Hydraulic hose tags are a vital component to industries all across the board. Construction, energy, and manufacturing all rely on hydraulic systems. These organizations turn to hydraulic hose identification tags and nameplates to provide clear and accurate information.
What are They Used for?
At their base level, metal hose tags are used for marking and identification. While every application is different, many organizations use these markers for similar purposes.
Some companies choose to add their company information to the hose tags. This could be an end-user throwing a logo on there as a means to mark property. Contractors who service industrial hoses may mark the date of service and a phone number to call if a problem arises. In some cases, hose manufacturers will add their own company information to the finished product with a label.
The information attached to the hose labels may also include important safety data. This can be anything from tolerances to capacity or temperature limits for a given hose.
If applicable, barcodes for scanning can also be added such as a data matrix or QR code for additional information and traceability.
In some situations, there may be dozens of industrial hoses, each with its own capacities or fluid types. Accurately marking and documenting this information is important to ensure safety.
Materials
A few examples of materials used include:
- Stainless Steel
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Polyester/Vinyl (Labels)
Types of Tags
Cable Ties
Metal cable ties are the main style of tag used for hydraulic hoses. These tags feature an extended banding that wraps around the hose and slides through a slot in the hose labeling. The banding is folded back onto itself for a lasting hold, without the need for any additional hose assemblies or adhesive.
The cable ties are marked with information for operators to access and use with their identification systems. This can be anything from safety information to ID labels for tracking parts.
In addition, metal ties are an excellent way to sort or bundle hoses together.
Tags with Wire
Hydraulic hose identification tags aren’t limited to just cable ties. More standard ID tag styles such as rectangles and circles are sometimes used as well. How could a tag shape like that be attached to a cylindrical hose? The most common method is using wire.
Metal nameplates can be made with holes, which allow a wire to pass through the tag. The wire wraps around the hose and ties it together, keeping the marker in place.
A similar application for this method is with valve tags. Many organizations use wire to attach metal valve tags to their pipes and valves.
Processes
Embossing/Stamping
Stamping and embossing are two of the most fundamental processes of ID tags for hose identification. It’s very easy to distinguish the two. Embossing creates characters that raise up from the surface while stamping indent designs into the metal material.
These processes are both incredibly durable and are utilized by a wide range of industries. Their heavy-duty, solid metal form means they will hold up to the wear and tear of tough environments.
Metal cable ties can be stamped or embossed with custom information and sequential numbering if needed.
Photo Anodized
Photo anodization is a highly specialized process in which aluminum is directly embedded with information. This process creates a black-on-silver design that looks printed but is able to withstand harsh industrial conditions.
What makes photo anodization even more useful is it can include any custom metal design. This includes text, numbers, barcodes, logos, and even images.
Labels/Decals
If custom tags aren’t the right solution for your organization, there is always the alternative of custom decals. These printed labels are highly flexible, allowing them to adjust for the contour of a hose. The effectiveness just depends on the size of the decal as well as the hose thickness itself.
In addition, affixing custom labels is easy. All it takes is a simple peel-and-stick application. This saves time as well as the hassle of using additional hardware.
While decals are not as durable as metal, they are still able to hold their own in an industrial setting. They may not hold up for as long when exposed to heavy wear but are more than effective for shorter durations.
Industries
Any industry that relies on hydraulic hoses should use industrial tags to mark their hoses.
A few examples of common industries include:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- And Many More
Wrap-Up
Hydraulic hose markers and nameplates are a valuable way to add information to your organization’s hydraulic hoses. Whether you add a line of safety text or a service phone number to call, the operator working with the hoses will have access to the information they need.
For information on pricing, Contact us for a free quote!