Importing hydraulic hose? Caveat emptor - reearch and relationships are crucial - Third Quarter 2008

Hydraulic systems & components

Importing hydraulic hose? Caveat emptor - reearch and relationships are crucial

Third Quarter 2008 Hydraulic systems & components

“The recent increase in importation of hydraulic hose from the Far East has not been without its problems. Following up on leads with suppliers of hydraulic hose and fittings in China during my recent visit highlighted the need for initial caution when receiving e-mailed quotations and being offered bulk discounts,” says David Michelle, director of Johannesburg-based Genflex Hydraulics.

“The number of new hydraulic hose factories and suppliers operating from China has multiplied, and I found that the quality of product and price varied extensively. Mandrils varied greatly – I found steel pipes, soft rubber mandrils and high quality nylon mandrils, and I noticed that in many cases extrusion onto mandrils was eccentric.”

“Very few factories had inspection testing machines available and even fewer could pressure test to destruction. Of the nine hose factories visited, not one had an abrasion testing facility for the outer covers. To ensure a quality product we have samples for abrasion testing sent to Genflex in Johannesburg for quality determination,” Michelle said.

Genflex Hydraulics has long imported hydraulic hose and fittings from China and attributes its success in this market to its personalised relationship with one source of supply, who oversees the entire Genflex spectrum of standards, quality requirements and delivery detail.

Throughout their recent visit the Genflex delegation constantly checked the products on offer from new suppliers to establish whether they met the Genflex criteria; very few did, and the benchmark for the setting of standards in China is in fact the company’s original supplier whom Genflex assisted in setting up inspection and standard measuring technologies.

“If you have no direct dealings with your factory agent in China, nor have an established relationship with them, then the products supplied may very well not meet agreed standards and quality. Some manufacturers are known to use re-cycled rubber products to mould into hydraulic hose products, increasing profit margins and producing a cheaper product all round – but reducing the safety credibility of the product.”

The British Fluid Power Association recommends that all hoses carry the manufacturer’s name, brand or trademark, date of manufacture, type, size and working pressure.

“During our visits we saw many of the European branded hoses were being manufactured by reputable hydraulic hose factories in China, and while much of the hose originating from China has a SAE and/or DIN specification on it, much will come into South Africa unbranded.”

Michelle concluded, “I believe that within the next few years, most hydraulic hose being used in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa will originate from the Far East; China in particular, irrespective of the printing on the outer cover. Only intense research into the source of supply and the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship will ensure that the product that arrives in South Africa will be to user expectations. Genflex guarantees that all standards are maintained on its imported product ranges.”

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

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Importing hydraulic hose? Caveat emptor - reearch and relationships are crucial

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