Flexible Sleeves & Connectors

Flexible Connectors, Tubing, and Sleeves for the Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Mineral Industries

Carolina Material Technologies offers Flexible Sleeves and Flex Connectors in several different materials, including Clear Polyurethane, EPDM, Pure Gum Rubber, Rubber Coated Nylon, Silicone, Neoprene, and many more. We offer a variety of different styles, including simple Straight Sleeve, Bellowed Shape, BFM Fittings, Tri-Clamp Connectors, and Jacob Connectors. Our flex connectors are used in a variety of industries, including Food, Pharmaceutical, Beverage, Tobacco, Wood, Petroleum, Coal, Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber. The raw materials are often transported through trucks, railcars, silos, conveyors, feeders, and other process equipment systems. The materials used in these applications cannot contaminate or impact the taste or quality of the product being conveyed - so very high quality, tightly controlled compounds must be used in manufacturing the flex connectors, hoses, tubing, fittings, and components. Many of our products will meet FDA, NSF, USDA, or Sanitary 3A standards. Our Flex Connectors are used on all types of material handling equipment, including sifters, screeners, hoppers, screw feeders, vibratory feeders, bin dischargers, conveyors, and packing and filling equipment.

Clear Polyurethane Flex Connectors

EPDM Flex Connectors

Gum Rubber Flex Connectors

Nitrile Flex Connectors

Rubber Coated Nylon Flex Sleeves

Silicone Flex Connectors

Clear Poly Flex Connectors

Clear Polyurethane flex tubing provides interior visibility of product flow

Clear Polyurethane Flex Connectors are available in straight sleeves, bellows, BFM Fittings, Tr-Clamp Connectors, and Jacob Connectors. Clear Polyurethane offers many advantages over other materials, including allowing for product viewing and offering superior abrasion and chemical resistance. In addition to the extruded sizes, non-standard diameters or tapered boots can be fabricated. They are built using the PerfectSplice. The splice is virtually invisible and no loss of material strength occurs in the process. The tapered boots / tubing can be made in 30 or 60 mil wall thickness.

Clear Polyurethane Flexible Sleeve in Factory

Clear Polyurethane Straight Sleeve

BFM Fitting Seeflex 040E Flexible Connector

Clear Polyurethane BFM Flex Connector

Clear Polyurethane Tri-Clamp Flexible Connector

Available Configurations

Straight Sleeve

Bellow

BFM® Fitting

Tri-Clamp

Jacob

EPDM Flex Connectors

EPDM Tubing Flexible Sleeves

CMT offers white and black EPDM tubing flex sleeves among many other types of rubber tubings. EPDM (

also known as ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene monomer, making EPDM flex connectors resistant to oxygen, ozone, and sunlight. EPDM Rubber flexible sleeves are excellent at handling acids, oxygenated solvents and wet or dry abrasive materials. This flex sleeve is suitable for outdoor exposure, as EPDM can withstand temperatures to 350°F. It is resistant to polar materials such as phosphate esters, many ketones and alcohol. This type of rubber is a cost-effective alternative to silicone, as it can last for long periods of time with proper use. As a result, EPDM can save you time and money depending on the needs of your application. However, it must be noted that its resistance to petroleum products is poor.

Black EPDM Flex Connector on Loss-in-Weight Feeders

Black EPDM Flex Connector on Loss-in-Weight Feeder

White EPDM Flex Sleeve Connecting Hopper and Feed Tray

EPDM Benefits and Advantages

Resistance to UV exposure, ozone, aging, weathering, and many chemicals – great for outdoor applications
Stability in high and low temperatures – a general purpose EPDM material can be used in an environment where the temperature range is from -20⁰F to +350⁰F (-29⁰C to 177⁰C).
Low electrical conductivity
Steam and water resistant
Can be fabricated in a variety of ways, which includes custom molded and extruded parts
Long-term part lifespan allows for fewer replacement parts, saving money in the long run

EPDM Applications

Industrial and Process Equipment

Screw Conveyors
Screw Feeders and Vibratory Feeders
Connecting (2) Flange Outlets or Pipes

Water system O-rings and hoses
Tubing
Grommets
Belts and Weigh Belt Feeders
Hoppers

HECHT TRI-CLAMP FLEX CONNECTOR

Available Configurations

Straight Sleeve

Tri-Clamp

Jacob

Gum Rubber Flex Connectors

Pure Gum Tubing Flexible Sleeves

CMT provides pure gum tubing for your specific application. Pure Gum Tubing Flex Sleeves are specially made for weather and ozone resistance. This flex sleeve has excellent tensile, elongation, tear resistance and resilience. It has good abrasion resistance and excellent low temperature flexibility. The flex sleeve has poor resistance to solvents and petroleum products. This flex sleeve is a best seller for dry materials processing. Gum rubber flexible sleeves have excellent abrasion and tear resistance. The pure gum flexible sleeve is the most commonly used tubing utilized in practically every industry.

