Swedish group set to launch ‘smart fender’ following prototype trials at two ports in Middle East and Europe
Trelleborg, Sweden – Trelleborg has reinforced its position in marine safety by enhancing the materials and testing methods used in its fender systems.
In a 3 June release, Trelleborg said it is intensifying its focus on “extensive” performance testing and innovation, as the sector shifts its views on the products.
“Up until just a couple of years ago, fenders were seen as a commodity product,” said Mishra Kumar, business unit director for fender R&D, technology and innovation at Trelleborg.
However, he said, the status of fender technology has “significantly improved” lately and the industry now regards fenders “as highly engineered products rather than just lumps of rubber.”
While externally all fenders look similar, the internal quality of the products are very different.
According to Trelleborg, independent testing by Italy’s Politecnico di Milano recently found that about one-third of fenders assessed did not meet required performance levels.
“The Politecnico evaluated fenders from five different brands, including Trelleborg,” explained Marco Gaal, technical director marine fenders technology and innovation.
“All our fenders passed testing parameters, but some of the fenders from other brands did not.”
Trelleborg went on to say that it has long worked with PIANC, the global association for waterborne infrastructure, to improve fender performance and quality standards.
“It’s imperative that any reputable supplier adheres to the latest PIANC guidelines,” said Kumar.
To surpass such standards, Trelleborg said it has invested in a dedicated fender testing facility in Qingdao, China.
“The new facility is now the main test centre for fenders globally,” said supply chain manager Maggie Wang.
The unit houses high-speed fender testing and a fully temperature-controlled test room equipped with various test presses.
Such testing capabilities enable Trelleborg to “to gain deeper insights into fender behaviour so we can push the boundaries of product development.”
According to Gaal, this includes efforts to make fenders more sustainable.
“For example, we are developing rubber compounds using bio-based oils and recycled carbon black,” he explained.
Furthermore, in addition to enhancing the materials, Trelleborg has also optimised fender geometry, according to Kumar.
“This translates into smaller fenders, also contributing to increased sustainability as well as cost savings for clients,” he said.
The Swedish group is also advancing digital port technologies.
“It was only a matter of time before we looked to make our fenders smart, too,” said Gaal. “We’re now beginning to integrate smart features into traditional but essential fender products.”
Prototype smart fenders will be trialled at two ports – one in the Middle East and one in Europe – before being launched commercially next year.
“Our objective is to introduce smart fenders next year that will be capable of gathering berthing data,” he said.
“This data will not only enhance fender maintenance but also provide information to allow us to design more robust fender systems in the future.”