Mining applications worldwide use spring rewind (retractable) hose reels for various applications including refuelling, lubrication, compressed air & washdown.
By definition, spring rewind hose reels are powered reels that rely on a mechanical cartridge that contains a spring under tension. This allows the hose to be wound onto the spool of the reel at a metered pace.
ENERGY SAVING
By using a mechanism such as a spring, the use of a powered rewind is eliminated. This means no need for hydraulic fluid, compressed air, or electricity for the reels to function, reducing operating costs. Spring-powered reels are easy to operate, simply walking out the hose to pay out, then when no longer required, simply tugged on to retract automatically.
INCREASED SAFETY
A key aspect to consider when working with hoses is safety. Here spring rewind reels are a fantastic option as they can eliminate tripping hazards by automatically retrieving the hose. This means there is no hose lying around for anyone to trip on which can be an issue with manually cranked or powered variants. This also reduces hose damage as the hose is easily retracted, saving on those costly hose replacements.
DECREASE INJURIES AND OPERATOR STRAIN
Furthering this safety concept, in regards to manually cranked reels, is the fact that there is no need to rewind all that bulky hose. Therefore, arm and shoulder injury or strain are reduced when spring rewind reels are used instead, as the hose only needs to be walked out of the reel.
Retractable reels tend to be physically narrower than powered rewind reels. Therefore, where space is a premium, or multiple hose reels need to fit, a spring rewind reel is often the preferred choice, especially in warehouses, and on trucks.
Why should you not consider using a spring rewind reel? Well, for the most part, spring rewind reels are often limited in their hose capacity due to the sizing of the spring. This is due to the number of turns the cartridges allow for. In most circumstances, this is around 30m of hose, with a maximum internal diameter of 2". If your application requires longer lengths of hose and specifically requires power then a spring rewind option is not for you.
Reel Tech specializes in safer hose handling technology for mining, government, food & beverage and everything in between.
Have an application where you need a reel? Let us know! Reel-Tech has provided both bespoke and off-the-shelf hose reels for every application.
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