3 components for your hose reel that protect both staff and equipment

The hose reel may already be installed at your premises – on the wall near the filling area, in the cleaning zone or out in the production facility. The model has been selected based on the hose’s dimensions and the daily strain it is subjected to. The foundation itself is in place. 

But choosing the right model is one thing. How the hose reel feels to use throughout the working day is quite another. A spring-driven hose reel pulls the hose in quickly and with full force, and this movement is repeated many times a day. Every single time, this is felt both by the staff working nearby and by the equipment under strain. Their safety and the equipment’s service life are inextricably linked – and it's here that the hose reel accessories make the biggest difference. 

We’ll look at three types of accessories, each of which enhances safety on the shop floor. Individually, they are minor upgrades. Together, they take the installation to the next level. 

You may have chosen an automatic, spring-driven hose reel because it makes day-to-day work more efficient. The hose does not need to be wound up by hand; instead, the spring pulls it in when the operator releases the hose. This creates a smoother flow in routines on the shop floor. However, the downside is that the spring also determines the speed. If it is not regulated, the hose can swing back uncontrollably, the end of the hose can land with a thud, and staff may be at risk of accidents. It's there that the slow retraction kit comes into play. 

The kit acts as a speed regulator and a safety brake, dampening the spring’s full force. It ensures that the hose retracts smoothly and quietly. For you and your colleagues, this means that the hose does not swing back uncontrollably, but retracts at a steady pace – without a thud when it reaches the end stop. 

Everyday benefits: 

• Accident prevention: You eliminate the risk of a runaway hose striking people nearby.  
• Controlled stopping: The mechanism ensures that the hose stops gently, so that, for example, spray guns do not fly through the air and get damaged during the final phase. 
• Gentle handling of the hose: The controlled rewind ensures that the hose is not ‘slammed’ onto the reel, avoiding unnecessary jolts and impacts. 

If you already have an AV hose reel in use, you don’t need to start from scratch to benefit from this kit. It's designed for retrofitting and is compatible with our most commonly used models: AFT 1000–1100 AV, AFT 1200–1300 AV and AFT 3400-3503 AV. The installation itself is straightforward and does not require you to alter your current setup. It's ideal to start with those workstations where the hose is extended and retracted most frequently each day – for example, on the dairy floor and in commercial kitchens, where cleaning hoses are used several times a day.  

The difference between an installation with and without the slow retraction kit is most evident when seen in practice. In the video above, we rewind two hoses side by side – one with the kit fitted, one without.  

Whilst the slow retraction kit regulates the speed of retraction, the hose bumber acts as a stop block on the hose itself. Without a hose bumber, you risk the end of the hose – and thus the coupling – being pulled right up against the edge of the drum at the end of the rewind. This causes impact, wear and repeated stress on the critical components at the hose joint. With the bumber fitted, the hose stops in the desired position, and both the hose and the coupling are kept clear of the drum.  

The slow retraction kit and the hose bumber complement each other: the slow retraction kit slows the speed during the rewind itself, whilst the hose bumber ensures that the final phase takes place in a controlled and gentle manner. Together, they ensure a rewind where both the force applied and the final position are predictable every single time. 

To create a complete safety solution, you should focus on the point where the strain is greatest: the junction between the hose and the coupling. It's where it bends, where it is connected and disconnected, and where the operator typically exerts the most force. Here, we recommend our rubber hose guard, which provides a protective layer over the outer section of the hose.  

It provides you with: 

• Mechanical protection against wear, impact and pressure in the area where you handle the hose the most.  
• Relief of stress on the hose material itself, preventing kinks and cracks from forming at the transition point. 
• Protection against heat, making the surface safer for your colleagues to touch when the installation becomes hot during operation. 

With a rubber hose guard, you get a more robust connection, where both the hose and the coupling better withstand the effects of heat, pressure and repetitive movements. And most importantly, you’re addressing yet another safety factor for your staff on the shop floor.    

The slow retraction kit, hose bumber and hose guard are each a simple upgrade in their own right. Together, they transform a spring-driven hose reel from a sensible choice into an installation where both your colleagues and your equipment are protected during day-to-day operations. 

If you’re unsure what makes the most sense for your installation, we’re just a phone call away. Call +45 7020 0422 or email inquiry@alfotech.eu – and we’ll look into it together.