Derek Lane & Co awarded MoD – DefStan 47-32 Issue 3 approval to manufacture flexible hose assemblies

23 August, 2017

Derek Lane & Co has been a supplier of flexible hose assemblies to the MoD and its contractors – including Babcock International at the Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth – for many years. The new standard now covers both mild steel and stainless steel hose-end terminations for use on HM ships, submarines and shore establishments.

Gates Hydraulics, Dicsa SA and the MoD have worked with Derek Lane & Co to achieve the upgraded standard from the previous DefStan 47-2 for 2 wire hose assemblies. The acceptance, which now includes stainless steel inserts, is the culmination of many months of work where flexible hose assemblies have been developed, proof-, type-, impulse- and burst-tested to conform to the exacting requirements of the Defence Standard; including flame retardance, toxicity, temperature pressure and burst testing.

Safe assembly practices

Quality hose assemblies have been at the forefront of Derek Lane & Co’s supply focus for over 30 years. Working with and members of the BFPDA (British Fluid Power Distributors Association) Derek Lane & Co uses the Association’s ‘Quality Hose Scheme’ and the industry’s D8 Guidelines to manufacture hydraulic hose assemblies and operate safe assembly practices such us ruling out ‘mixing and matching’ different hose and fittings manufacturers to assemble hoses unless full compatibility, proof and type testing has been carried out by an independent body – including Det Norske Veritas or Germanischer Lloyd.

Derek Lane & Co’s sales director, Rob Woodley, commented: “The importance of supplying hose assemblies to any industry should not be underestimated. Clearly, having hose assemblies on naval warships that conform to a standard – for example, fire, toxicity and pressure testing – is majorly important for the safety of personnel, and this Defence standard clearly defines those requirements. There are, of course, many other applications and industries that would benefit from having hose assemblies made to this standard. Every hose made is identified, tested and certificated with full traceability.”

Woodley continued: “This is a great achievement for the company and will only strengthen our capabilities in delivering fluid power products to the various platforms within HM naval bases. We are one of only 2 companies in the UK that currently hold the MoD approval for both stainless steel and mild steel terminations, which is testament to the full commitment we have in offering quality products and services to our customers.”

Exciting new chapter

Johnathan Jarvis, Gates’ regional sales manager for UK/ROI/Nordics, said: “World-class defence equipment requires world-class performance, reliability and quality, so we are extremely happy to be working with Derek Lane and Co. Full credit must be given to the technical team at Derek Lane & Co. who have meticulously performed the required documentation and product trials to meet the extremely high standards of the MOD and Gates. We and our new defence distribution partners are looking forward to an exciting new chapter in our business as well as having the honour of supplying Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.”

Fluid power products, services and system design is at the core of Derek Lane & Co’s solutions; offering hydraulic, pneumatic and industrial products from world-leading manufacturers. Derek Lane & Co’s team based in Devon has expertise in sales, engineering, defence and manufacturing. Derek Lane & Co is an ISO9001:2015 company, a member of the British Fluid Power Distributors Association (BFPDA), and holds SC21, Q1 and Cyber Essentials accreditations.

www.dereklane.co.uk