FlexRite Chemgiene introduce money-saving hose refurbishment service

FlexRite Chemgiene have launched a hose refurbishment service which is much more economic than replacing entire hose assemblies. By reworking existing end fittings and supplying a new length of hose between them, considerable cost savings may be made. The service will be particularly interesting to users in food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, where contamination or hygiene considerations mean that special purpose hoses are often specified.

When a hose becomes damaged or shows excessive signs of wear, prompt replacement is needed both from a safety and hygiene point of view. Due to the nature of flexible hose assemblies however, it is usually the hose rather than the stainless steel end fittings that causes the assembly to need replacement. In many cases the cost of the end fittings is as great or greater than the flexible hose part of the assemblies.

In such cases the considerable operational advantages gained by using permanently swaged stainless steel fittings are offset by the cost of replacing the complete assembly.

By designing a coupling system with the potential to be refurbished, and using production methods that do not distort the coupling insert during swaging, FlexRite Chemgiene are able to refurbish end fittings which are returned by the customer. The end fittings are simply "re-hosed" with new ferrules, pressure tested and records updated accordingly before the refurbished assembly is returned to site.

The service utilises the unique identification number (permanently marked on the ferrule) of every hose assembly produced. This number allows FlexRite Chemgiene to identify the exact specification of the original assembly, and track its history. Recent upgrades to the company’s web site (at www.flexritechemgiene.com) now allow relevant hose registers to be viewed by registered customers through a secure area of the site.

The company say that when combined with established hose inspection, registration and/or testing services, they are able to provide detailed costings for either replacing or refurbishing every hose assembly at a particular customer site.

REF: FLEX033

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