All in flow: New 2-layer hose from the TUL series ensures safe and flexible media transport

The hose of the TUL series consists of an outer layer made of polyurethane, which provides high flexibility, and an inner layer made of fluoropolymer, ensuring high resistance. This allows for the transport of various media and trouble-free hose assembly. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

Air, water, fuels, or various chemicals: Without suitable hoses, reliable transport of media of all kinds is impossible – and various processes in industry cannot be carried out. Responsible persons must choose different hoses depending on the industry, application, and medium. The result: higher costs and complexity, as well as increased susceptibility to errors. To end these difficulties, SMC has developed the 2-layer hose of the TUL series: While its outer layer made of polyurethane is particularly flexible, the inner layer made of fluoropolymer ensures high resistance, enabling the transport of a wide range of media. Additionally, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and the four different color variants provide transparency in pneumatic and other media circuits.

From applications in the printing, food, or semiconductor industries to medical and pharmaceutical sectors, and even special cases such as machining processes: just as industries and applications differ, so do the media used in them. Often, multiple media are required, which necessitates the use of as many hoses. This results in many challenges at once – and as effort and complexity increase, so do costs and the potential for errors. As a solution, SMC has developed the TUL series. The 2-layer hose made of polyurethane (outer) and fluoropolymer (inner) combines flexibility with durability and is suitable for dozens of different media. Other advantages include the four different color options, which facilitate differentiation, and a wide operating temperature range, enabling indoor and outdoor use.

Hui – from outside as well as inside

Thanks to its outer layer made of polyurethane, the TUL hose impresses with high flexibility. The five available variants have minimum bending radii of 12, 20, 32, 40, and 45 mm. This makes installation easier, especially in tight spaces, saving costs. The inner layer is made of fluoropolymer, known for its high durability. As a result, the hose is suitable not only for water, air, and turbine oil of class 1 (ISO VG32), but also for the transport of 29 different inert gases and chemicals, including acetone, salt and nitric acid, and hexane (each only for internal use). The intelligent combination of the 2-layer hose makes it versatile and reduces not only effort but also costs, as users do not need to rely on different hoses from possibly different manufacturers for various media. Five variants are available for users, with outer diameters of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm, and inner diameters of 2.5, 4, 6, 7.5, and 9 mm. The cross-section of the inner hose has been increased by up to 44% compared to the previous TU series.

Temperature resistant and easy to distinguish

Depending on the medium intended for transport, the permissible operating temperature is approximately -20 to 80 °C for air and inert gases, and 0 to 70 °C for water and turbine oil of class 1 (ISO VG32) (no freezing). This broadens the range of applications and reduces complexity, as there is no need to switch between different hose variants. Additionally, since the TUL series is available in four different color variants—black, white (both opaque), blue (translucent), and transparent (material color)—the risk of errors is minimized. Even in complex pneumatic and other media circuits, the colors ensure easy and immediate differentiation. Available in rolls of 20 meters (all colors) or 100 meters (only black and transparent), the hoses are suitable for maximum operating pressures of 0.25 MPa (80 °C) to 0.8 MPa (20 °C) and can be secured using the SMC KFG2 series clamp connection.

Ideal for various industries

Whether for transporting air, water, or chemicals for general industrial applications, or for conveying chemical substances in the food, medical, printing, or semiconductor industries: the hoses of the TUL series are an ideal combination of flexibility and durability due to their 2-layer construction. At the same time, the extensive temperature range, various options for inner and outer diameters, and the four different colors further expand the application portfolio.