Demonstrating that opportunity exists even during adverse economic conditions, Amflex Plastics Inc. custom designed and manufactured "X-Treme" patented expandable hose for the dust collection industry has proven to be one of our most successful product development efforts ever.

Manufacturing of the hoses inner diameter was 2.0", and the outer diameter of 2.48" were inspected in-line to ensure that they are within tight ±.005" tolerances. Finished by applying the specific ends to meet customer needs, the end result is a durable hose with an outstanding service lifetime.

Back in 2008 as oil hit $140/barrel, both polyethylene prices and transportation costs for commodities skyrocketed, forcing us to take a long, hard look at our operations. Our dust collection hose, light, inexpensive, and traditionally one of our most popular products, was getting extremely expensive to produce due to increasing raw material and shipping costs. Price increases were out of the question because of the economic downturn, but phasing out the product line was not was not an option we wanted to consider. In comes Amflex's product development team.

After a few months of hard work, we produced the first prototypes of a new product we named "X-Treme", a spirally wound hose that expands lengthwise at a 3:1 ratio. Streamlined manufacturing operations were devised for cost-effectively fabricating this polyolefin dust collection hose in diameters from 1" to 6" and in lengths up to 50' while contracted. This space-saving design significantly reduces shipping costs and has the additional advantages of saving space in our client's warehouses and it is easier for users to handle - a win-win all around.

For more information about our "X-treme patented expandable hoses, please contact Amflex today.

Unit of Measure

Custom Hose Manufacturing Project Highlights

Product Description

N/A This "X-Treme" Expandable hose is used within a dust collection application.

Capabilities Applied/Processes

N/A Development
  • Conversation of a Conventional Hose to A Folding Type Hose that will Expand at a 3:1 Ratio
Extruding Spirally Wound

Equipment Used to Manufacture Hoses

N/A Extruder Spiral Wound Machine

Overall Hose Dimensions

N/A Diameter: 1" to 6" Expandable Length Wise at a 3:1 Ratio Length: Up to 50' Contracted

Tightest Tolerances

N/A ±.005"

Material Used

N/A Polyolefin Blend

Finish (Color)

N/A Black and Clear

Features

N/A

Saves Space When Contracted

  • This Reduced Shipping to 1/3 Cost of the Original Product
  • Takes Up 1/3 of the Space in Clients Warehouses

In Process Testing/Inspection Performed

N/A In-Line Inspection Sizing Tool

Industry for Use

N/A Dust Collection

Quantity

N/A 60,000 Lengths

Turnaround Time

N/A Just In Time Deliveries

Delivery Location

N/A Nationwide