I caught up with Cody Sarmiento, Connector Technology Manager, Great Lakes Region for Parker Hannifin Corp on day two of NAHAD to learn more about where the focus is headed for the company’s hydraulic hose lines. Much of our discussion centered on the Critical Projection cover, which has added not only abrasion resistance but impact protection to its hose lines.
Parker is still releasing lines and sizes for the Critical Protecion line, he said, noting that the whole gamut isn’t out yet but they continue to develop it as there is a great need for further hose protection.
“For a long time, the hydraulic hose focus was around abrasion resistance, but then you started to see some particular applications, whether it be mining or some of the harsher applications, where things are falling on hoses,” Sarmiento said. “You have this long, hydraulic line that’s brand new, and a piece of rock or a tree limb or something falls on it and takes a gouge out of it, and now that hose is compromised, and it’s been in service for only four hours. So we developed this Critical Projection Cover to combat that impact, and it not only provides that impact resistance, but it’s also giving you that superior abrasion resistance as well.”
Parker developed the line around harsh environments like mining, forestry and agriculture but the CPC is finding its way into other markets as well, such as waste and recycling and scrap yards — basically anywhere a hose could have things fall on it and a gouge ripped out.
Sarmiento said Parker has seen good success so far, where the line has doubled life expectancy on hydraulic hose.
“There are some harsh applications such as mining where, regardless of what type of hose you use, it’s going to get chewed up really quickly. But there’s been reports and feedback that we’ve gotten where it’s doubled the service life of what they’re currently using. That’s huge,” Sarmiento said. “Epecially in an application like that where they’re changing hoses often. Even if it’s two weeks to four weeks or something like that. It’s still half the work they’re doing.
“Obviously when you come up with something like that there is a bit of a premium to it as a premium product, but people are seeing the value on it really quickly and their return on labor savings and downtime is paying for that premium really quickly,” he concluded.
Sarmiento also noted that in terms of engineering, the CP cover hose lines are consistent with key specifications on other Parker hose. It uses the same fitting series, has the same bend radius and flexibility of other Parker hoses. The material is lightweight and continues to perform and function the same way as existing Parker hose.
Another key movement for Parker comes not from the hydraulics side but an emerging market for many users and distributors. Here, the company is planning to launch hoses for data center thermal management.
Sarmiento noted that Parker is working on new products similar to ones it currently offers, with special tweaks just for the data center market. Those products will likely be launched in the coming four to six weeks. “I think everybody here from the hose side is probably having a conversation around thermal management and data centers, just because of how massive they are and the global footprint they have,” he said. “This is truly a new market for the overall marketplace.”
Sarmiento finished by saying that although we’re in that mild recession everyone’s talking about, there has been no need to hit the panic button. The vision is to just keep improving and providing value to current hose lines and expanding with new lines like the CP and data center hose.
“We make our name on standard hydraulic hose and hose fittings and industrial hose, but we keep trying to find those new markets, those new opportunities to continue to be on the forefront of what’s next,” he concluded. “We keep ourselves as that industry leader with new technologies, new innovations, and make sure that people are following our lead; we’re not looking at somebody else and then responding to what they’re doing. We want the field to be chasing us.
“People want obviously quality, they want it to be at competitive price points, but they want us to solve their problems as well. So, if they bring us these problems, and we can provide solutions at a fair price point, and it’s less headaches for them, then we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”
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