Frequently Asked Questions

GRAYLINE CAPABILITIES

Are you a manufacturer of tubing?

Yes, Grayline has been manufacturing flexible tubing since 1966! As you can guess, there are advantages to buying directly from an ISO 9001:2000 manufacturer of tubing. In addition to understanding how best to service your needs, a manufacturer can work with you to develop custom products for your exact application. Custom color matching, alternative materials, special diameters and wall thicknesses, cut to length parts…..all are possible when buying from Grayline.

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How do you ship your products?

Grayline routinely ships throughout North America and beyond. Our experienced shipping personnel will work with you to get your product where you need it via the most reliable, economical method. Special shipping requirements are always given consideration.

Some customers choose to have their heat shrinkable products shipped via refrigerated truck when deliveries are to be made to particularly hot locations during the summer months, since they do not have total control over the temperature inside the trailer.

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What is your lead-time?

Our standard lead time for products that we manufacture is two weeks. Products that we distribute, such as braided sleeving, may have different lead times, which we can provide prior to placing your order.

However, we may have commonly specified tubing in stock and ready to ship, so please contact Grayline for the current shipping date you can expect.

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Do you inventory common products?

Yes, although much of our business is custom, we do stock some commonly specified tubing. This fact, coupled with our short lead times, allows us to serve our customer’s needs. Please contact Grayline for product availability and lead times.

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Can I have custom tubing manufactured to meet my specific requirements?

Absolutely. Many of our customers have special tubing requirements (material, diameter, wall thickness, color, cut length, etc.) that we meet regularly. Please call Grayline to discuss the needs of your particular application.

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Can you meet special tolerances?

Grayline has standard ID, wall and length tolerances that meet or exceed most application requirements. Requests for tighter than standard tolerances are evaluated by Grayline Engineering and Quality. Using statistical process capability data, we can determine if the special tolerance can be meet. Contact customer service to discuss you special requirements.

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What are your minimum order requirements for custom products?

Because of the very nature of custom manufacturing, we cannot answer this question without learning more about what makes your application unique. A special wall thickness or diameter does not typically require special tooling, and the standard minimum order quantities will usually apply. Please contact Grayline to discuss your custom tubing needs.

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Can you color your tubing to match our requirements?

Yes, in addition to commonly requested colors for which we have coloring pigments in stock, we can also do Pantone color matching or match our tubing to a sample of material that you provide to us. A very wide range of colors is possible, including clear tints and glow-in-the-dark (luminescent). Please contact Grayline to discuss your custom color needs.

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How is PVC tubing colored?

PVC is naturally a clear material. When fillers and certain flame retardants are used, the compound becomes somewhat opaque and is typically an off-white color. To create specific colors, Grayline blends the PVC compound with color concentrates. These concentrates are formulated to provide the specified color.

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Can you cut tubing to length?

Yes, we regularly cut tubing to length for our customers, with cut lengths ranging from 1/8" to 10 feet. As a manufacturer, we cut your non-heat shrinkable tubing using state of the art, high speed cutting equipment in-line during the extrusion process and not from a reel in stock; this means straighter pieces with no curvature or flatness caused by having been stored on a reel prior to cutting.

Heat shrink PVC tubing and polyolefin tubing can also be cut to length.

Often, the time and labor costs saved by a customer who has us cut the tubing, instead of doing it themselves, are significant.

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Can you make tubing with a custom diameter or wall thickness?

Yes, we do it all the time. A special diameter or wall thickness does not typically require special tooling. Please contact Grayline to discuss your custom diameter or wall thickness needs.

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Can I get samples of your tubing before I order?

We are happy to supply you with samples of our tubing for you to test before placing an order. Please contact Grayline to arrange for such samples at no cost to you.

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Can I get tubing with printing or hot stamping?

