Smooth cover hydraulic hose
Conventional hydraulic hoses use a rubber cover that leaves a spiral imprint on its surface during the vulcanisation process. Often referred to as a ‘wraped cover’, this cover was introduced in the early 1990's and has proven to be very effective over decades of use.
With technology always evolving, and based on repeated requests from the market, we decided to migrate some of our premium small and medium diameter hoses to smooth covers.
The new smooth cover hydraulic hose have an aesthetically pleasing new look and retain all the important characteristics of traditional covered hoses, from abrasion and ozone resistance to overall diameter, weight and installation solutions. They also fully comply with international standards and feature the same high quality construction.
Why use a smooth cover hydraulic hose?
smooth cover hydraulic hoses have the following key features:
Attractive appearance
Easy to clean
Low friction when in contact with pulleys, rollers or used in bundles
Easy to identify high performance hoses
Cover does not absorb oil, making it easier to identify leaks in the field
FAQ of smooth cover hydraulic hose
Q: Why do hose covers have a ‘wrapped’ and ‘smooth’ appearance?
A: The visual difference is due to the different methods of curing the hose during the manufacturing process. Many companies use both curing processes, choosing the most efficient and effective option for the hose being manufactured. Factors to consider include: cover material, hose diameter and process prior to cover application.
Q: What causes the difference in Smooth cover appearance?
A: The wrap-around cover consists of strips of nylon fabric that are wrapped around the hose prior to curing. During the curing process, pressure is applied and the material is allowed to cure. When the nylon is removed after curing, the fabric weave and circumferential ridges where the nylon strips overlap remain imprinted on the hose surface.
Alternatively, for a smooth cover, a plastic sheath is extruded around the hose. The plastic sheath applies pressure during the curing process and does not leave circular ‘witness marks’ or fabric imprints. This is generally a more modern and efficient method of manufacturing hose.
Q: When it comes to outer layer performance, which outer layer appearance, wrapped or smooth, produces better abrasion resistance
A: In short, based on testing, neither curing method (wrapped or smooth cover) significantly affects the abrasion resistance of the cover. Instead, the outer layer material itself determines the abrasion resistance of the hose.
Q: The primary function of a hose cover is to protect the reinforcement from abrasion and ozone degradation. Which wins here, wrapped or smooth covers?
A: For those of you who don't know, ozone is a colourless gas found in our atmosphere, often concentrated around electrical equipment, welders and lighting. Ozone reacts with materials and creates small cracks, which over time can lead to performance issues in the outer layer of the hose. Material development or selection is important to limit cracking, but cracking can occur due to changes in surface shape. Take your tyre as an example. Cracks usually start near the brand letters on the tyre, as cracks are more likely to start in these areas. Considering the change in surface of a wrapped cap versus a smooth cap, a smooth hose cap is more resistant to cracking caused by ozone exposure, all other things being equal.
