Tugboat W Type Rubber Fender Marine Ship Fender for Shipyard/certificate ISO9001 2008, BV.CCS

The W - type rubber fender is a high - performance marine protection product, which is widely used in shipyards for ship launching, berthing, and maintenance. It has the advantages of strong flexibility, convenient installation, and large energy absorption. Below is a detailed introduction to its core characteristics, applicable scenarios in shipyards, and supporting configurations:

Product Description:

Material Advantages:

The W - shaped structure gives it a large contact area when colliding with ships. During ship berthing or transferring, it can disperse the impact force well, reduce the surface pressure on the ship hull, and avoid damage to the ship body paint and structure. Meanwhile, its two flexible legs can be installed along the curved surface of the ship hull, adapting to the irregular shapes of the bow, stern, and corners of ships in shipyards.

Manufacturing Process:

1. Raw Material Preparation and Compound Formulation
The core raw material is natural rubber (≥70% by weight), blended with styrene-butadiene rubber (to enhance elasticity), carbon black (to improve abrasion resistance), zinc oxide, stearic acid (as a vulcanization accelerator), along with anti-aging agents and UV absorbers. These components are proportionately fed into a closed mixer.
Compound at 120-140°C for 30-40 minutes to ensure uniform blending. Subsequently, roll the compound through an open mill into a rubber sheet of uniform thickness (adjusted per fender specifications, typically 8-15mm). Cool to room temperature for later use.
2. Mold Design and Pre-treatment
Customize steel molds based on W-type structural parameters (width 480-600mm, height 300-450mm, etc.). Polish the inner mold surfaces to prevent burrs on the fender surface after molding.
Preheat the mold to 80-100°C and evenly apply release agent to ensure smooth demolding of the cured fender while protecting the mold and extending its service life.
3. Molding and Vulcanization
Cut the calendered rubber sheet to match the mold cavity dimensions. Layer it sequentially into the W-shaped mold, ensuring the sheet conforms to the mold contour without wrinkles or voids.
For large W-shaped fenders, insert polyester cord fabric reinforcement layers (2-4 layers based on fender height) between rubber layers to enhance tear resistance and pressure-bearing capacity. Apply specialized adhesive between reinforcement and rubber layers.
After closing the mold, transfer it to the vulcanization chamber. Vulcanize at 150-160°C and 0.8-1.0 MPa pressure for 3-5 hours to fully cross-link and cure the rubber, forming a stable W-shaped structure.
4. Post-Processing and Precision Correction
After vulcanization, allow the mold to cool below 80°C before opening. Remove the rough fender product, trim excess material and flash along the mold parting line, and grind surface burrs to ensure a clean W-shaped contour.
Drill mounting holes in the fender (diameter customized to matching bolt specifications), then smooth the hole walls to prevent bolt scratches during installation.
5. Performance Testing and Quality Control
Conduct visual inspection: Verify the fender surface is free of cracks, blisters, missing material, or other defects. The dimensional deviation of the W-shaped structure must be ≤±3mm.
Perform core performance tests: Including hardness testing (Shore hardness 60-70HA), tensile strength testing (≥18MPa), and compression set testing (≤20%) to ensure compliance with elasticity and wear resistance requirements.
Conduct impact simulation tests on samples to validate the fender's energy absorption capacity in ship collision scenarios, meeting shipyard operational intensity requirements.
6. Assembly and Factory Packaging
Assemble accessories: Integrate high-strength bolts, corrosion-resistant end plugs, guide rods, and other components with the fender. Test compatibility between mounting holes and accessories to ensure easy installation.
Surface Treatment: Apply warning colors (e.g., black, orange) as required. Select products may feature wear-resistant PE panels.
Packaging & Shipping: Utilize wooden pallets or crates to prevent deformation during transit. Include product inspection reports and installation manuals for direct use at shipyard sites.

Features:

1. Unique W-shaped structure with high energy absorption efficiency
The dual-curved “W” profile design provides over 30% greater contact area than conventional flat fenders during vessel collisions. This evenly distributes impact pressure, reduces localized stress on the hull, and prevents paint scratches or structural damage.
Under pressure, the elastic deformation of the dual curved arms absorbs substantial collision energy with a rebound rate exceeding 90%. During high-frequency operations like berthing and transshipment, it rapidly restores its original shape to sustain continuous cushioning performance.
2. Tough Material + Reinforced Structure: Wear-Resistant, Damage-Resistant, Durable
The main body utilizes a high-proportion natural rubber compound blended with carbon black wear-resistant additives and anti-aging agents. It resists seawater corrosion and UV aging, ensuring stable performance for 5-8 years in outdoor, humid shipyard environments.
Large-sized models incorporate an internal polyester cord reinforcement layer with tensile strength ≥18MPa, delivering outstanding tear and fracture resistance. This structure withstands instantaneous impact forces during vessel berthing and accommodates the demanding operational intensity of heavy-duty shipyard operations.
3. High adaptability for diverse shipyard scenarios
Compact structure with excellent flexibility allows installation on irregular surfaces like ship bows/sterns and corners. Flexible deployment across shipyard berths, floating docks, transfer platforms, and other facilities accommodates various vessels including tugboats, repair ships, and small-to-medium cargo ships.
Supports standalone installation or continuous multi-unit configurations. Customizable protection solutions based on berth length and vessel tonnage meet shipyard demands for simultaneous batch maintenance and centralized berthing.

Technical Parameters:

Applications:

Ship berthing protection: When ships such as tugboats, workboats, and icebreakers are temporarily berthed in the shipyard for maintenance or refitting, installing W - type rubber fenders on the berth edge or the ship's side can avoid collision damage between the ship and the berth, as well as between ships. Especially for the bow and stern of tugboats that often need to pull and push other ships, this fender is a common protective configuration.
Ship launching and transfer assistance: In the process of launching small and medium - sized ships in the shipyard or transferring ships between different berths, the W - type rubber fender can be arranged on the slideway or transfer platform. It buffers the impact force generated during the ship's movement, ensuring the stability of the ship in the process and preventing scratches on the hull.
Protection of shipyard auxiliary facilities: It can also be installed at the corners of the shipyard's wharves, floating docks, and bridge piers in the waters of the shipyard. These positions are prone to collision with ships during operation. The fender can effectively protect these fixed facilities from damage and reduce the maintenance cost of the shipyard.

It is mainly made of natural rubber, and some are mixed with styrene - butadiene rubber. With the addition of carbon black, anti - aging agents, and ultraviolet absorbers, it has strong resistance to seawater corrosion, ultraviolet radiation, and wear. Its common specifications include width of 480 - 600mm, height of 300 - 450mm, and length of 600 - 2400mm. It has excellent impact resistance and can stably absorb impact energy in harsh marine environments.

Support and Services:

After-sales consultation: We provide 24/7 customer service to answer customer questions , such as specification selection, usage methods, and maintenance points.

Regular follow-up visits: The manufacturer may conduct regular follow-up visits to customers to understand the usage and collect customer feedback in order to continuously improve product quality and service levels.

with its excellent quality and attentive service, builds a solid guarantee for your maritime career. Choosing us means choosing safety, efficiency, and worry - free operation. Embark on a new journey of navigation, starting from choosing our fender!

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