Guide: How to choose the right industrial hose reel

Are you a service engineer, procurement officer or technical manager in the process industry, looking for the right hose reel for your production? Then you’ve come to the right place. A hose reel isn’t 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. It's important to make the right choice, 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 any unpleasant surprises.

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. 

When you’re faced with a specific choice, there are three areas which, in most cases, determine whether you find the right solution: how well you’ve identified your own needs, how thoroughly you’ve researched the different types and accessories, and how reliable a supplier you have to rely on along the way. We’ll go through them one by one.

Making the right choice requires that you know your needs. The five parameters that, in practice, determine the choice of hose reel are:

1. Hose type and size: A long cleaning hose requires a hose 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.
2. Working pressure: Cleaning hoses typically handle up to around 5 bar, whereas low-pressure hoses can handle up to around 40 bar. The pressure level has a direct impact on both the choice of hose reel type and the sizing of the entire system.
3. Location: The hose reel should be installed as close to the area of use as possible – ideally at a height where the hose can be pulled out freely without hitting equipment or fixtures along the way. A well-thought-out location reduces wear and tear on the hose and makes day-to-day operations more predictable for the staff who use it.
4. Service and maintenance: Some models are easier to service than others, and this can save both time and money in the long run. If the spring or other parts need replacing, it makes a big difference to be able to access the correct spare parts quickly.
5. Safety: A robust locking mechanism, correct installation, regular maintenance and training of staff in safe use are the key elements of a safe setup for a hose reel.

The market for industrial hose reels is extensive. Models are available for virtually all media – from water and cleaning chemicals to compressed air, oil products, hydraulic fluids and industrial gases – and each category has its own requirements regarding materials, pressure handling and safety. Common to most industrial solutions is that they are spring-driven, so the hose is automatically retracted when the operator releases the coupling. This ensures a smoother workflow in day-to-day operations, where the hose is extended and retracted many times a day.

Our product range is tailored to the process industry and, in particular, to customers in food production – dairies, breweries, meat processors, commercial kitchens and other environments requiring intensive cleaning. The needs here fall primarily into two categories, and this is reflected in our two series.

For hoses used with water and cleaning agents, we recommend our AV series, which is typically suited to production environments with heavy-duty cleaning requirements. The series is available in several sizes, so you can match the hose reel to your hose length and dimensions – for example, the AFT 3400-3503 AV is designed for flushing hoses up to 35 metres long. If, on the other hand, the hose reel needs to handle compressed air hoses, you should look at our AVC series. Here, the AFT 3020 AVC is suitable for longer installations, whilst the AFT 1060 AVC is ideal for more compact set-ups.

Once you have chosen the basic model, you should also consider how the installation itself is to be carried out. Most hose reels are mounted securely on the wall, for example using a swivel wall bracket, which offer flexibility in the direction in which the hose is pulled out. For production environments where the hose reel needs to be moved between different zones, a trolley is a good alternative. The trolley solution makes it possible to move the cleaning hose around without the need for fixed installations in multiple locations within the facility.

The hose reel itself forms the foundation, but the installation is only complete once the surrounding accessories are in place. On spring-driven models, it's these accessories that determine how the setup is experienced on a day-to-day basis – for both staff and equipment. We have compiled our recommendations in an overview of the three components that complete the installation.

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.