Manuli Hydraulics UK: FAIL-SAFE BORE INSPECTION

Manuli Hydraulics UK: With manufacturing and distribution facilities in most of the world’s industrialised countries, the renowned Manuli Rubber Industries Group is regarded as one of the global leaders involved in the manufacturing and sale of hydraulic hoses and connectors. As failure in the field of any of the company’s comprehensive range of products could have disastrous safety consequences, in addition to severe financial implications, Manuli ensures that quality is at the core of all of the company’s activities.

Based in Patricroft, Manchester, Manuli Hydraulics UK (part of MRI Group) pursues a philosophy of constantly upgrading and improving the company’s quality systems and inspection routines.  A study of the methods used to measure the effectiveness of the hi-pressure crimping process, used to secure connectors to the company’s hoses, resulted in the creation of an imaginative new measuring system.

In search of a fail-safe, hose connection inspection routine, Manuli Hydraulics UK contacted the world’s largest bore gauge manufacturer, Bradford-based, Bowers Metrology. In cooperation with Manuli Hydraulics UK, Bowers was able to develop a range of specialised bore gauging heads. When fitted to Bowers XT, digital pistol-grip gauges, the ingenious bore gauging heads are able to access the critical internal areas of hose connectors and measure the diameter of an assembly prior to it being pressure crimped on to the hose and then again, after the critical crimping process takes place. The post crimping, reduced diameter or ‘collapse’ of the assembly has a direct bearing on how securely the hose and connector are joined, and by extension the assembly’s performance in the field.

By collecting data, via the new Bowers digital bore gauging system, Manuli Hydraulics UK is able to continuingly monitor its crimping processes across the company’s entire range of hoses. The gathered dimensional information allows the company to make minor changes to their presses, enabling them to apply the optimal amount of pressure to ensure the ideal ‘collapse’ diameter of connectors to be achieved.

Richard Walker of Manuli Hydraulics UK enthused, “Mindful of the fact that our hydraulic hoses can be subjected to pressures exceeding 420bar, the reliability of our connector to hose crimping process is of vital importance to us.  As our Bowers bore gauging systems have clear digital display’s and are actuated by simple triggers, they have proven to be very popular with our operators. We are able to gather data from the gauges without the need for cumbersome cables, due to the gauges’ advanced Wi-Fi capability. I am pleased to report that the Bowers gauging system has enabled us to achieve zero defects within this important company process.”        

In line with our customer care ethos, Bowers has earned a reputation for manufacturing special heads for measuring non-standard applications. Click here to find out more.
 

Published on February 25, 2009 10:47 updated on November 10, 2010 12:07