What Are the Main Types of Industrial Hoses Available?

Industrial hoses are essential components in manufacturing, processing, and utility industries, enabling the safe and efficient transfer of liquids, gases, and solids. Selecting the right type of industrial hose is crucial for operational safety, compliance, and productivity.

This comprehensive guide explores the main types of industrial hoses, their construction, applications, and how to choose the best solution for your needs. For a full overview, visit our industrial hose types page.

Introduction: The Importance of Industrial Hose Selection

Industrial hoses are engineered to meet diverse requirements for flexibility, pressure, temperature, and chemical compatibility. Each hose type is designed for specific media and operational conditions, addressing the needs of sectors such as manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing, construction, and energy.

Understanding the main categories of industrial hoses helps engineers, procurement managers, and maintenance teams make informed choices that optimise safety, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

For a complete product range and expert support, explore our industrial hose types.

Rubber Hoses: Flexible and Durable Solutions

Rubber hoses are among the most widely used types of industrial hoses, valued for their flexibility, resilience, and broad chemical compatibility. Made from materials such as EPDM, NBR, SBR, and silicone, these hoses are suitable for water, air, mild chemicals, and some food products. Reinforcements with textile or steel wire allow them to handle a variety of pressures and resist abrasion and weathering.

Rubber hoses are used in air and water delivery, steam transfer, food and beverage handling, and general industrial applications. Their adaptability makes them suitable for both standard and bespoke requirements.

For more information, see our industrial rubber hoses.

PTFE and Fluoropolymer Hoses: Chemical and High-Temperature Performance

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) and other fluoropolymer hoses offer exceptional resistance to aggressive chemicals, solvents, and high temperatures. These hoses feature a PTFE inner tube, often reinforced with stainless steel braid, providing strength and flexibility.

PTFE hoses are ideal for pharmaceutical, food processing, and chemical transfer applications where purity and non-reactivity are critical. They are also used in high-temperature environments and for handling corrosive fluids.

Explore our PTFE hose assemblies for more details.

Metallic Hoses: Extreme Durability for Demanding Environments

Metallic hoses, typically made from stainless steel or specialist alloys, are designed for the most challenging conditions. Their corrugated structure allows flexibility while maintaining strength under high pressure, vacuum, and extreme temperatures. Metallic hoses are non-permeable and highly resistant to corrosion.

They are commonly used in steam systems, cryogenics, high-pressure gas transfer, and situations with intense vibration or movement.

Learn more about our metal hose assemblies.

Composite Hoses: Multi-Layered Flexibility for Chemical and Fuel Transfer

Composite hoses are constructed from multiple layers of thermoplastic films and fabrics, reinforced with internal and external wire helices. This design provides flexibility, lightweight handling, and excellent chemical resistance.

Composite hoses are widely used for transferring fuels, oils, chemicals, and solvents, especially in loading and unloading operations at terminals, refineries, and chemical plants. Their versatility makes them suitable for a wide range of aggressive media.

Discover more about composite hose assemblies.

Food and Beverage Hoses: Hygienic and Compliant Fluid Transfer

Hygiene and safety are paramount in the food and beverage industry. Food-grade hoses are manufactured from materials that comply with FDA, EU, and other relevant regulations. They are designed to prevent contamination, ensure easy cleaning, and withstand repeated sterilisation.Materials such as food-grade rubber, PVC, and silicone are common, and hoses are reinforced for durability.

Flextech’s food grade hoses are used for transferring milk, beer, wine, juices, and other consumables, with options for steel or nylon wire reinforcement to maintain hygiene standards.

Chemical Hoses: Engineered for Aggressive Media

Chemical hoses are specifically designed to handle aggressive chemicals, acids, and solvents. Constructed from materials such as PTFE, UHMWPE, FEP, and EPDM, these hoses provide the ideal balance of flexibility, purity, and durability. Reinforcement with synthetic, metallic, or plastic braids ensures strength and resistance to pressure.

Flextech’s chemical hoses are compliant with EN 12115 and FDA standards, suitable for tank, truck, barge, ship, and storage transfer, as well as chemical dosing systems.

PVC and Thermoplastic Hoses: Lightweight and Versatile

PVC and other thermoplastic hoses offer a lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective solution for fluid transfer in various industries. These hoses are produced from different plastic materials, providing good flexibility, chemical resistance, and durability. They are ideal for water, air, light chemicals, and food products, and are easy to handle and install.

Flextech’s PVC hose assemblies and thermoplastic hoses are available in a range of diameters, with options for braided reinforcement and food-grade compliance.

High Pressure Gas Hoses: Safe Handling of Industrial Gases

Gas hoses are engineered to safely transfer industrial gases at both low and high pressures. Flextech supplies gas hoses made from robust materials such as PTFE, FEP, and stainless steel, ensuring minimal permeability and high safety standards. Applications include gas cylinder filling, emptying, and high-pressure gas transfer in manufacturing and laboratory settings.

