Fender Foam

Foam fender VS Pneumatic fender

Pneumatic & foam fenders are two of the popular floating fenders. Comparing with the two types, we have to sharing different fields of their usage:

Performance

There are some reports indicted : foam-filled fenders that absorb 40% more energy than pneumatic fenders.

However, performance of thee foam fender rely on the manufacturer. There are some cases of customers using foam fenders that deformed easily when they perform operation. Once deformed, the fender will can not be suitable for use any more. The performance will be effected, it may even damage the vessels or dock.

At Luhang, our foam fenders have been used globally in many countries for various projects and items.

Maintenance

Both foam-filled fenders and pneumatic fenders require minimum maintenance. Regular inspection is a must for both fender types.

For pneumatic fenders, just add in the air addition regularly (probably around 12 months). Besides, both are low-maintenance equipment if you purchase from the right manufacturer. So, in this area, it can be said the two are almost tied, with the foam fender a slight edge over the pneumatic.

Durability

Durability is harder to gauge. This is not an accurate benchmark as the conditions of deployment (working conditions) and usage rate is not taken into account.

A key benefit of foam-filled fenders is their ability to maintain their shape and effectiveness, unlike pneumatic rubber fenders which can lose their functionality if they become deflated. They could be utilized occasionally for temporary needs, at a minimum.

Our pneumatic fenders typically have a lifespan exceeding 8 years, which is comparable to foam fenders. It is important to remember that the external hot-dip galvanized chain and tire net should be replaced every 2-3 years to maintain their structural soundness.

Price

This is where rubber floating pneumatic fenders have a considerable advantage over foam fenders. Foam-filled fenders may cost up to 3x more than their pneumatic counterparts for the same size. This is because the pneumatic fender's primary component is air, which is essentially free.

However, the outer layer that holds the air has to be strong enough to absorb energy efficiently upon collision and transfer it to the air while repelling the excess energy back as a reaction force.

On the other hand, for foam fenders, it is the ultra-efficient closed-cell foam core that absorbs fully the energy (repels the excess energy back as reaction force). so the amount of materials used is much more than the rubber for a similar-sized fender.

When determining whether to use pneumatic type or foam-filled type for your floating fender needs, it is essential to consider your budget and expectations.

Generally

smaller sized fenders, like for those below diameter 2.0m, foam fenders are still at a manageable cost that still provides slightly superior performance.

However, for jumbo-sized, very large-sized fenders, the costs will increase to a much bigger value. That is when most consider using a pneumatic rubber fender for large ship-to-ship berthing operations.