Masterflex AG, Gelsenkirchen. April 2009
"Especially at the present time, we are focusing strongly on the issue of cost savings in hose solutions. To this end, we are now offering our customers new types of connection systems that allow them to easily combine and reuse standard connection elements that are used in a wide variety of industries," says Alfons Beitz, sales manager at Masterflex AG. After all, Masterflex AG from Gelsenkirchen is the specialist for sophisticated connection and hose systems made of innovative high-tech plastics, fabrics and films.
The clamping shell system newly developed by Masterflex AG can be used for a large number of the spiral hoses from the Masterflex AG hose range and enables simple, fast and uncomplicated assembly of the hoses. Numerous standard industry and commercial connecting elements can be used without any problems. As a result, the hose user saves costs immediately and can fall back on tried-and-tested products.
Simplicity that pays off: the new Masterflex AG clamping shell systems for all connections.
The most common hose coupling types, such as Kamlok, Storz, TW, but also customer-specific coupling types, can be easily connected by simply screwing them onto a threaded connector. In addition, hose couplings with these connection geometries can also be directly integrated. The use of the hose collar ensures an absolutely tight connection of the spiral hoses.
Sales manager Beitz: "Due to the immense variety and availability as well as the high quality standard and performance, this novel connection system has what it takes to become a trendsetter in the field of bulk material, handling and conveying technology."
The product advantages of the new clamping shell system at a glance
- Customers can continue to use their own hose spouts with a standard or very special connection geometry.
- The customer receives a hose tailored to his needs and connection dimensions to match the hose nozzle.
- To match the hose, the customer receives a PU hose sleeve that smoothes the end of the hose towards the outside and builds up the outside diameter.
- To match the outside diameter of the hose collar, the customer can continue to use his own binding systems or obtain a commercially available binding system (half-shell system) from Masterflex.
Masterflex asked customers what they really need
But how did this new development actually come about?
Sales Manager Alfons Beitz: "We asked a random sample of our customers and also target customers about their needs. This survey was fundamental to the development of our new connection systems. Of course, we wanted to be better than the competition, which often works with specially turned connecting parts, and we obviously succeeded well." The facts speak for themselves:
- Use of commercially available components
- maximum compatibility
- cost-effective and immediately available
- simple handling
- flexible system
- possible applications from DN 38 to DN 204
- construction gentle to conveyed material
- available with and without hose-side connecting piece
The current customer survey revealed the following criticisms of other systems available on the market:
- Use of commercially available or customer-specific hose nozzles must always be clarified in each individual case.
- Hose inside diameter and connection diameter cannot be specified by the customer.
- Hoses tailored to the application cannot be integrated, only one hose type.
- It is not possible to use the customer's own or commercially available binding systems.
What are the decisive advantages of this new connection system?
Jürgen Berling, responsible for Technology & Product Development at Masterflex AG, explains why competitors simply can't keep up with the new connection system from a technical point of view: "Some competitors do use aluminum clamping shells, but these have a fixed integrated internal thread, so they only fit one particular type of hose. The use of other hoses is not possible with this clamping shell. Furthermore, we have observed that these systems cover only a few nominal diameters. In addition, these clamping shells with internal threads are considerably more expensive than the mass-produced standard clamping shells that can be used with the new Masterflex connection system. Our competition also can't score when it comes to the variety of hose spigots."
Alfons Beitz, Sales Manager of Masterflex AG's High-Tech Hose Systems unit, says, "We are focusing strongly on the issue of cost savings and are now offering our customers our new clamping shell systems, which allow them to simply continue using standard connecting elements."