Marine Foam Fender
What is Marine Foam Fender
Foam Filled Marine Fenders are entirely made of closed cell foam that guarantees unsinkability even in case of damage caused by breaking, rupturing or shearing when hitting rough vessel sides. Ever cell is separate and so water cannot migrate into the foam filled marine fenders.
production process
We are a professional manufacturer of airbags and fenders with a history of over 30 years in this industry. We have professional equipment (closed rubber mixing machine, open rubber mixing machine, rubber rolling machine, vulcanization canes and machines， large press machine, etc.). The whole manufacturing process could be controlled by ourselves to ensure the quality.
Transaction Cases
Qingdao LuHang Marine Airbag and Fender Co., Ltd has been devoted to the marine airbags and fenders industry for more than 30 years, Acting as a supplier of many world-class maritime enterprises, such as COSCO, CSIC, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, etc. Now, LUHANG has occupied the largest market in China and owns Many global customers who depend on professional manufacturers, Strict quality control, and guaranteed after-sale service.
Qingdao Luhang Marine Airbag and Fender Co.,Ltd is located in Jidong industrial Park, Jimo City, Qingdao. Our factory takes up the area of 4,0000㎡ with building area of 30000㎡ and has registered asset of 16million US dollars. We have devoted on marine airbags and fenders about more than 30 years.Luhang relies on its excellent product quality and many years of rich production experience. the products have been exported abroad, reaching the international advanced level, acting as a supplier of many world-class enterprise, such as COSCO, CSIC, Hyundai, Heavy Industries Co.,Ltd, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co.,Ltd, and have received support and recognition from customers around the world. Main market: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, Oceania, Mid East, Eastern Asia, Western Europe.
Our certificate
Absorb impact
Each closed cell is completely enclosed and as they are packed tightly together, they will not compress or settle over time. That means polyethylene foam can absorb impacts without damage, and won't crush or flatten at point of contact when berthing. They have low corresponding reaction force and unlike pneumatic tube systems which will lose shape and buoyancy with heavy impact.
Unsinkable
Due to the separate closed cell structure, PE foam won't allow water to migrate into the foam as each cell is enclosed. Polyethylene foam doesn't act like a sponge and will not absorb water, even when the skin is punctured the foam fenders will not sink like pneumatic fenders. Even if the abrasion occurs against the skin of a foam fender, the fender will still maintain shape and continue to float.
Won't mark a ship's hull
Foam fenders provide protection to the vessel, as well as the protection to the floatation core concealed within the foam during deployment and recovery. They can be installed fixed or floating, and their skins will not mark a ship exterior.
Durable against wear and tear
Due to their closed cell structure, foam fenders are incredibly durable when faced with the daily marine environment and they are exceptionally resilient to punctures.
Low maintenance
Polyethylene foam fenders require little maintenance as they don't have inflation valves to maintain, there is no pressure relief required and they're easily repaired.
What are the Applications of Marine Foam Fender
Ship fenders
Ships often need to use fenders to protect the hull from friction and impact when docking at a dock or unloading cargo. Polyurethane fenders have good energy absorption performance and wear resistance, so they are widely used in the field of ship fenders.
Dock fender
The dock structure will also suffer damage from ships, cargo and other factors during long-term use, so it needs to be protected. Polyurethane fenders can effectively absorb and disperse impact forces, protecting the dock structure from damage.
Water sports equipment fenders
Polyurethane fenders can also be used in the field of water sports equipment fenders, such as yachts, sailboats, etc. These equipment also need protection during use. Polyurethane fenders can provide better energy absorption and wear resistance and increase their service life.
Marine engineering field
The marine engineering field includes offshore platforms, fixed buoys and other building structures. These structures need to be protected from environmental factors such as waves and impact forces. Polyurethane fenders have good energy absorption performance and weather resistance, and have also been widely used in the field of marine engineering.
Types of Marine Foam Fender
Foam Boat Fenders
Foam boat fenders,also called EVA solid fender, is a new type fender using light weight high elasticity foam as cushion medium, widely applied to harbour, offshore,STS and STD operation. Luhang Foam Filled Solid Fender is made of environmental protection material and high elasticity polymeric material. long service life and high economic value of this product is achieved by the high quality material with performance of high strength, high elasticity, high adhesion, anti-leakage,and aging resistance.
