Aah, summer.
Boating on the lake. Riding the ATV trails. Mowing the lawn. Landscaping around the house.
Whatever summer activity you enjoy, if it involves the use of fuel, it may include tubing from Finger Lakes Extrusion.
Our FuelFLEX™ 65 product line is made in America for use with petroleum-based products. Its translucent yellow color identifies it as a fuel line while allowing the user to monitor flow.
On land
Anyone who has ever poured gas into their lawnmower or trimmer knows it’s not always an easy – or clean – task.
Years ago, the EPA issued new rules requiring portable fuel containers to meet performance standards for spill-proof systems.
Finger Lakes Extrusion makes part of the flexible spout extension sold by No-Spill®, a company that designs and manufactures gas cans available at stores across the country.
FuelFLEX™ 65 makes fuel easier to transfer and harder to spill.
Our tubing is also found in internal fuel lines in small engines, from lawnmowers to chainsaws to off-road vehicles used for landscaping, groundskeeping or recreation. If you’ve ever taken yours in for repairs or tune-ups, your local shop could be using our products.
On water
Preventing spills and waste is also important to protecting our lakes and waterways.
“As a company with a deep commitment to the environment, this is a benefit that’s very important to us,” said Erica Wright, Finger Lakes Extrusion VP. “Performance plastics offer a big advantage when it comes to environmental responsibility.”
Flexible plastic tubing is especially useful for hard-to-reach applications.
Fuel tubes are commonly used in fuel transfer systems and siphons, such as those used to fill the gas tank in a boat. These products eliminate the need to hold a gas can over water, therefore preventing fuel from spilling into the lake. The tubing runs from the unit directly into the tank.
“When we take our 5-gallon gas can down to the lake to fill our boat, we use a siphon. One, we don’t have to hold that heavy 5-gallon can, and two, we’re not going to spill any gas into the lake,” added Wright.
Undersea
At Finger Lakes Extrusion, we will go to any depth to satisfy our customers.
Our tubing is a component of underwater remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, that are used in the subsea oil and gas industry to inspect and maintain deepwater wells.
These unoccupied, highly-specialized robots ensure the safety of their human operators at the surface. ROVs can travel to deeper areas where manned diving is not possible or practical, and can stay underwater longer than a human diver, making operations more efficient.
In the plant
FuelFLEX™ 65 is also designed for use with petroleum-based oils and lubricants on the factory floor.
We supply a customer that sells components for industrial sewing machines in the textile industry. Our tubing is part of the built-in lubrication system and helps deliver the oil that keeps the needle lubricated and functioning.
Fuel tubing is also an essential component in metalworking, transferring cutting fluids and coolants to milling machines.
Engineered for performance
Our products are engineered for high performance.
Plasticizer is a substance that is added to plastic to make it flexible. We use a special plasticizer to manufacture FuelFLEX™ 65 that gives it a higher resistance to ethanol and a longer shelf life than traditional PVC fuel tubes. It also makes this tubing less likely to swell, harden or crack.
FuelFLEX™ 65 is a cost-effective option for customers and complies with all applicable environmental requirements including REACH, RoHS and Proposition 65.
“Where our company really stands out is in our customization and customer service. We can cut the tubing to the size you need. We can print on it. We can save you time,” said Wright.