For cryogenic or high-temperature gas applications, metallic hoses are often preferred. Flextech’s high pressure gas hoses include both fluoropolymer and metallic options.

Hydraulic Hoses: Powering Industrial Machinery

Hydraulic hoses are critical for transmitting power in hydraulic systems, delivering pressurised fluids to actuators, valves, and motors. These hoses are reinforced with multiple layers of wire or textile to handle high pressures and are designed for flexibility, strength, and resistance to oil and abrasion. In summary, hydraulic hoses are widely used in construction, manufacturing, and automotive industries.

Flextech’s hydraulic hoses are engineered for reliability and performance in the most demanding environments.

Ducting and Ventilation Hoses: Air, Fume, and Dust Extraction

Ducting hoses are lightweight, flexible hoses designed for the transfer of air, fumes, dust, and light materials. Made from PVC, polyurethane, or silicone, they are reinforced for durability and can be used in ventilation, dust collection, and air conditioning systems.

These hoses are essential for maintaining air quality and safety in industrial environments. Explore our ducting solutions to find the right product for your application.

Speciality Hoses: Tailored Solutions for Unique Industrial Needs

Some applications demand hoses with unique properties, such as anti-static, flame-retardant, or highly abrasion-resistant construction. Speciality hoses are engineered to meet these requirements, using advanced materials and custom reinforcements.

Flextech provides a range of specialist hose solutions for high-pressure gas, cryogenic transfer, abrasive materials, and more. Our expertise ensures you receive the right product for even the most challenging applications.

Silicone Hoses: High Purity and Flexibility for Sensitive Applications

Silicone hoses are valued for their flexibility, purity, and ability to withstand both high and low temperatures. They are commonly used in medical, pharmaceutical, and food processing industries where cleanliness and non-reactivity are essential. Silicone hoses are also resistant to ozone, UV, and a wide range of chemicals.

For specific needs, see our silicone hoses and talk to our technical team about custom options.

Abrasion-Resistant Hoses: Handling Slurries, Powders, and Abrasive Materials

Certain industrial processes require hoses that can withstand the wear caused by abrasive materials such as sand, cement, or powders. Abrasion-resistant hoses are constructed with tough inner linings and reinforced covers to extend service life in harsh environments.

Flextech offers a selection of abrasion-resistant hoses for industries like mining, construction, and bulk material handling.

Selecting the Right Industrial Hose: Key Considerations

When selecting an industrial hose, consider media compatibility, pressure and temperature ratings, flexibility, compliance, and end fittings. Evaluate the specific demands of your process, including regulatory requirements and environmental conditions.

Our industrial hose types page offers detailed guidance and product specifications to help you make an informed choice. For personalised advice, contact our technical team.

Maintenance, Testing, and Hose Asset Management

Proper maintenance and regular testing are crucial for ensuring the safety, reliability, and longevity of industrial hoses. Routine inspections, pressure testing, and thorough cleaning help identify signs of wear, leaks, or damage early which can help prevent unexpected failures and costly downtime.

Flextech offers hose inspection and testing services and hose asset management programmes to support compliance and operational reliability.

Case Studies: Real-World Applications of Industrial Hose Types

Real-world case studies underscore the importance of selecting the right hose for the job. For example, a brewery enhanced both efficiency and product quality by upgrading to Flextech’s food-grade hoses.

Meanwhile, a chemical plant minimized downtime and maintenance costs by switching to PTFE-lined hoses designed for aggressive media.

These examples demonstrate how tailored hose solutions can address industry-specific challenges and deliver measurable, long-term benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions: Types of Industrial Hoses

What is the difference between rubber and PTFE hoses?
Rubber hoses offer flexibility and general chemical resistance, while PTFE hoses provide superior resistance to aggressive chemicals and high temperatures.

Are metallic hoses suitable for food applications?
Metallic hoses are generally used for extreme conditions and are not typically food-grade unless specifically certified.

How often should industrial hoses be replaced?
Replacement depends on application, usage, and maintenance. Regular inspection and hose asset management help determine optimal replacement intervals.

Can I get a custom hose assembly for my process?
Of course! Flextech specialises in custom hose assemblies tailored to your requirements.

Conclusion: Trust Flextech for All Types of Industrial Hoses

Understanding the main types of industrial hoses is essential for ensuring operational safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Flextech offers a comprehensive range of hose solutions—including rubber, PTFE, metallic, composite, and specialty hoses—each engineered to meet the specific demands of various industries.

Whether you're handling chemicals, food products, gases, or high-temperature fluids, our hoses are designed for reliable performance and full compliance with relevant standards.

For expert advice and the full product range, visit our industrial hose types page.