Simplifying and accelerating the laying of long lengths of hose is the aim of a new development: with the new XCross hose retractor, hose lines can be pulled into a hose container and bent at up to walking speed. The unit is mobile thanks to a replaceable Milwaukee battery and a weight of only 24 kg and can be flexibly adapted to different hose containers.
Control is via a foot switch, leaving both hands free during operation. The speed is also adjustable: a hose box with 1,000 m of hose can be neatly bent in less than 20 minutes.
XCross bailing has been a proven method of deploying hoses for many years, particularly in the USA. In contrast to the bays used here in narrow hose compartments, it offers the advantage of enormously fast deployment, since the hose is not obstructed laterally during discharge. Loading is also much faster, because there is no need to pay attention to neat layering in hose compartments.
The investment for the hose containers is minimal, as they can be kept extremely simple. Even a used lattice box opened at the front on the whole side is therefore superior to any roll container hose or hose cassette of the classical hose-logistic vehicles.
As a manufacturer, Barth deliberately concentrates only on the XCross conveyor and leaves it to the fire departments to find creative solutions for the respective hose containers.