What Are The Factors That Affect The Price Of Air Expanded Shafts

- Dec 11, 2024-

The core expanable shaft is a special winding and unwinding shaft, which is mainly used to realize the rapid installation, fixing and release of coils in the processing process of paper, film, cloth, metal foil and other coils. Its working principle is to inflate the inside of the shaft body to expand the air bag (usually made of rubber or other elastic materials) on the surface of the shaft, so as to tightly support the inner diameter of the coil and achieve the purpose of fixing the coil; When deflated, the bladder shrinks and the coil can be easily removed from the shaft.

The main types of pneumatic expanable shafts on the market are: slat, key and through-strip, and slip inflatable shafts are more commonly used. Let's take a closer look:
Slat-type inflatable shaft: The expansion part of the slat-type inflatable shaft (inflatable shaft) is a plate, which can be applied to machinery with high winding precision or lighter winding.
Keybar-type inflatable shaft: The expansion part of the key-bar inflatable shaft (air-expansion shaft) is a keybar, which can be applied to items with heavy mechanical winding capacity.
Through-bar inflatable shaft: The expansion part of the through-bar inflatable shaft (inflatable shaft) is a through-length key bar, which has the characteristics of high precision, high load-bearing and light weight.
Slip inflatable shaft: Slip inflatable shaft (inflatable shaft) has been widely used in plastic film, metal foil, paper roll; Slitting and winding of PVC sheet coils.

The main properties of the inflatable shaft:
1) Short inflating operation time:
The separation and placement of the shaft from the paper core or other material takes a very short time, such as 3 seconds or less, to complete the inflation and deflation process.
This efficient inflation allows the inflatable shaft to quickly switch between coils or materials during the production process, increasing production efficiency.
2) Paper core placement is simple:
By inflating and deflating the action, it is easy to move and fix the paper core or other material at any position on the shaft surface.
This flexibility allows the shaft to be used in a wide range of production environments.
3) Cost-effective:
The design of the inflatable shaft is designed for the actual work needs, and it can be applied to various types of coils such as thickness, thinness, width and narrowness.
In the process of use, the inflatable shaft can reduce manual operation time and material waste, and reduce production costs.
4) Long service time and simple maintenance:
As a mechanical component, the inflatable shaft has a fixed specification and interchangeability for each part in its construction, making repair and maintenance easy and convenient.
At the same time, the service life of the inflatable shaft is long, which can reduce the frequency and cost of replacing parts.
5) Wide range of applications:
As an independently designed part, the inflatable shaft is available in a variety of specifications from 1 inch to 12 inches, and the length and size are determined by the actual needs of the customer.
All slitting, printing, rewinding, coating, laminating, bag-making, papermaking and other process equipment or other related center winding machinery can be applied to the inflatable shaft.

The price change of inflatable shaft is affected by the following factors:
Cost factor
1) Raw material cost: The main raw materials of the inflatable shaft include the metal material of the shaft body, the metal or alloy material of the inflatable plate, the rubber material of the airbag, etc. The price of different materials varies greatly, for example, the shaft body made of steel is relatively low, while the shaft body made of aluminum alloy is relatively high, but the weight is lighter and the corrosion resistance is better. If the airbag is made of high-quality rubber, the cost will also increase accordingly, but it can ensure better airtightness and service life.
2) Machining process cost: Complex machining technology will increase the cost of inflatable shaft. For example, high-precision shaft body machining, precision manufacturing of inflatable plates, and special connection processes between airbags and inflatable plates require more advanced equipment and technology, as well as skilled operators, resulting in higher processing costs. Like the surface rotating inflatable shaft, because of the bearing in the shaft body, the manufacturing process is relatively complex, and the price will be higher than that of ordinary inflatable shaft.
Accessories quality cost: The quality of the accessories of the inflatable shaft such as shaft heads, air valves, etc. will also affect the price. Good quality accessories, such as copper shaft heads and high-precision air valves, can improve the overall performance and service life of the inflatable shaft, but the cost will also increase accordingly.
Technical factors
3) R&D investment: Some inflatable shaft manufacturers will invest a lot of money in technology R&D in order to improve the performance and quality of their products. For example, the development of new airbag materials, the improvement of the structural design of the inflatable shaft, etc., these research and development costs will be apportioned to the product price.
4) Patented technology: The price of inflatable shaft products with patented technology tends to be relatively high due to its unique technical advantages and market competitiveness. For example, some inflatable shafts with special clamping mechanisms or automatic control functions are protected by patents and their prices also include the added value of the patented technology.
Market factors
5) Supply and demand: When the demand for the inflatable shaft in the market is greater than the supply, the price will rise; Conversely, when the supply is greater than the demand, the price falls. For example, during the peak season in the printing and packaging industry, the demand for inflatable shafts increases, and the price may rise.
6) Degree of market competition: In a highly competitive market environment, manufacturers will reduce prices in order to compete for market share; In a less competitive or monopolistic market, prices may be on the high side.
7) Brand factor: The inflatable shaft of a well-known brand is usually more guaranteed in terms of quality, performance and after-sales service, so the price will also be relatively high. The level of trust and recognition that consumers place on a brand can affect their acceptance of price.
Product Specifications & Performance
8) Size specification: The larger the diameter and length of the inflatable shaft, the higher the raw material and processing cost required, and the price will rise accordingly. For example, the price of a large size inflatable shaft for large paper machines or printing and dyeing equipment is much higher than that of a small size of an inflatable shaft for small slitting machines.
9) Bearing capacity: Inflatable shafts with strong bearing capacity require a stronger shaft body structure, thicker inflatable plates and higher quality airbags, etc., to ensure that they can work stably when bearing heavy winding materials, so the price will be more expensive.
10) Accuracy requirements: For some industries that require extremely high winding accuracy, such as electronic material production, high-precision inflatable shafts are required. This high-precision inflatable shaft requires more sophisticated machining processes and testing equipment in the manufacturing process, which leads to an increase in cost and a consequent increase in price.
Other factors
11) Packaging & Shipping: The packing requirements and shipping methods of the inflatable shaft will also affect the price. If special packaging materials or packaging methods are required to protect the inflatable shaft from damage during transportation, as well as to choose a faster and safer shipping method, it will increase the cost, which in turn will affect the product price.
12) After-sales service: Providing perfect after-sales service, such as warranty period, maintenance service, technical support, etc., will increase the cost of the manufacturer, and these costs will also be reflected in the product price to a certain extent. High-quality after-sales service can make consumers have no worries after purchasing, but it will also make the price of the inflatable shaft slightly higher than those products with poor after-sales service.