Dantec

Dantec was initially founded as a gasket manufacturer by Dan Davies in 1969. The firm supplied its gaskets to the Vauxhall Motors car plant in Ellesmere Port. Dantec was also a distributor of third-party products, including composite hose. The firm began manufacturing composite hose in 1978.

In 2002 Dantec remodelled its business to focus on manufacturing and selling composite hoses. This process was managed by current managing director John Laidlaw who was brought into the firm in 2001 to help rationalise the business. Post 2002 the firm focused greater energy on exports which have increased from 25pc of product sales in 2001 to 70pc in 2011.

In 2004 Dantec founder Dan Davies sold the company to his brother Eric Davies. In 2010 John Laidlaw was joined by co-directors Jon Loach and Derek Connolly in a management buy-out of the company backed by private equity firm Maven Capital Partners. The purchase was completed in September 2011.

On March 1, 2016, the company was acquired by German manufacturer of refueling equipment, Elaflex.

Dantec manufactures a range of composite hoses. Each hose is designed and constructed specifically for its end use. The firm's products include the Danoil petrocarbon hose, the Danchem chemical hose, the Danflon ECTFE and FIRESAFE. Dantec composite hoses are a construction of inner wires, liners, sealing films, covers and an outer wire.

FIRESAFE

Dantec's FIRESAFE hose is fire resistant for in excess of 30 minutes at temperatures up to 1,200 °C. It is designed to carry highly flammable liquids in environments where there is increased risk of explosion.

FIRESAFE is made of a series of specially designed ceramic cloths and heat reflective films which counter the radiant heat effects of fire. This construction allows vapour to burn off slowly as the increased heat of the liquid inside the hose vaporises and seeks to escape. The fire retardant hose remains intact under fire attack and will not forcefully expel its contents.

This construction retains the advantages of composite hose including flexibility and durability.