Manufacturers fabricate rubber tubes or tubing to satisfy a multitude of flow applications for gas or fluids. Rubber tubing is a versatile product utilized to transport liquids like hydraulic fluid, salt water, coolant and for vacuum and pumping applications.

Rubber tube manufacturers make many types of tubing products that include general- purpose, spark resistant, coiled, corrugated and specialty. Rubber tubes are available in natural rubber and synthetic compounds like silicone. Silicon rubber tubing is ideally suited for medical and pharmaceutical uses because it is smooth, elastic and very resistant to water and heat. For any application, selecting the right type of rubber material is essential.

When selecting rubber tubing for an application, some important parameters to consider are temperature range, inside and outside diameters, wall thickness, vacuum and pressure capacity, flexibility and resistance to corrosive substances. Before you buy rubber tubing from a manufacturer, there are some points to review that should include:

1. Search for a rubber tube online for diverse applications.

2. Select the correct rubber tube for your industry need.

3. Find a rubber tube manufacturer that offers specialty or custom tube products for a particular design specification.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Browse online catalogs before making a rubber tube purchase

Some manufacturers provide online catalogs which you can use to determine the specific type of tube you may require for an application. When you need products like neoprene, latex/gum rubber tubing or tubing in various diameters for your business need, you should review rubber tube products from various manufacturers to ensure that you select the best product, which meets your application requirement.

I recommend: United States Plastic carries a variety of latex or gum rubber tubing in different diameters used for various applications. Ace Hose & Rubber offers neoprene, latex and smooth gum tubing in different colors, sizes. For a good selection of neoprene, viton, polyurethane and other type tubing, go to AAA-Acme Rubber; you need to request a quote.

Buy rubber tubing made for your specific industry need

Industries such as aerospace, medical/surgical and pharmaceutical use special tubing for many applications. Silicone rubber tubing is suitable for various pharmaceutical and medical uses while other tubing may be better suited for other applications. Purchase products from manufacturers that carry a wide range of sizes.

I recommend: At Hygenic, you can find extruded rubber tubing products made from synthetic compounds for medical, lab and industrial uses. The products are available in various sizes and can be cut to length. Simolex offers a huge inventory of silicone rubber tubing in many diameter sizes, colors and in metric or English sizes. Thin or thick wall silicone tubing and conductive rubber tubing are also available. NewAge Industries carries medical grade silicone tubing and other varieties suitable for diverse application that include food and beverage, biomedical, laboratory and peristaltic pumps. Cole-Parmer also has a good inventory of silicone rubber tubing.

Choose a rubber tube manufacturer that can make custom tubing to your exact specifications

If you are unable to find the correct size tube or need a specialty product then it has to be custom ordered. Look for experienced manufacturers that can deliver quality custom solutions for any unique applications.

I recommend: Greene Rubber is a manufacturer of custom fabricated rubber products that can supply you with the correct tubing to meet specific design specifications. Aero Rubber also offers custom rubber tubing products in special configuration such as very small wall thicknesses. Randolph Austin offers specialty rubber tubing for fluid transfer applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Silicone rubber tubing can come in two formulations, which are platinum- and peroxide-cured. The difference in the two types is due to the process utilized in manufacturing them. Platinum cured is not as strong as peroxide-cured silicone but it has a lower level of protein binding and is a good choice for biotech and pharmaceutical industries.