Guide: How to choose the right industrial hose reel

Are you a service engineer, procurement officer or technical manager in the process industry, and are you looking for the right hose reel for use in your production? Then you’ve come to the right place! A hose reel is not just a practical accessory – it has a significant impact on the working environment, operational reliability and maintenance costs. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the right industrial hose reel – from identifying your needs to researching potential suppliers. 

The choice is important, as the wrong model can lead to downtime, costly repairs due to incorrect use – or, in the worst case, personal injury. That’s why it pays to research the options thoroughly to avoid unpleasant surprises. 

Read on and learn more! 

Industrial hose reels are used in many different manufacturing companies to store and transport industrial hoses safely. Whereas in the home simpler hose reels are typically used for watering the garden or washing the car, industrial hose reels are designed for far more demanding operating conditions in, for example, commercial kitchens and food processing plants. 

They are made of stainless steel and consist of various parts, such as a frame, coil, braking system and mounting base. It makes them more durable and suitable for production environments involving high pressure, high temperatures and/or corrosive materials. The hose reel also helps keep walkways free of loose hoses, thereby reducing the risk of tripping accidents and damage to equipment. In other words, it’s a value-add to your cleaning routines. 

Making the right choice requires that you know your needs – including intended use, hose dimensions and type, servicing and maintenance, as well as safety considerations. 

A long cleaning hose requires a reel with sufficient capacity, whilst a heavier industrial hose requires a robust drum, spring and fittings that can withstand the weight and daily wear and tear. 

For correct application of the hose reel, it's also important to know the normal working pressure (bar) at which the industrial hose operates. For cleaning purposes, lighter but longer industrial hose types are often used, which can withstand up to approximately 5 bar, whereas low-pressure hoses are more robustly constructed, heavier and can withstand up to around 40 bar. It's important for both the choice of reel type and the sizing of the entire solution.

Service and maintenance are also important aspects to consider. Some models are designed to be easy to service, which can save time and money. If the wheel needs to be replaced or repaired, being able to quickly access the right spare parts can make a big difference.  

Last but not least, it's important to take safety into account. This involves, among other things, ensuring a strong locking mechanism, correct installation, regular maintenance and training staff in safe use. The hose reel should also be positioned close to the area of use to avoid the risk of obstructions or injuries when the hose is extended or retracted. 

Within industrial hose reels, there is a wide range of different types and functions to choose from – for example, in terms of manual or automatic retraction. 

A manual hose reel, such as our AFT 9002-9620 AVM, is perfect for situations where slow, manual reeling is required. This type is also ideal for mounting on a trolley, so that the industrial hose can be easily moved between taps in production or between zones in a commercial kitchen. 

If fast and efficient reeling of the industrial hose is required, an automatic hose reel such as our AFT 1000-1100 AV or AFT 1200-1300 AV is more suitable. Here, the spring-driven system helps to save time and reduce the strain on the operator – but this also makes the associated safety features particularly important to consider.  

We therefore often recommend both our slow retraction kit and hose bumber as a complete solution. The slow retraction kit reduces the rewind speed and acts as a brake on the spring force, whilst the hose bumber protects the hose and the coupling at the end against impact and overload. In this way, you minimise the risk of the hose whipping back and causing injury to staff, flushing equipment or surrounding installations. 

Once you have an idea of what you are looking for in a hose reel for your production, it's time to research potential suppliers. It can be useful to consult with an experienced supplier regarding the selection of the right hose reel, focusing on range, prices, delivery times, customer support, and documentation. 

It's important to choose a supplier that suits your specific needs and requirements. It can be useful to ask others in the industry about their experiences and to read online reviews to get an impression of the supplier’s reputation. 

With over 40 years’ experience as a supplier to the process industry, we have a deep understanding of the challenges and needs that manufacturing companies typically face. Our product range includes both accessories and manual and automatic hose reels, and we are known for fast delivery, excellent customer service and comprehensive documentation. 

If you would like to know more about our industrial hose reels or discuss your specific requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us on +45 7020 0422 or via email at inquiry@alfotech.eu. Our sales team is ready to offer advice and guidance. 

An industrial hose reel is designed to handle more demanding conditions such as higher pressures, temperatures and corrosive materials, whilst a standard hose reel is typically designed for lighter applications such as garden watering or car washing. Industrial models are often made of stainless steel and are designed for use in professional environments such as commercial kitchens, dairies and other process industries. 

The best industrial hose reel for your specific situation depends on several factors, such as intended use, hose dimensions and type, service and maintenance, as well as safety considerations. The choice will typically be between a manual solution offering full control over the rewind or an automatic, spring-driven model with the option to add a safety kit for controlled rewind. 

Yes, there are industrial hose reels designed specifically for use with compressed air. They are typically robust and can handle high pressure levels as well as the strain caused by frequent connection and disconnection at the hose and coupling interface.

Yes, many industrial hose reels are designed to handle water, including both cold and hot water as well as high-pressure water. Here, it's important to choose a model that is sized for the hose type, length and working pressure, and which is made from materials that can withstand your cleaning agents and temperatures. 

You should particularly add a safety kit and a hose bumber when using automatic, spring-driven hose reels, where the hose is frequently unwound and rewound, and there is a risk of it being pulled back quickly and uncontrollably. The safety rewind kit reduces the rewind speed and acts as a brake on the spring force, ensuring that the rewind is smooth and controlled. This reduces the risk of injury to both staff and nearby equipment. A hose bumber is fitted directly onto the hose and prevents it from being pulled all the way into the reel, whilst protecting the hose and coupling from impact, stress and wear where the installation is most vulnerable.