Share this
Two Kinds Of Flexibility: Swagelok Hose And Our Custom Solutions Team
by Jeff Hopkins on 5/30/13 8:00 AM
Our local team can build hoses in the quantities you need, when you need them

We have highlighted the flexibility of Swagelok's X, S, and W series of PTFE hose. If you've seen our "hose pretzel" samples, you know how the hose requires minimal force to bend, yet has a lot of "hoop strength" from the unique braiding we use.
There's another kind of flexibility involved with all types of hose that we produce. It's the flexibility of our technicians who manufacture the hose to your specifications right here at Swagelok Northern California. We can handle orders from one piece to hundreds of pieces, and offer a wide variety of hose solutions. In some cases we can build a hose in ten minutes.
Dedicated team
We have a team of full-time technicians along with support staff managing the front end of the operation who focus on building hose in a facility dedicated for just that job. Together, these Swagelok Northern California associates help customers by supplying thousands of custom hose assemblies each year.
Within our assembly process we maintain tight tolerances and certified testing. We can do hydrostatic tests, helium leak tests, and pressure decay testing. Some hoses require that we provide a test certificate, and some don't. But we can provide testing and documentation with any hose if requested. If the need ever arises, we can trace each individual hose back to the original technician and manufacturing process run.
Certified skill
Our technicians are certified by Swagelok manufacturing engineers. To pass, they have to produce three samples of every kind of hose we build. That's about 40 different hoses in all, and each one is put through destructive testing.
In the years we have been building hoses, we have shipped about 100,000 of them. Only one has ever come back because it leaked. And that is one too many because our goal is zero customer dissapointments.
Labeling and packaging
In addition to the hose itself, we offer a variety of labeling options. We can use self-adhesive labels, matte tags that are color coded, and Perma Tags with up to five lines of information and protected by a silicone gel and sleeve.
In the future we will offer RFID tagging as well. Some hose shops will bulk-bag their product. Not us. We single-bag every hose we make. While we assume that the customers are using each hose individually, our packaging is driven by the customer specifications. Some of them need double-bagging, one to get it on site and the second to get it into a clean room.
Fast action
We plan in our production schedule to keep some capacity available for customers with emergency needs. We know that a leaking hose can shut down an entire operation. A customer with that kind of emergency needs a replacement now. A lot depends on the individual specifications and stock on hand, but we can usually have a 20-foot hose ready at our will call counter within about 30 minutes.
Different hoses have different materials of construction that affect maximum length, but we have built some hoses up to 1,800 inches long. If a customer is willing to accept splices, there's virtually no length limit at all.
We pride ourselves in the fact that we help our customers quickly, and our product works. There really isn't much we can't do when it comes to hose. Check out our catalog to see what we mean, take a look at our hose assembly capabilities or contact us if you would like to discuss your hose application.
Additional resources
Downloads
![]() |
![]() |
Swagelok Hose and Flexible Tubing Catalog (88 Pages) | Swagelok Hose Selection Tutorials (35 Slides and 9 Pages) |
Related articles
Share this
- Archive (465)
- Assembly Services (207)
- About (100)
- Seal Support Systems (96)
- Best Practices (88)
- Training Services (74)
- Fittings (51)
- Semiconductor Applications (49)
- Hoses and Flexible Tubing (47)
- Regulators (44)
- Tubing (42)
- Grab Sampling Systems (32)
- Sampling Systems (32)
- Gas Systems (30)
- Services (30)
- Downloads (29)
- Valves (24)
- Application Support (18)
- Orbital Welding (17)
- Case Studies (13)
- Steam Systems (13)
- Frequently Asked Questions (12)
- Tools (12)
- Measurement Devices (7)
- Subsystems (6)
- Thermal Management (6)
- September 2023 (1)
- August 2023 (2)
- June 2023 (1)
- March 2023 (3)
- February 2023 (3)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (4)
- November 2022 (4)
- October 2022 (4)
- September 2022 (1)
- August 2022 (3)
- July 2022 (2)
- June 2022 (4)
- May 2022 (1)
- April 2022 (2)
- March 2022 (1)
- February 2022 (2)
- January 2022 (3)
- December 2021 (1)
- November 2021 (6)
- October 2021 (6)
- September 2021 (8)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (3)
- June 2021 (6)
- May 2021 (6)
- April 2021 (7)
- March 2021 (5)
- February 2021 (4)
- January 2021 (6)
- December 2020 (5)
- November 2020 (6)
- October 2020 (6)
- September 2020 (8)
- August 2020 (7)
- July 2020 (8)
- June 2020 (8)
- May 2020 (6)
- April 2020 (9)
- March 2020 (7)
- February 2020 (10)
- January 2020 (21)
- December 2019 (23)
- November 2019 (21)
- October 2019 (22)
- September 2019 (21)
- August 2019 (22)
- July 2019 (23)
- June 2019 (20)
- May 2019 (23)
- April 2019 (22)
- March 2019 (21)
- February 2019 (20)
- January 2019 (21)
- December 2018 (14)
- November 2018 (19)
- October 2018 (23)
- September 2018 (17)
- August 2018 (29)
- July 2018 (11)
- June 2018 (6)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (4)
- March 2018 (5)
- February 2018 (3)
- January 2018 (3)
- December 2017 (2)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (3)
- September 2017 (2)
- August 2017 (6)
- July 2017 (4)
- June 2017 (4)
- May 2017 (4)
- April 2017 (3)
- March 2017 (4)
- February 2017 (3)
- January 2017 (3)
- December 2016 (3)
- November 2016 (3)
- October 2016 (3)
- September 2016 (5)
- August 2016 (5)
- July 2016 (4)
- June 2016 (5)
- May 2016 (3)
- April 2016 (4)
- March 2016 (5)
- February 2016 (11)
- January 2016 (1)
- December 2015 (3)
- November 2015 (4)
- October 2015 (3)
- September 2015 (4)
- August 2015 (4)
- July 2015 (8)
- June 2015 (5)
- May 2015 (3)
- April 2015 (4)
- March 2015 (4)
- February 2015 (3)
- January 2015 (4)
- December 2014 (2)
- November 2014 (3)
- October 2014 (4)
- September 2014 (4)
- August 2014 (4)
- July 2014 (5)
- June 2014 (4)
- May 2014 (4)
- April 2014 (5)
- March 2014 (4)
- February 2014 (3)
- January 2014 (4)
- December 2013 (5)
- November 2013 (3)
- October 2013 (4)
- September 2013 (3)
- August 2013 (5)
- July 2013 (5)
- June 2013 (5)
- May 2013 (3)
- April 2013 (6)
- March 2013 (4)
- February 2013 (4)
- January 2013 (8)
- December 2012 (4)
- November 2012 (6)
- October 2012 (6)
- September 2012 (4)
- August 2012 (4)
- July 2012 (4)
- June 2012 (4)