Hydraulic hose quality survey

Hydraulic systems & components

1st Quarter 2011 Hydraulic systems & components

An independent snap survey on the quality and service associated with hydraulic hose assemblies supplied over trade counters was recently conducted.

This was based on one single, basic type of hydraulic hose assembly. Twelve different companies were approached. The survey covered the complete customer experience and included service factors such as time taken to provide the hose assembly, professionalism, promptness and effort. The price of the assembly was also taken into account.

Following this the assemblies were inspected to see whether the hoses and fittings were properly assembled and marked. In addition they were subjected to a static pressure test at maximum working pressure, twice maximum working pressure and three times maximum working pressure. These inspections were carried out by Genflex, whose own hose was tested in the same manner.

The outcome of the quality evaluation was that after increasing the pressure, 44% of the hoses which were assessed returned a leak between collar and fitting at pressures below the safety limit. In addition 22% turned in a poor visual report on inspection. None of the hoses were capped to protect them from dust and 66% were not marked with hose and company details.

David Michelle, director of Genflex Hydraulics, said, “These results should have been much better. The Fluid Power Association has gone to great lengths to provide training and guidance for hydraulic hose companies and their staff. This shows that training of the assembler who manufactures hydraulic hose assemblies is urgently needed.”

Another interesting finding of the survey was that a large price discrepancy was noted, with the most expensive assembly being 237% more than the cheapest.

With respect to service, 64% of the companies scored greater than 80% on service criteria and 91% scored greater than 70%. One company scored below 50% and no company achieved 100%. In addition 25% of the companies approached did not have the required hose and fittings in stock despite the fact that they were of a simple and common type.

David Michelle continued, “Principal companies do not make hydraulic hose assemblies. The actual assembly of hydraulic hose is done largely by staff at outlets, who tend to move from one company to another.

“This report is not pointing a finger at any specific hydraulic hose company. It is written in good faith and the intention is to encourage all outlets to look closely at their manufacturing processes. They are also urged to use every means at their disposal to upgrade their training programmes and improve the quality of the assemblies that are sold through their trade counters,” he said.

The facts and figures on which this survey is based are in the possession of the editor.

For more information contact Bruce Garner, Genflex Hydraulics, +27 (0)11 900 3235, [email protected], www.genflex.co.za

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Hydraulic hose quality survey

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