NEW INDUSTRY REPORT REVEALS SPECIFICATION KNOWLEDGE GAP

The Barometer Report 4, an independent study of 200 port owners, operators, contractors and consultants conducted by Trelleborg''s marine systems operation, reveals that 77% of consultants and contractors don''t know the correct ratio of ingredients in a superior rubber compound used in fenders.

Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg''s marine systems operation, says: “There''s a huge lack of product awareness that needs to be addressed. The performance and lifecycle of fenders vary dramatically based on the type of rubber used – natural or synthetic, and virgin or recycled – and within that, the compound composition of the rubber.

“Supplier relationships need to get an upgrade. It''s time for suppliers to accept responsibility for their products, not just up to installation, but over the entire product lifecycle.”

Alarmingly, 50% of those surveyed don''t know if suppliers apply bespoke Velocity Factor (VF) to their rubber compound formulation, equally 53% are unaware if suppliers apply bespoke Temperature Factor (TF).

First introduced by PIANC, VF and TF should be applied to rubber fenders at the design and selection stage to accurately ascertain fender performance in the field, under varying compression times and temperatures.

In addition, the study also revealed that 86% of those surveyed would find it useful to have a system that can easily test suppliers'' compounds.

Hepworth concludes: “It''s no surprise that the overwhelming majority say it would be useful to have a system to effortlessly test suppliers'' compounds. The need is there, and it''s time for suppliers to react to it, evolving offerings to provide the required education and substantiation.”