Yes, printing and hot stamping are available. Grayline has a high-speed inkjet printer for economically marking tubing to customer requirements. Printing is typically performed in-line with extrusion. It can be synchronized with the cutter so that the printing can be either centered on the cut length or dimensioned from the cut face. If the product is reeled, the print frequency can be specified as the center to center distance. The printer is capable of characters from 1/16" to 5/16" tall in up to four lines. Bar codes, serialized numbers and date and time codes are available. Standard ink color is black.

When high quality graphics are required, hot stamping is also available. Hot stamping uses a heated die and colored foil to apply a marking to the tubing. Hot stamping is excellent for printing logos.

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What is your Product Warranty Policy?

Limitations of Warranty:
Grayline, Inc. warrants that products delivered are free from defects in material and workmanship, and meet all specifications that are in effect on the date of shipment, or such other specifications as have been expressly agreed upon in writing, for a period of six (6) months from the date of shipment.

Grayline, Inc. makes no other warranty, expressed or implied.

Grayline, Inc expressly disclaims any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

No person or company is authorized to make oral or written representations on behalf of Grayline, Inc., which exceed the foregoing.

Limitation of Remedy:
The buyer’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be for the repair or replacement of any particular defective part provided by Grayline, Inc. The essential purpose of this exclusive remedy shall be deemed satisfied so long as Grayline, Inc. is willing and able to repair or replace defective parts in the manner prescribed in the section below detailing Grayline, Inc.’s Limitation of Liability.

Limitation of Liability:
In no event shall Grayline, Inc.’s liability under any claim exceed the price paid by the buyer to Grayline, Inc. for the particular product or material giving rise to the claim. Grayline, Inc. will not be liable under any circumstances or any theory of claim or liability, including but not limited to, those based on breach of warranty, breach of contract, strict liability, negligence, tort or otherwise, for any consequential, special, incidental or exemplary damages including but not limited to loss of income, loss of profits or sales, loss of use or damage to equipment, excessive or increased costs of operation, labor, substitute products or facilities or claims of third parties.

The provisions of this limited warranty shall supersede any other warranty provision and no other warranty provision shall be binding on Grayline, Inc. unless Grayline, Inc. expressly agrees to such warranty provision in writing.

Buyer shall pay all of Grayline, Inc.’s costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred in enforcing its rights under this agreement, including, without limitation, any action to collect amounts due to Grayline, Inc. under this agreement.

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Can you provide IMDS submissions?

Yes, Grayline can provide IMDS information on request. IMDS stands for the International Material Data System (www.mdsystem.com). It is basically a database available on the web, developed by and for the automotive industry. Suppliers enter information about the substances that comprise the parts they make. This information is then submitted for customers to view and use.

Substances that must be declared are any basic materials that are on the Global Automotive Declarable Substance List (GADSL). This list includes all substances which the automotive industry has determined it needs to know in order to comply with all governmental regulations world-wide.

Grayline maintains entries in this database for most of our products which can be forward to customers upon request. We can also provide other hazardous material reports, if needed.

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TUBING SELECTION

What are the performance differences between PVC and polyolefin tubing?

PVC tubing, available in both heat shrinkable and non-heat shrinkable forms, is a less expensive product that suits many applications quite well and should be your first consideration. In addition to the associated cost savings, it has better clarity in it’s clear form, it is easy to custom color match, and it has good UV, chemical and abrasion resistance. For many applications, this is the best choice. There are a number of different compounds that Grayline offers in the PVC family of products.

Polyolefin heat shrinkable tubing is more costly to produce, but it does have a wider operating temperature range, as well as an extended shelf life and less longitudinal shrinkage. In more demanding applications, the advantages of polyolefin warrant the additional cost.

In addition to these common tubing materials, Grayline also offers tubing manufactured from other materials, such as polyurethane and polyethylene. Please contact Grayline to determine which material is best suited to your application.

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What specifications do your products meet?

Depending upon the exact tubing material selected, Grayline tubing meets many different UL, CSA, ASTM, DIN, automotive, military, European Union and other specifications. Please see our detailed product data sheets or contact Grayline to discuss your specification requirements.

Click here for an explanation of commonly used tubing specifications.

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How does Grayline help to determine what material will best fit my application?

