Application Areas
Which material fits which application? This page shows — from pneumatics through robotics to chemicals, from outer diameter to industry list — where PE, PUR and PA 12 play to their strengths and where the limits are.
Material × Application — at a glance
Suitability of PE, PUR and PA 12 for the key fields of application. The rating is a practical quick overview — the final choice always depends on pressure, temperature, medium and mechanical load.
| Application | PE | PUR | PA 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pneumatics / compressed air | good | very good | very good |
| Vacuum lines | good | very good | good – very good |
| Water / water-based media | very good | good, depending on type | good |
| Chemicals | good, media-dependent | limited | good, media-dependent |
| Oil / lubricants | medium – good | good | very good |
| Fuel / automotive | rare | rare | very good |
| Robotics / dynamic use | medium | very good | good |
| Drag chains | limited | very good | good |
| Outdoor / UV | only UV-stabilized | UV grades suitable | UV grades suitable |
| High mechanical load | medium | good | very good |
| Tight bending radii | medium | very good | medium – good |
| Cost-optimized | very good | medium | higher |
Fields of Application
The main areas of use for our hoses — with typical applications per industry and the recommended material choice.
Pneumatics & compressed air
Compressed air lines, control air, valve manifolds, actuators — the classic domain.
- Compressed-air and control lines
- Valve manifolds, actuators, cylinders
- Vacuum technology
- Sensor and pilot lines
Robotics & automation
Moving hose routing, drag chains, gripper arms — flexible and kink-resistant.
- Robot arms, pick-and-place
- Drag chains / hose bundles
- Vacuum grippers
- Moving pneumatic axes
Water & dosing
Water treatment, filtration, pH and chlorine dosing — standard application for PE.
- Water treatment, reverse osmosis
- Dosing pumps, lab water
- Cleaning and rinsing systems
- Aquaristics / pool technology
Automotive & commercial vehicles
Air brakes, fuel, lubrication. PA 12 is the clear choice here — DIN 73378/74324, SAE J844.
- Air brake and air suspension lines
- Fuel and lubrication lines
- Vacuum and sensor lines
- Engine bay media lines
Machinery & plant engineering
Compressed air supply, cooling, lubrication — the largest field of use overall.
- Pneumatic cylinders and valves
- Sensors, lubrication lines
- Cooling water, media lines
- Machine tools, special-purpose machines
Packaging & pick-and-place
High cycle rates, many movements, high dynamics.
- Packaging machines
- Vacuum grippers
- Hose bundles
- Metal-detectable PUR variants
Lab, medical & life science
Sample lines, analytical instruments, dosing — only with matching compliance.
- Sample lines, analytical instruments
- Dosing and microfluidics
- Lab gases, vacuum
Chemistry & process industry
Dosing, control air, sample lines. Always check media resistance.
- Dosing and cleaning chemistry
- Measurement and sampling lines
- Process water
Selection guide — when to choose which material?
Three compact profiles with typical selection criteria and example applications per material.
Choose PE when …
- cost is a central criterion
- water, beverages, chemicals are conveyed
- lines are largely static
- chemical resistance is more important than flexibility
Examples: water treatment, beverage dispensers, chemical dosing, lab water, simple compressed air.
Choose PUR when …
- the hose must be very flexible
- tight bend radii are required
- frequent motion or drag chains
- vacuum grippers are involved
- kink resistance matters
Within PUR: 1154 = humidity / hydrolysis / cold · C 98 = mechanically robust standard · 1198 = UV-stabilized & flexible. Examples: robotics, packaging, vacuum grippers, pneumatic cylinders.
Choose PA 12 when …
- higher pressure resistance is required
- automotive or commercial vehicle application
- oil, fuel, lubricant is conveyed
- mechanically robust and dimensionally stable
- standards like SAE J844 / DIN 74324 relevant
Examples: air brake lines, fuel lines, central lubrication, robust machine pneumatics, compressed air in harsh environments.
Outer diameters 4 – 20 mm — typical use
Which outer diameter for which application? A practical orientation — the inner diameter remains decisive for flow and pressure drop.
| Outer diameter | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 4 mm | Small pneumatics, signal & control lines, sensors, lab, grippers |
| 6 mm | Standard pneumatics, valves, small cylinders, dosing |
| 8 mm | Common standard size for machines, vacuum, compressed air |
| 10 mm | Higher air volumes, larger actuators, water & media lines |
| 12 mm | Main air lines in machines, vacuum, larger consumers |
| 14 mm | Larger pneumatic and media lines |
| 16 mm | Distribution lines, larger flow rates, plant engineering |
| 18 mm | Special and media lines, less common pneumatic sizes |
| 20 mm | Larger media routing, compressed-air distribution, water/liquids |
Industries Overview
Where are our hoses typically used? An industry list with recommended materials per sector.
| Industry | Recommended materials |
|---|---|
| Machinery / special-purpose machinery | PUR · PA 12 · PE |
| Automation | PUR 1154 / 1198 · PA 12 |
| Water technology / treatment | PE · partly PUR & PA 12 |
| Chemistry & process industry | PE · PA 12 · special PUR types |
| Automotive | PA 12 (PUR for production plants) |
| Commercial / agricultural / construction vehicles | PA 12 |
| Medical / life science / lab | PE · PUR · PA 12 (with matching compliance) |
| Packaging industry | PUR · PE · PA 12 |
| Electronics / cleanroom | Antistatic PUR · PE · special plastics |
| Welding / metal fabrication | Special PUR · PA 12 with protective sleeve |
Applications requiring approval
We do not release these fields of use across the board — they require concrete datasheets, standards and possibly a manufacturer release.
- Medical applications without biocompatibility
- Breathing air without corresponding approval
- Brake lines without SAE / DIN / DOT approval
- Fuel lines without fuel approval
- Aggressive chemicals without resistance test
- High-pressure hydraulics / oxygen applications
- ATEX without conductive / approved version
- Cleanroom without particle/outgassing test
- Hot water / steam outside specification
- Safety-critical systems without standards review
Which hose fits your application?
Tell us pressure, temperature, medium and installation environment — we recommend the right material and deliver a ready-made solution.
Describe your application