Cumbrian Engineering Firm Launches App To Cut Business Equipment Downtime
A Cumbrian engineering firm has launched a new app designed to help businesses manage hydraulic hoses and reduce costly equipment downtime.
Forth, which operates from bases in Maryport, Cleator Moor and Barrow, has introduced Hosebuilder as a new system allowing customers to design and order hydraulic hoses within minutes. The platform is intended to simplify a process that can otherwise involve identifying the correct hose, travelling to a supplier and waiting for a replacement to be manufactured.
Each hose manufactured through the Hosebuilder platform is fitted with an embedded RFID chip, providing a digital link to important information about the individual component. Customers can scan the chip using a smartphone, giving them immediate access to the hose's maintenance history, technical specifications and manufacturing records.
The system also allows users to order an identical replacement directly after scanning a hose, reducing the need to manually identify specifications when equipment requires a new component. This is designed to make replacement decisions quicker while helping businesses maintain more accurate records of the hydraulic equipment they have in operation.
Hosebuilder includes step by step guidance for modifying existing hose designs, while the platform is also designed to prevent users from selecting incompatible fittings. This provides an additional safeguard during the ordering process and is intended to reduce the possibility of errors when replacement components are specified.
The platform was developed with input from the British Fluid Power Association and incorporates a red, amber and green system for assessing the condition and age of hydraulic hoses. The approach gives businesses a straightforward way of identifying which hoses may require closer attention or replacement as part of their wider equipment management arrangements.
Under the system, hydraulic hoses that are less than three years old are classified as green. Hoses between three and five years old receive an amber classification, while those more than five years old are marked red. The ratings are intended to provide businesses with a clear visual indication when reviewing their hose assets.
The company said the technology is particularly relevant because hydraulic hoses are widely used across different sectors and types of machinery. They can be found in vehicles, tractors and heavy equipment, including machinery operating in demanding working environments where unexpected component failures can have significant operational consequences.
Forth chief executive Mark Telford said the financial impact of a hydraulic hose failure can extend well beyond the cost of replacing the component itself. Equipment may remain out of service while a failed hose is removed, a replacement is sourced and the new hose is manufactured, creating additional downtime for the business.
Telford said Hosebuilder was designed to remove much of that process by giving customers immediate access to information about their hoses. He also highlighted the potential for the technology to help businesses move away from guesswork when managing hose replacement and maintaining records of equipment across their operations.
The company also pointed to safety and environmental considerations linked to hydraulic hose failures. A damaged hose can lead to hydraulic oil being released, creating additional consequences alongside equipment downtime and repair costs, making effective monitoring and timely replacement an important part of asset management.
By scanning a hose with a smartphone, users can access information intended to support more informed maintenance decisions. The company said this can help businesses improve safety, support compliance requirements and reduce the likelihood of avoidable failures by making relevant equipment information available when it is needed.
The launch is being accompanied by specialist training courses aimed at helping organisations strengthen their approach to asset management. The training is intended to support businesses in making practical use of the new system while improving their understanding of hydraulic hose condition, maintenance and replacement requirements.
Forth described Hosebuilder as a new way of approaching hydraulic hose management, combining digital identification with ordering, maintenance information and condition monitoring. The company believes bringing these functions together can make the replacement process more efficient for businesses that rely on hydraulic equipment as part of their everyday operations.
The launch represents another step towards greater use of digital tools in industrial asset management, with Forth seeking to reduce the time businesses spend dealing with hose failures and replacement requirements. By connecting physical hoses with accessible digital records, the platform is intended to give customers greater visibility over equipment and help them make faster maintenance decisions.
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