At CONEXPO/CON-AGG earlier this month, Caplugs highlighted its growing focus on hose protection products, particularly spiral wraps and related protective components designed for heavy equipment and industrial hydraulic systems. The company is expanding both its product assortment and its market approach as it works to increase adoption of hose protection solutions among OEMs, distributors and maintenance operations.
One of the latest developments is the introduction of new product variations and packaging options for hose protection wraps. Caplugs now offers pre-cut spiral wrap lengths packaged for easier purchasing, particularly for smaller maintenance and repair operations. These pre-cut assortments are also being sold through the company’s online channels, including its storefront on Amazon, said John Granelli, marketing communications manager. This move allows smaller shops that may not buy directly through traditional channels to access hose protection products more easily.
David Williams, President and CEO of Caplugs, said that the company acquired the hose spiral products in 2018, and they consolidated operations in Buffalo in the U.S. and Finland in Europe.
While retail and online sales represent one growth opportunity, Caplugs is also targeting original equipment manufacturers across the heavy equipment sector. The company said it is actively pursuing relationships with OEMs as it looks to integrate its spiral protection products earlier in the equipment design and assembly process. In some applications, spiral wrap is installed during hose assembly before delivery to OEMs, while in others it is installed later in the manufacturing process, creating multiple opportunities for integration.
Material performance is another focus area. Caplugs offers protective sleeves and wraps using polyester, which the company says provides advantages compared with the nylon materials commonly used in the industry. While nylon remains widely adopted, often due to longstanding specification practices, newer materials can offer improved durability and protection.
“Sometimes people continue using a material simply because it has been used for years. But material development has moved forward. Occasionally, materials are selected because they’re in stock, even if they may not have the required properties, especially when it comes to safety,” said Juergen Proebstle, market manager, heavy-duty industry, Caplugs Europe. “We are working to educate customers. through published marketing collateral and certification data”
Luke Ferranti, Market Director – Agriculture & Construction added, “With nylon, part of it is that it’s ‘the way it’s always been done.’ But we’ve seen examples where we feel our material provides higher protection and longer service life.”
Proebstle added that users often consider installation time as crucial, so offering easier-to-install materials that can reduce cycle time is where they find their advantage.
The company also emphasized that hose protection products serve multiple roles depending on the design. Protective sleeves are often used to improve safety by guiding hydraulic fluid away from operators in the event of a hose burst. Spiral wraps, by contrast, primarily protect hoses from external damage such as abrasion, punctures and impacts, conditions frequently encountered in demanding environments such as forestry and construction equipment.
“Education is a major part of our responsibility. We tailor discussions depending on whether we’re speaking with a safety engineer or a purchasing manager,” Granelli said. “Our goal is to provide the right information so they can become champions for the product.”
Customization options are also expanding. Caplugs offers polyester printing and laser-etching capabilities for its hose protection products, enabling customers to add identification markings or branding directly onto spiral wraps, protective sleeves or related components. Color coding can also be used to identify different hydraulic lines or circuits within complex machinery. It’s not just about selling a commodity product, it’s about customizing that product to the customer.
“From an engineering perspective, we can work directly with customer engineering teams to review applications, recommend improved solutions, and test samples to determine the best fit,” Ferranti said.
In addition to spiral wraps, the company is seeing increased demand for hose bend restrictors, which help prevent excessive bending at hose connections and extend hose service life. Bend restrictors are commonly used in hydraulic systems across mobile equipment and can also be customized with printed identification.
Visit caplugs.com to learn more.
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