In many cases a standardized specification exists for your application. Grayline offers tubing to meet these, including UL, CSA, ASTM, RoHS, and numerous automotive and military specifications. If a specific mechanical, electrical or chemical property is required, Grayline can examine our extensive test data for the most cost effective material that satisfies your needs. PVC is our most common product, but we also provide tubing in many other thermoplastic materials.

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What if Grayline does not have a material that meets my specifications?

Grayline has a team of engineers that will work with our material suppliers to develop a new blend of raw materials. Blending different stabilizers, plasticizers, resins lubricants, anti-fungal or other additives can modify the properties of the tubing to meet you needs.

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Can you cross-reference your products with other brands?

Yes, please either contact Grayline for assistance, or click here to use our web site cross referencing tool.

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How do I measure the ID (Inside Diameter) of my tubing?

Because it is flexible, the best way to measure the inside diameter (ID) of Grayline tubing is to use gage pins. However, even with the use of gage pins, there is a bit of subjectivity to the measurement, as one person can apply more or less force than another person to insert a pin, while stretching the tubing to do so. Some people will wet the tubing before inserting the pin, in order to reduce sliding friction between the pin and the inside wall of the tubing.

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How do I select the correct size of heat shrinkable tubing for my application?

Heat shrinkable tubing is supplied in an expanded state that recovers to its original size (smaller diameter and thicker wall) upon application of heat. The nominal size of heat shrinkable tubing is the minimum inside diameter that the tubing will have when it is supplied to you in its expanded state. The recovered size of the tubing is the maximum inside diameter that the tubing will have if it is allowed to recover fully. The nominal recovered wall thickness is the wall thickness that would result if the tubing were allowed to recover fully. If your application does not allow for full recovery, the actual recovered wall thickness will be less than the nominal recovered wall thickness.

For example, if you specify 1/2" HS 105C PVC heat shrinkable tubing (a product which has a nominal 2:1 shrink ratio) with a standard 0.025" wall, it will be supplied to you with an expanded inside diameter of at least 0.500", but with a wall much thinner than 0.025". If heat were applied and it were allowed to fully recover, it would shrink down to an inside diameter of 0.250" or less, and it would have a wall thickness of at least 0.025". Of course, the actual recovered diameter is determined by your application, and if your application does not allow for full recovery, the actual recovered wall thickness will be less than the nominal recovered wall thickness.

As a general guideline, you may choose to select a tubing size that will shrink to approximately 70% of its expanded diameter when fully recovered in your application.

For example, if your application will allow the heat shrinkable tubing to recover to a final diameter of 0.435", you could select a nominal size of 5/8", since 0.435"/0.625" = 0.70.

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How do I allow for longitudinal shrinkage of heat shrinkable tubing that is cut to length for me?

When heat shrinkable tubing is recovered upon application of heat, it primarily shrinks in diameter. However, there is a longitudinal shrinkage that takes place as well. This longitudinal shrinkage can vary, depending upon the amount of recovery that is allowed to take place in your application, but most PVC products have longitudinal shrinkage of approximately 10%, and most polyolefin products have longitudinal shrinkage of approximately 5%. When specifying the cut length of heat shrinkable tubing, be sure to allow for such longitudinal shrinkage. If desired, samples can be provided for you to test in your exact application. Please contact Grayline to obtain samples or to assist you in determining the proper cut length for your application.

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How should I store my tubing, and is there a shelf life issue?

Grayline HS 105C heat shrinkable PVC tubing is heat sensitive and must be stored below 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) and out of direct sunlight to avoid premature recovery. Although the recovery process is both time and temperature dependent, storage at the recommended temperatures should eliminate any shelf life concerns.

Grayline heat shrinkable polyolefin tubing has a greater ability to withstand high storage temperatures and there is normally not a shelf life concern, provided normal storage conditions are maintained.

No special storage considerations are necessary for non-heat shrinkable tubing products, including PVC, polyurethane and braided fiberglass sleeving.

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Rev. 3/26/08

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