HYDRAULIC HOSE PROTECTION Spiral Guard is a lightweight and cost-effective product that protects hoses and cables from abrasion and impact
Local hydraulic solutions provider Genflex Hydraulics has introduced the Spiral Guard range of hydraulic hose protection to its product portfolio for South Africa’s mining industry and other industries that apply hydraulic solutions.
The Spiral Guard is a lightweight and cost-effective product that protects hydraulic hoses and cables from abrasion and impact.
Genflex states that, with the current decline in rand value, the Spiral Guard range, which the company introduced in May, was a great investment. “As the price of hydraulic hose assemblies increases, owing to the weaker rand and increasing operational costs, it is necessary to have a hydraulic hose with a longer life span. The best way to achieve this is with Spiral Guard, as it protects the outer cover of the hydraulic hose.
“As we specialise in hydraulic solutions, we have found that once the outer cover of a hydraulic hose is worn out and high-tensile steel braids are exposed, the braids rust and the hydraulic hose can no longer hold working pressures,” explains the company.
Genflex adds that, in most applications, and especially in arduous conditions such as at mining operations, Spiral Guard protects the rubber outer cover from wear and tear, thereby considerably extending the life span of the hydraulic hose assembly.
The company states that Spiral Guard is a cost-effective option, especially when compared with the cost of repairing or replacing a hydraulic hose after a burst, which can also lead to loss of hydraulic oil.
Expansion Programme
Genflex Hydraulics director David Michelle says that, since the company’s inception 25 years ago, Genflex has developed into a major hydraulic hoses and fittings supplier in South Africa, which now offers an opportunity for interested individuals and companies to become distribution agents for the company as part of a newly established expansion programme.
“The name Genflex Hydraulics is well known throughout South Africa and, along with its staff, the company is a valuable asset to have when starting a new venture.”
Michelle highlights that the expansion programme will embrace individual companies, while Genflex retains a small percentage of ownership.
“Genflex is prepared to contribute to the start-up costs of a new company, although there are no franchise costs for this venture. “The initial shareholding percentage is negotiable and depends on the finance available,” he explains.
He says the company wants to help agencies and distributors who are already servicing some areas of business but want to increase their turnover by adding new product ranges to their portfolio.
Michelle adds that there is high market demand for Genflex products, with products being sought by customers on a monthly basis. The company’s range of hydraulic hoses is mostly used by the mining, engineering, shipping, construction, mechanical handling and farming industries.
“There is no substitute for hydraulic hoses, as they are consumable products with a limited life span. “It is estimated that more than 750 000 m of hydraulic hose is used in South Africa each month,” he says.
Genflex also offers complementary products to its range of hydraulic hoses, including hydraulic tubing, component fittings, quick-release couplings, airline fittings, nylon tubing and nylon fittings.