A glimpse into PCL's Hose Reels History
A staple of the highly-regarded PCL product range throughout the years has always been our Hose Reels.
PCL has been manufacturing and supplying Compressed Air Hose Reels to workshops, tyre shops, forecourts, industrial applications around the world since the 1960s.
On the launch of our new Steel Hose Reels, we take a look at the history of PCL Hose Reels.
1960s-2000s
PCL’s highly-regarded HR1 Standard Hose Reel was patented on the 21st November 1962. The product allowed the air hose to be neatly stored and unwound – if the hose was let go it would return under the spring mechanism, a series of brakes shoes slowed the recoil safely.
PCL manufactured a range of 5 Standard Hose Reel Models; Two ‘Air’ models with a BSP taper screwed end fitting or a twin tyre valve connector, ‘Water’ with radiator filler, ‘Consort’ for use with Wallair Meters, and ‘Companion’ for use with the Presetair Meter.
By 1968, PCL had introduced the HRA5 Medium Duty Hose Reel to the range.
PCL's Hose Reels on pages 2-5 in the 1968 Catalogue
The HR1 and HR5 Hose Reels were manufactured in Sheffield until the 2000s. Over their 40 years’ service, they were supplied to a wide range of applications, below are just a few…
PCL on the forecourt
Two PCL Pavement Gauges with Companion Hose Reels
PCL’s Hose reels were commonly used with PCL’s Wall air, Presetair meter and Pavement gauges on Forecourts. Photographed above are two PCL Pavement Gauges with Companion Hose Reels – chosen for their ruggedness and ease of operation - at Essos M1 Service Area at Woolley Edge near Wakefield in the 1970s.
PCL’s forecourt equipment has evolved over the years, today PCL offer a wide range of self contained towers. Read more about the evolution of PCL’s forecourt equipment.
PCL on the move
PCL Standard and Medium Duty Hose Reels were used many different mobile applications, including crime prevention and mobile cleaning services.
PCL Medium Duty Hose Reel being used by Identicar Ltd
In the 1980s, to prevent car theft, Identicar Ltd in Birmingham, provided vehicle owners with the security by permanently marking the registration number of the vehicle on its windows, this deterrent would mean a thief would have to replace all of the expensive glass on the vehicle in order to run/ sell it under false plates.
The registration number was abraded onto the glass by silica compound which was forced at an air pressure of 150 psi via a PCL Medium Duty Hose Reel through a stencil. The process engraved the car’s registration number to a depth of 0.004 inch without weakening the glass.
PCL’s Standard Hose Reels and non-corrodible couplings were also used in ‘Camel’ Mobile Washing Units by local authorities for cleaning road signs and bus shelters as photographed below.
PCL's Standard Hose Reels used in Camel Mobile Washing Units
PCL on production lines
PCL’s Standard and Medium Duty Hose Reels were installed in many production lines including Walkers Crisps and Parkinson Cowan Appliances Ltd.
To improve safety and efficiency, overhead PCL hose reels were installed on the production lines, this helped keep air tools within easy reach and handy to use, yet out of the way when they were not required, keeping the floor free of trailing hose.
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PCL's Medium Duty Hose Reel in use at Walkers Crisps |
PCL's Standard Hose Reels in use at Parkinson Cowan Appliances Ltd |
PCL’s hose reels and blowguns also provided a solution to dust and coolant problems to manufacturers such as Firth Brown Ltd in Sheffield as photographed below.
The lathes at Firth Brown Ltd were used for machinery forgings, and as a coolant was not used, dust and scale quickly collected in and around the lathe, hampering the lathe tool changing operation. PCL’s equipment however quickly cleared away the dust and when not in use the hose retracted into the reel casing.
PCL Standard Hose Reel and Blowgun used at Firth Brown Ltd in Sheffield
2000s - 2010s
To modernise the range and suit user needs, in the 2000s and 2010s, PCL continuously extended the range to include; the HRA1 Economy Hose Reel (2004), HRA2T Bench Top Hose Reel (2005), HRA4 Steel Hose Reels (2006), HRA3 Heavy Duty Hose Reel (2006), HRA5 Workshop Hose Reel (2008), HRA6 Slow Retract Steel Hose Reel (2015) and the HRA2J01/V01 Slow Retract Hose Reel (2018).
PCL are no stranger to the fast line
The HRA1 Economy Hose Reel - was spotted complete with a coupling from our XF-Euro Coupling range in the pit lane at TeamSport Indoor Go Karting in Sheffield.
PCL HRA1 Economy Hose Reel and XF-Euro Coupling spotted at TeamSport Indoor Go Karting in Sheffield
Want to learn more about what other PCL products are used in the leisure industry? Read our article on interesting applications of compressed air.
PCL used by Luxury Car Care Facility
In 2019, PCL's HRA2J01/V01 Slow Retract Hose Reel and PCL Couplings were installed at NVN London PPF & Detailing as spotted in Mr JWW video givng a tour of their new brand new PPF destination where they welcomed over £5 Million worth of vehicles including the Aston Martin Zagato Collection, the Brabus G700 6X6, and a couple of Rolls Royce Phantoms.
Check out the video from Mr JWW and keep your eyes peeled from around the 5-minute mark for the HRA2 Slow retract Hose Reel [Photo credit: @MrJWW on YouTube]
PCL's range today
In 2019, after carrying out extensive market research incorporating customer views, PCL continued its commitment to customer satisfaction with the release of a high-quality family of Polypropylene Air Hose Reels, offering enhanced functionality and excellent value.
Ideal for garages, workshops and industrial applications, three sizes of reel (Bench Top, Workshop Pro and Workshop Prestige) with different lengths and diameters of hose are available to suit user needs.
PCL's three sizes of polypropylene air hose reels
Each hose reel features built-in cleaning brushes, an easy-to-use adjustable hose stopper, auto retract mechanism and all but the bench top hose reels are slow retract.
From 2023, the popular Workshop Pro Hose Reel became available with a bright high-vis hose for extra safety around garages and workshops.
HRA3L02/HV High Vis Workshop Pro Hose Reel
As seen in Edd China's Workshop…
Edd China installed PCL's Workshop Pro Hose Reel along with PCL's Airflow Couplings to his existing compressed air ring during an episode of his Workshop Diaries. You can watch the full video here.
Spotted in Edd China’s Workshop Diaries EP10 [Photo credit: @eddchina on YouTube]
Space saving solution
A customer of PCL's partner SOS Hose Services required access to a hose reel half way down the walk way in their facility, PCL's compact 8m Bench Top Hose Reel was the ideal solution. The customer also installed PCL's Ergo Extreme Blowguns, Couplings and recoil hose.
PCL's Bench Top Hose Reel with Ergo Blowgun [Photo credit: SOS Hose Services]
The HRA4 Steel Hose Reels are the lastest addition to PCL's range of Hose Reels. These heavy duty, dual arm, retractable air hose reels have been specifically designed for use with compressed air in garages, workshops, and industrial applications and are available in two diameters of 15m hose to suit user needs.
Do you have a PCL product, old or new? We’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @pclairtechnology.
