material if necessary. 
• They can handle high pressure: Reinforced PVC hoses are pressure resistant.
• They can be used for transferring consumables: PVC has minimum toxicity levels, which makes it suitable for delivering food and drinks. 
• They comply with regulations: PVC tubing is compliant with the following regulations: REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals; RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive and BSI ISO 9001.

Dust Extraction Hoses

There are various reasons why dust extraction is important. If dust, such as wood chips from cutting or shaping wood, is present in an area, you can rest assured that you are breathing it in. In the long term, this can lead to serious lung conditions. Dust extraction equipment can also prolong the life of work tools, not to mention make them more efficient since they will not be blocked up by dust. 

Dust extraction hoses are a vital part of dust extraction equipment. They are designed for sucking up dust and other fine particles and usually come in diameters of between 25 and 900 millimetres. Plus, they are made from PVC, polyurethane or PU to handle temperatures of up to +90°C.

Dust collection is often utilized in various industrial sectors including agriculture, woodworking, recycling, mining, chemical processing and cement production. Most dust extraction hoses are designed to dissipate static build-up as the dust is transported through the tube that could lead to flash fires or even explosions.

Suction Hoses

Utilized under negative pressure, suction hoses are connected to a pump that creates a vacuum to pull liquids up the hose from static sources such as water tanks and pools. Suction hoses are often used to remove liquids such as water or chemicals as well as solid matter like wood chips. Plus, they can be used with a filter to stop debris from entering the hose.

Suction hoses are usually made from materials such as PVC or polyurethane and feature a steel or PVC support coil that runs along the tube to ensure that it does not burst during use. Suction hoses are flexible and abrasion-resistant, which makes them ideal for use in the construction and excavation industries. Unlike some other hoses, suction hoses are designed to handle vacuum conditions rather than water pressure.

Suction hoses are often used in emergency situations where liquid needs to be moved from one place to another as fast as possible. This includes floods where large volumes of water need to be extracted from an area and fires where a source of water is needed to put out a flame. Suction hoses can also be used in agriculture to dispense animal waste from sheds onto fields as fertiliser and deliver food such as seeds and grains for livestock.

Chemical Hoses

Constructed from PTFE, hypalon, silicone and other coated liners, chemical hoses are used to extract chemical substances such as paints, varnishes and salt solutions, as well as corrosive gases and solvent fumes. 

Chemical hoses are often used in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries when pressure flow and suction are required. Since transferring chemicals can be hazardous, chemical hoses need to be both strong and corrosion-resistant. Different chemical hoses are suitable for transferring different materials. Here are the key things to consider before selecting the right chemical hose for the job:

• The form of the substance that will be transferred through the hose. 
• The state of the substance that will be transferred through the hose (liquid, gas, etc.).
• The concentration and temperature of the substance that will be transferred through the hose.
• The risk of static build-up during the transfer.

Fuel Hoses

Also sometimes referred to as fuel lines, fuel hoses are used to transfer gas, oils and petroleum-based materials. They can be used outside vehicles (transfer of asphalt or tar, etc.) and inside vehicles (transfer of fuel from a tank to a fuel pump, etc.). Fuel hoses are typically made from PVC, TPV, silicone, neoprene and other coated materials that can withstand high temperatures. Sturdy and durable, they are usually utilized in the automotive industry, shipbuilding, mining and construction. 

 

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