All Silflex hoses are manufactured by hand using steel or aluminium mandrels. The mandrels represent the inside shape of the hose. It is because we have to manufacture the mandrels first (and they are expensive) that we cannot make one-off hoses economically. The composite rubber/fabric material is wrapped around the mandrel in a pre-determined number of layers (plies) and thickness dependent upon the design criteria.           click an image for the large version When fully wrapped the hoses are treated to a high temperature vulcanising treatment. This produces a fully composite structure with all the separate plies melding together. The vulcanised hoses are removed from the mandrels and treated to a final curing process. Eventually the hoses are sent to the inspection department for final finishing quality control.