Trelleborg announces new shaped-hose production process

ERJ staff report (DS)

Trelleborg, Sweden -- Trelleborg Automotive said it has developed automotive hoses which can be made much quicker than traditional wrapped hoses. The new process relies on a variable die which can move to create bends in the pipe during the extrusion process. Fibre reinforcement is included in the extrusion.

Creatube comprises a mono-layer construction that integrates fibre compound directly into rubber material and employs a moving die process to shape the hose directly after extrusion. This differs from multi-layered traditional variants, which require straight hoses to be formed manually using a mandrel, before vulcanization in an autoclave. Creatube's manufacturing process also avoids the need to 'flush out' hoses with release agent, thereby eliminating potentially adverse health and environmental effects.

Trelleborg said, "Unlike traditional knitted methods which limit the length, radius and number of curves obtainable, Creatube enables the construction of longer and more complex shaped hoses, which were previously unachievable. This offers a real opportunity in new engine architecture, where limited space invariably necessitates complicated shaped engine cooling hoses."

Additional benefits are afforded by Creatube's efficiency-enhancing automatic manufacturing process, which reduces production time to around 40 minutes, compared to the two days demanded by more labour-intensive traditional methods. This automatic process delivers time-saving benefits for car manufacturers, while offering a less energy-consuming alternative that greatly improves the working conditions for production line employees.

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Press release from Trelleborg