Fender Maintenance Case Study

Not all pneumatic fenders are created equal, this is something that should be at the forefront of your decision-making process when selecting a pneumatic fender for purchase.

You may be forgiven for thinking that selecting a Fender because it meets the all-important ISO 17357 criteria may get you the quality that you need, but this sometimes isn’t the case.

The rubber compound quality used can be hard to judge as a buyer with various degrees of material quality still meeting the material performance tests outlined in ISO 17365 in the fender's new condition. But STSMS has found, numerous claimed ISO 17365 fenders where the quality of the rubber compound becomes apparent as the fender ages.  

We have found Trelleborg fenders to have superior quality in this respect. We presume the raw material selection, selected rubber compounds, mixing, and manufacturing processes must produce a rubber compound that has superior long-term durability.

Another area of concern is the material selection of the metallic parts of the fender, again not fully covered by ISO 17365. Recently we became aware of an ISO 17365 fender, where the end plates had started to corrode in an accelerated manner, possibly affecting the integrity of the fender.

Further investigation revealed that this fender was manufactured with the lesser quality 304 stainless steel end flange. Comparing this with a316 Stainless steel end flange you can see a marked difference in the part's ability to withstand the harsh conditions of a saltwater environment (ISO12944-2 – C5 Environment). See Images.  

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At STSMS we have come across most makes and manufacturers offenders, and we would advise to any client that just because a fender meets ISO17365, it may not necessarily be the best choice. In the example above, 304 Stainless steel is unsuitable for a prolonged period in a C5 corrosive environment.  STSMS endorses and distributes Trelleborg fenders as we believe they are the best quality attainable and have seen their fenders withstand the harshest of conditions –and importantly have 316 Stainless steel end plates!

If you do have a corroded fender, we have several solutions to restore your fender's condition.

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