Boat Side Foam Fender
The boat side foam fender is a safety device installed on the hull to prevent damage to the ship and reduce the risk of personal injury when mooring or berthing. It is made of an impact-resistant material such as rubber or foam and is shaped to fit the contours of the boat's hull. Fenders provide cushioning and absorb shock from other boats, docks or docks. Its design helps distribute impact forces over a larger area of the hull, reducing the chance of dents or other damage. Fenders also help protect your boat's paint and hull finish, extending the life of your boat and maintaining its appearance. When selecting boat side fenders, it is important to choose one that is appropriate for the size and type of boat, as well as the intended use and exposure to various weather and water conditions.
Donut Foam Fender
The donut foam fender is a special anti-collision device whose design is inspired by the shape of a donut and the properties of foam materials. It is made from a high-density foam material, usually polyurethane or a similar material, that has excellent energy-absorbing capabilities. This kind of anti-collision equipment is usually used to protect docks and hulls when ships dock, and can effectively reduce collision damage to docks and hulls.
Floating Foam Filled Fender
Polyurea Skin + EVA Foam Filled Fender is a floating type compression fender that is highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications. It is also called floating foam filled fender. It consists of an outer Polyurethane protective layer, a reinforced rubber nylon cord fabric, as well as an internal space that is filled with foam as a medium to absorb collision. Foam fenders outer layer has an extremely low frictional resistance and is highly resistant to wear due to its strength. Impact force is efficiently absorbed by the foam fender, reducing the resultant force acted upon the wharf/vessel at the point of contact
Components of Marine Foam Fender
Foam Core
The foam core is the key factor to reflect the foam fender performance.The closed-cell foam core should be selected. At the same time, according to different expansion ratios, the foam density will be different. It is necessary to communicate with the manufacturer according to the actual application.
Polyurethane Coating
It is the protective layer of foam fender, which has the effect of dispersing the force. The quality and thickness of polyurethane coating can resist the damage to foam fender caused by friction. At the same time, attention should be paid to the structural layout of tire cord layer.
Central Axis
The central axis is the key point to support the foam fender. The material and strength of the central axis determine the service life of foam fender. Central axis’s reasonable size and strength can greatly improve the overall cost performance of the product.
How to Choose Marine Foam Fender
Vessel size and type
The size and type of vessels that will be berthing or mooring at a facility are paramount in fender selection. Different vessels generate varying levels of kinetic energy during berthing, necessitating fenders that can adequately absorb and dissipate this energy.
Berth configuration and conditions
The layout and configuration of the berthing area—including water depth, tidal variations, and available space—influence the choice of fenders. For instance, tight berths with limited maneuvering space may require fenders that offer precise protection.
Impact energy calculation
Calculating the expected impact energy during vessel berthing is crucial. This involves analyzing factors such as vessel speed, weight, and angle of approach. Fender systems must be selected to match or exceed the calculated energy to ensure safety.
Environmental factors
Environmental considerations—including wind, wave action, and water currents—can affect fender performance. Fenders must be chosen to withstand these conditions and maintain their effectiveness in adverse weather.
Marine Foam Fender structure has the following advantages
Lightweight
Foam materials are lighter than traditional metal fender materials, which can reduce the weight of the ship and improve load-carrying capacity and fuel efficiency.
Energy absorption
Foam materials have good energy absorption, can absorb and disperse impact forces, and reduce collision damage to the hull.
Anti-corrosion
Foam materials are not susceptible to seawater erosion and can effectively extend the service life of the fender.
Easy to install and maintain
The foam fender has a relatively simple structure and is easy to install and maintain.Foam fender structures are widely used in water engineering fields such as ships, docks, and pontoons, and can provide good protection and safety performance. However, it should be noted that the foam fender structure needs to take into account different environmental conditions, ship types and usage requirements during the design and installation process to ensure its stability and reliability.
Foam fenders are produced using a fender building machine to construct a foam core on top of a metal mandrel. A resilient PE closed-cell foam strip or sheet is used as the main energy absorbing component of foam fenders. By applying heat, these foam strips or sheets are laminated together to form a one-piece integral structure.
The use of this foam filled construction process makes the fender unsinkable and able to function even if punctured.
