The Next Big Shift in Hydraulic Hose Technology

You’ve been a hydraulics engineer for 24 years. How has hydraulic hose design evolved to meet the demands of modern OEM applications?

Ng: The biggest shift I’ve seen is in flexibility and durability. For example, all spiral and wire braided hoses used to be much more rigid, but today, they have a significantly tighter bend radius thanks to advancements in higher tensile wire technology.

Temperature tolerance has also improved. With rising global temperatures and changing equipment designs, hoses must now perform in a wider range of conditions.

How is customer feedback influencing these changes?

Ng: At Continental, voice of customers is our biggest driver of innovation.  We work with our OEM engineer teams directly to understand the application need.  We work with them to get the information and test data that they need for robust engineering design.

With sustainability becoming a bigger focus, how are hydraulic hoses evolving to reduce environmental impact?

Ng: Biocompatible hydraulic fluids are being used more commonly last twenty years.  These fluids have different impact on the polymers used in the hose from the petroleum based hydraulic fluids.  Our design teams have redesigned our polymer to handle such requirement.  This is available in our most demanded XR16SC and ISO 18752 product lines.

What trends are shaping the future of hydraulic hoses?

Ng: Two major trends stand out:

Lighter weight & greater flexibility. OEMs are designing smaller, more fuel-efficient equipment to reduce their carbon footprint. Smaller hydraulic system compartments require more flexible hoses to fit properly.

Higher temperature resistance. As engine compartments shrink, airflow decreases, leading to higher internal temperatures. Combine that with rising global temperatures, and hydraulic hoses must now withstand even more extreme conditions.

Additionally, the demand for digitalization and data management has surged over the past decade, as companies look for smarter ways to manage their operations and reduce downtime.

OEMs and suppliers are embracing digitalization and electrification. Are you seeing similar trends in the hydraulic hose industry?

Ng: Absolutely. Cloud-based data management and sustainability are two of the biggest trends in hydraulics.

With CrimpCloud™, customers can track their hose assemblies using our traceability labeling system, which records when and where a hose was made. Need a replacement? Simply scan the QR code to access all the details instantly from the cloud.

Our C-IQ app makes it even easier for customers to access crimp specs. Everything they need is right at their fingertips.

Many hose operators have been using the same crimper for years and are hesitant to change. What do you tell them?

Ng: Efficiency! Switching to our system means no more juggling multiple vendors for hose assembly operations.

The CrimpIQ tablet, included with the PC200i, connects to CrimpCloud™, where all published crimp specs are stored. Just select the hose name and size, and the correct crimp spec pulls up automatically—no manual adjustments needed.

One of my favorite features is the “Favorites” function. Operators can save frequently used crimp specs, eliminating extra steps and speeding up the process. Less time crimping means more time for other tasks—and ultimately, more cost savings.

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