3 Things You Need to Know About Your Hydraulic Cylinder Supplier
Hydraulics systems are used in industries all over the world, from construction to agriculture to civil engineering. And one essential component of any hydraulic system is the cylinder. A hydraulic cylinder supplier will manufacture and ship hundreds of cylinders each month, each made for a different type of operation and destined for somewhere new in the world.
What do you need to know about your hydraulic cylinder supplier before you make an order? There are three important checkboxes to tick off first, before going down your shopping list.
1: Do they make the type of cylinder you need?
There are two main types of cylinders, and not every hydraulic cylinder supplier will manufacture or stock both types. The most commonly used type is the single-acting cylinder, able to generate force in one direction only. Less often used is the double-acting cylinder, capable of generating force back and forth in two directions.
Single-acting cylinders are much more common than double-acting due to being more cost-efficient. Many operations do not require a cylinder capable of exerting force in two directions, so there is no reason to spend the extra money. Capitalising on this popularity, a supplier may only offer the single-acting version of a hydraulic cylinder. However, for applications that require a double-acting cylinder, such as a pneumatic control circuit, it’s important to check.
2: Do they make the size of cylinder you need?
A supplier may make all different sizes of hydraulic cylinder. Cylinders can range from very small to extremely large, depending on the amount of force needed and the application. Both large and smaller cylinders have their own manufacturing difficulties, with larger cylinders requiring more powerful equipment to manufacture, and smaller cylinders requiring more delicate assembly - many key parts of cylinder manufacturing are performed by hand, including the placement of the seals.
3: Do they ship to you?
It may sound obvious, but not every supplier of a hydraulic cylinder will ship worldwide, and for those that do, the shipping costs may be exorbitant depending on where in the world they are shipping from. Large cylinders in particular are heavy, and expensive to ship.
However, the good news is that hydraulic cylinders are designed for easy disassembly so they can be repaired quickly and easily, and repair parts are usually compatible with cylinders from all supplier brands. This means that should you purchase a hydraulic cylinder from an international supplier, it is likely to be a one-time cost - you are not locked into sourcing repair parts from that supplier.
Once you have found the right supplier for the hydraulic cylinder you need, you may decide to source other hydraulics parts from them or their affiliates. A reliable, efficient supplier is not always easy to find, and one with the flexibility to provide both single- and double-acting cylinders of various sizes is rare - but very valuable, once found.
What do you need to know about your hydraulic cylinder supplier before you make an order? There are three important checkboxes to tick off first, before going down your shopping list.
1: Do they make the type of cylinder you need?
There are two main types of cylinders, and not every hydraulic cylinder supplier will manufacture or stock both types. The most commonly used type is the single-acting cylinder, able to generate force in one direction only. Less often used is the double-acting cylinder, capable of generating force back and forth in two directions.
Single-acting cylinders are much more common than double-acting due to being more cost-efficient. Many operations do not require a cylinder capable of exerting force in two directions, so there is no reason to spend the extra money. Capitalising on this popularity, a supplier may only offer the single-acting version of a hydraulic cylinder. However, for applications that require a double-acting cylinder, such as a pneumatic control circuit, it’s important to check.
2: Do they make the size of cylinder you need?
A supplier may make all different sizes of hydraulic cylinder. Cylinders can range from very small to extremely large, depending on the amount of force needed and the application. Both large and smaller cylinders have their own manufacturing difficulties, with larger cylinders requiring more powerful equipment to manufacture, and smaller cylinders requiring more delicate assembly - many key parts of cylinder manufacturing are performed by hand, including the placement of the seals.
3: Do they ship to you?
It may sound obvious, but not every supplier of a hydraulic cylinder will ship worldwide, and for those that do, the shipping costs may be exorbitant depending on where in the world they are shipping from. Large cylinders in particular are heavy, and expensive to ship.
However, the good news is that hydraulic cylinders are designed for easy disassembly so they can be repaired quickly and easily, and repair parts are usually compatible with cylinders from all supplier brands. This means that should you purchase a hydraulic cylinder from an international supplier, it is likely to be a one-time cost - you are not locked into sourcing repair parts from that supplier.
Once you have found the right supplier for the hydraulic cylinder you need, you may decide to source other hydraulics parts from them or their affiliates. A reliable, efficient supplier is not always easy to find, and one with the flexibility to provide both single- and double-acting cylinders of various sizes is rare - but very valuable, once found.
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