The outer layer, which covers the foam core, is constructed through a spraying process which uses a special synthetic polyurethane or polyurea elastomer. This layer is reinforced with nylon tire cord filaments during spraying process.
Multiple layers of continuous nylon filament reinforcements are applied, using a filament winding machine, to produce a high strength reinforced coating. The filament winding process produces a fender skin that has reinforcing fibres oriented in the optimal direction for maximum strength. Due to continuous filament winding, local loadings are distributed over a wide area of fender surface, minimizing stresses in the fender skin and increasing its tensile strength.
Marine Foam Fender Features
Good wear resistance
Marine Foam Fender are usually made of high-strength, wear-resistant polyurethane materials, which can effectively resist the friction and impact caused by ships or dock structures when they come into contact with them.
Good weather resistance
Marine Foam Fender have good weather resistance and can resist the erosion of ultraviolet rays, seawater, oxides and other environmental factors, and maintain long-term and stable performance.
Superior energy-absorbing performance
Due to its special material structure, Marine Foam Fender have good energy-absorbing properties, which can effectively absorb and disperse the impact from ships or other facilities, reducing the impact on the structure.
Easy installation and maintenance
Compared with traditional steel or wooden fenders, Marine Foam Fender usually have lighter weight and easier installation methods, and are also relatively easy to maintain.
Long service life
Due to the excellent performance and durable materials of Marine Foam Fender, it has a long service life and can provide long-lasting protection for ships and docks.
How to Maintain Marine Foam Fender
Initial check
Upon installation, assessment of the condition of the rubber fenders as unit and as a system should be carried out. Individual checks followed by commissioning through trial berthing can be the most ideal sequence of the test.
Daily check
Routine inspection to assess the deterioration of the marine fenders on daily basis. The top priority of daily check is to detect any type and extent of damage and occurring deterioration.
Periodic check
Periodic checks and diagnoses are conducted regularly to determine the progress of deterioration among rubber fenders. Periodic checks and diagnoses should be carried out systematically and continuously based on a pre-engineered inspection plan to evaluate the effectiveness of corrective measures in used and to be able to plan ahead in case of possible major troubleshooting.
Occasional check
Occasional checks and diagnoses are conducted to confirm the damage of fenders when deterioration is recognized and in the events of unusual port incidents such as fire, uncontrolled berthing, and excessive vessel motion caused by wind storm, earthquake, tsunami, etc.
Marine Foam Fender Usage Guide
Select the appropriate foam material according to the hull size and design requirements. Different types of foam materials have different densities, strengths and energy-absorbing properties, and selections need to be made based on actual needs.
Before installing foam fenders, the hull shell needs to be thoroughly inspected to ensure that the surface is smooth and free of any damage or corrosion. If necessary, repair and cleaning processes are required.
When installing foam fenders, you need to operate according to the prescribed installation methods and requirements. Typically the foam core needs to be embedded into gaps inside the hull shell and secured using a specialized adhesive.
After installation, a comprehensive inspection of the foam fender is required to ensure that there are no gaps or cracks between the foam core material and the external protective layer, and that the foam core material has not been damaged by the outside world.
The status of the foam fender needs to be checked regularly during use, especially when sailing at sea, you need to pay attention to whether there is any collision or damage. If necessary, timely maintenance and replacement are required.
The surface of the foam fender needs to be cleaned regularly to ensure that it is smooth and anti-fouling.
FAQ
Q: How thick are foam fenders?
Q: What is a foam fender?
Q: What are the different types of marine fenders?
Q: Should boat fenders be vertical or horizontal?
Q: Do boat fenders need covers?
Q: Why do boat fenders have covers?
Q: What is a floating fender?
Q: What is a fender on a boat called?
Q: What does 40 density foam mean?
Q: Can foam board get wet?
Q: What is the best material for boat fender covers?
Q: What is the difference between boat bumpers and boat fenders?
Q: Why are fenders not plastic?
Q: What is a inflatable marine fender?
Q: What is a berth fender?
Q: What is a wharf fender?
Q: Do boat fenders need covers?
Q: What material are marine fender covers?
Q: What is the purpose of a marine fender?
We're well-known as one of the leading marine foam fender manufacturers and suppliers in China. If you're going to buy customized marine foam fender, welcome to get pricelist and quotation from our factory. For price consultation, contact us.
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