Gum Rubber Flexible Sleeve Vibratory Feeders

Gum Rubber Flex Connector on Loss-in-Weight Feeder

Gum Rubber Flexible Sleeve Bulk Bag Unloader

Gum Rubber Flex Connector on Bulk Bag Unloader Feeder Combo

Gum Rubber Flexible Sleeve Pneumatic Conveying System

Gum Rubber Flex Connector on Pneumatic Conveying System

Pure Gum Rubber Flexible Connector Specs

Pure Gum Rubber Benefits and Advantages

Can be compounded to meet nearly any mechanical requirement
Ability to be electrically insulating or fully conductive
Protection, insulation, and sealing properties
Absorb vibration and silence noise
Very elastic without permanent deformation
Great for machinery with large movement or displacement
Low temperature flexibility
Good resistance to ozone

Pure Gum Rubber Applications

Industrial and Process Equipment

Screw Conveyors
Screw Feeders and Vibratory Feeders
Connecting (2) Flange Outlets or Pipes

Water system O-rings and hoses
Tubing
Grommets
Belts and Weigh Belt Feeders
Hoppers

Pure Gum Rubber Sleeve

Available Configurations

Straight Sleeve

Tri-Clamp

Jacob

Nitrile Flex Connectors

Nitrile Flexible Connectors and Bin Activator Silo Bands

Nitrile rubber, also called nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR, Buna-N), is a synthetic rubber that provides excellent resistance to petroleum-based oils as well as mineral and vegetable oil. Nitrile and BUNA-N tubing provided by Custom Advanced Connections can withstand a range of conditions in order to suit your specific application. Nitrile / BUNA-N is a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. It has excellent physical properties, however its claim to fame is based on its resistance to water, petroleum products and fuels. In the white formulation it is 3A rated. Useful temperature range is -40⪚ F to +220° F.

Nitrile rubber is far more resistant to heat and outdoor conditions, unlike pure gum rubber and other common rubber compounds. The heat and oil resistance of this material makes it a favorite among engineers and factory workers that deal with applications involving oil, fuel, chemical resistance, heat, abrasion, water, and gas. Nitrile rubber is also a great choice for applications that require abrasion resistance and metal adhesion.

For Nitrile Silo Band / Bin Activator Flex Connectors, please click here.

Bin Activator Silo Rubber Flexible Sleeve Nitrile Material

Nitrile Flex Connector Connecting Silo and Bin Activator

Nitrile Rubber Flexible Connector Loss-in-Weight Feeder

Nitrile Flex Connector on Coating Feeder

Nitrile Flexible Sleeve on Brick Master Coating Feeder

Square Nitrile Flex Connector on BrickMaster™ Feeder

Nitrile Benefits & Advantages

Resistance to Oil and Petroleum Products
Excellent for Sealing Applications
Abrasion Resistance
Heat Resistance
Abrasion Resistance
Water and Moisture Resistance
Resistance to Gas Permeability
Great for Applications involving temperatures up to 250°F

Nitrile Rubber Applications

Industrial and Process Equipment

Bin Activators and Silos
Oil Related Applications
Screw Conveyors
Screw Feeders and Vibratory Feeders
Connecting (2) Flange Outlets or Pipes

Oil Related Tubing
Grommets
Weigh Belt Feeders
Hoppers

Nitrile Rubber Flex Connectors

Available Configurations

Nitrile Straight Boot Flexible Connectors

Straight Sleeve

Tri-Clamp

Jacob

RCN Flex Connectors

Rubber Coated Nylon Sleeves and Flexible Connectors

Rubber Coated Nylon flex sleeves are an industry standard, but RCN is only one of many fabrics available to you. These light-weight sleeves are made with Neoprene and have a Nylon backing. Rubber Coated Nylon sleeves are very pliable, soft rubber coated on a two-way stretch nylon backing. RCN Sleeves feature sewn inside hems, shock cord is a very reliable elastic cord. Installed at 75% of the specified sleeve diameter, shock cord can be used to secure non-stressed sleeves to spout openings without the need for clamps or other fasteners.Popular uses include vibratory feeders, screw feeders, and other applications that involve load-cells where minimal impact is a must.

Rubber Coated Nylon Flexible Sleeve

Rubber Coated Nylon Flexible Sleeve

Rubber Coated Nylon Flex Connector Spec Sheet

Rubber Coated Nylon Benefits and Advantages

Elastic shock cord ends
Clamps sewn into hems
Drawstring(s)
Flanged ends
Center support rings
Grounding / static wire
Velcro / zippers closure
Hanger loops / tabs
Grommets
Breather patch

Rubber Coated Nylon Applications

Industrial and Process Equipment

Weighing Applications
Screw Feeders and Vibratory Feeders with Load Cells
Connecting (2) Flange Outlets or Pipes

Belts and Weigh Belt Feeders
Hoppers on Load Cells

Rubber Coated Nylon Flex Connectors

Available Configurations

Rubber Coated Nylon Flex Sleeves Available

Straight Sleeve

Tri-Clamp

Jacob

Silicone Flex Connectors

Silicone Flexible Connectors for weighing and feeding applications

Our Silicone Flex Connectors create a highly flexible connection between batching equipment, mixers, loss-in-weight feeders, or any other type of process equipment on load cells involved in powder bulk solids transport. Accurate batch sizes and continuous material feeding are crucial to ensure a high quality end product. Silicone Flex Connectors are used by many well-known OEM manufacturers. Our Silicone Weighing Flex Connector features a molded flexible connection in FDA approved Translucent Silicone and Black Anti-Static Silicone. These flex connectors were specidically designed for use in weighing systems, as they have low axial and lateral force, and do not affect the weighing process. The Black Anti-Static Silicone Connectors are made of a silicone compound to which carbon has been added to make it electrostatically dissipative and have a resistance lower than <10^6 Oh. The low electrostatic resistance results in preventing light powders from sticking on the surface of the flex connector, while preventing electrostatic energy from building up on the surface of the flex connector. This creates a safe factory environment, as explosion hazards (which may occur at high capacity powder flow rates and high air speeds) are limited.