Ever dealt with a hose failure mid-transfer? Or discovered contamination that could’ve been prevented? If you’re managing a brewery, distillery, or winery, you know that hoses are the arteries of your operation. And yet, they’re often the most neglected piece of equipment. Until something goes wrong, that is! Join us for:  Don’t Get Hosed: The Selection, Purchase, Care & Maintenance of Hoses for Production Facilities Thursday, November 20th at 10 a.m. PT Online Via Zoom Presented by Michael Caviness from TCW Equipment We’ll break down how to match hoses to your specific needs: Size, Temperature, Application, Material compatibility, Pressure requirements, End fittings, and Delivery method. No guesswork. Just a clear framework for every purchase decision. We’ll decode Hose Materials. Learn when to spec BUTYL vs. EPDM vs. NITRILE vs. SILICONE vs. PVC. We’ll cover chemical resistance, temperature ranges, and which materials hold up best fo

EPDM vs. Butyl: which is best for your next hose? A few years ago the common thinking was that Butyl was the clear choice for a modern winery or brewery. EPDM hose is thought to be “old school”. But, as always, we've learned some interesting lessons from our customers on this one. After all, they have boots on the ground and hose in the hand. Some customers have given us some great reasons why EPDM shouldn't be counted out, and may be preferred in some instances. Let's go over the reasons.  EPDM vs. Butyl: The History First, a little history: Between EPDM and Butyl, EPDM hoses were the most commonly used hoses in wineries and breweries around the world for many years. In general, EPDM is a very safe choice for common rubber items in a brewery (think tri clamp gaskets or valve seats. They're usually EPDM). In the USA, Butyl started to take over in popularity from EPDM hoses some 10-15 years ago. Particularly once GlideTech introduced their hoses with a n

If you've shelled out your hard-earned money for a premium winery, brewery, or distillery hose, you'll want to know how to make your investment last. Here's what you need to know about how to clean your hose. One note, this guide is for rubber-type hoses like GlideTech Butyl Brewery Hose or GlideTech Distillery Hose. PVC-based hoses like Kanaline & Kanaflex are less hardy (though less expensive). They can't withstand the same temperatures, and are more sensitive to aggressive cleaning and sanitizing chemicals. With that caveat out of the way, let's talk about how to clean yer hose! Cleaning Frequency for Clean Freaks There's a dilemma when it comes to hose cleaning: clean hose lasts longer than dirty hose, but the act of cleaning inevitably shortens a hose's lifespan. High temperatures and aggressive cleaning & sanitizing chemicals can be tough on its interior. So, what do you do? How often do you clean? In principle you should clean y