ShibataFenderTeam Group releases Pneumatic Fender Manual

As leading manufacturer of high-quality fender systems, we aim to share our knowledge with you and therefore, we published a manual that provides an in-depth review of the design, the quality requirements and a comparison of the two conventional manufacturing methods of Pneumatic Fenders. This particular fender type - also commonly referred to as Yokohama or floating fender - is an adequate and effective solution for ports with extreme tidal variations, ship-to-ship operations (liquid cargo vessels, FSRU) or temporary berthing. It is deployed to withstand harsh weather conditions and tremendous berthing forces.

The uniqueness of each fender project calls for a best-practice approach that is different for every manufacturer. Vital factors that determine the final quality of a Pneumatic Fender include the raw material, the design, the process control, the trained operators and many more – the decision for one or the other manufacturing method is entirely based on the manufacturer’s pool of experience. “For us at the ShibataFenderTeam Group, clarifying the complexity of the requirements for different fender types and a holistic approach to fender manufacturing has been one of our top priorities for many years now, and we will continue to transparently communicate our formula to high-performance fenders,” said Dominique Polte, Board Member with ShibataFenderTeam.

The Pneumatic Fender Manual elaborates on the differences between the two manufacturing methods for Pneumatic Fenders that are commonly performed in the fender industry: wrapping and molding. Both methods comply with ISO 17357-1:2014, an international standard providing guidelines on essential pneumatic fender criteria such as material, performance, dimensions, guaranteed energy absorption (GEA), as well as test and inspecting procedures. A free download of “A Guide to Prime-Quality Pneumatic Fender Manufacturing” is now available in our download section.

For additional and comprehensive information on rubber compounding, mixing, manufacturing, curing and testing, you can also download the SFT Whitepaper Series in English, Spanish and French on our website.