The reliable crimping of hose connections places high demands on machines and processes. Particularly in medical gas supply applications, the connections must meet defined leak-tightness requirements and be manufactured reproducibly. With the CC22, Lillbacka Powerco offers a crimping machine designed for such industrial manufacturing tasks.

Application at Parker Hannifin

The technology’s performance in practice is demonstrated by its use at Parker Hannifin in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. There, the Precision Fluidics Division manufactures hose assemblies for gas supply in the dental and medical sectors, including for oxygen and nitrous oxide. Approximately 16,000 assemblies are crimped annually; the company anticipates further growth of about three percent per year.

From Manual Labor to Reproducible Results

Until now, Parker Hannifin had been using manual screw presses to crimp nickel-plated brass ferrules onto the hoses. This process presented both ergonomic challenges and difficulties in reliably meeting the required leak rates.

The company converted the process by installing two Finn-Power CC22 machines. The systems were adapted to the user’s safety requirements with additional protective devices. In addition to reducing strain on the hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders, the primary focus is on ensuring consistent crimping quality.

A key advantage of machine-based crimping lies in the reproducible achievement of defined crimp diameters. This allows process parameters to be precisely adjusted and supports consistent results across many production cycles. For manufacturers of sensitive hose assemblies, this is a crucial starting point for stabilizing process quality.

Leak-tightness as a Measure of Process Quality

In this specific application, the manufactured hose assemblies must meet the leakage rate requirements specified in ISO 5359. According to Parker Hannifin, the CC22 machines make it possible to achieve the target values for the low-pressure hoses used. This had not been reliably achieved with the manual method previously used.

The case study thus illustrates what matters most in crimping technology: It is not just the force applied during joining that is decisive, but above all the controlled and repeatable execution of the entire process. The right machine technology can help reduce quality fluctuations and better meet the requirements of the respective application.

Reliability Throughout Daily Production Operations

In addition to technical performance, equipment availability and service play an important role. Parker Hannifin reports reliable operation of the two CC22 machines and highlights the technical support provided by Finn-Power. According to the company, additional tool sets could also be procured without any complications.

For Lillbacka Powerco, this example demonstrates how specialized crimping technology can be utilized in demanding manufacturing environments. The combination of reproducible processes, ergonomic improvements, and technical support highlights the factors that come into play when selecting industrial crimping machines. Especially for safety-critical hose connections, it is not only the performance in individual crimping operations that counts, but also the ability to consistently achieve uniform results over the long term.

Video

Lillbacka Powerco