A versatile and high-performance product, bungee cord can be used in lots of different industries. Its unique combination of elasticity and strength makes it a great choice for many applications.
To ensure their effectiveness, durability, and safety, it is essential to select them carefully according to their intended use. Dimensions, materials, manufacturing processes, customization… Here are all the criteria to consider when choosing a bungee cord that suits your needs.
Function and use of a bungee cord
A bungee cord is an elastic cable often composed of a rubber core and a textile cover with various termination options (hook, swivel end, etc.).
It performs a supporting, tensioning, or fastening function. It must therefore meet various mechanical characteristics (strength, elongation, resistance, etc.) in order to perform its final function.
Common applications of elastic bungee cords
Bungee cords for pool covers
Bungee cords are widely used to secure tarpaulins in outdoor applications.
In winter, installing a cover is essential to protect a pool from dirt, leaves, and other outdoor elements. To be effective, a pool cover must be securely fastened, with optimal tension to ensure complete safety.
Pool cover bungee cords must withstand constant exposure to moisture and low temperatures, maintaining their elasticity and functionality throughout the year. They must also be resistant to chlorine and UV rays.
The FIX COVER® bungee cord, a result of Eurosandow’s research, is a technical bungee cord dedicated to fastening pool covers. The bungee cord is covered with polyethylene, providing additional protection against moisture, chemicals, and general wear and tear.
Bungee cords for securing loads
Bungee cords and elastic tensioners are commonly used for securing loads, particularly in the transportation and logistics sectors. Thanks to their elasticity and shock-absorbing properties, they reliably hold goods in place, reducing the risk of movement or damage during transport. These solutions are particularly suitable for trucks, trailers, containers, and storage racks.
Beyond transport, bungee cords are also used in many industrial applications. For example, they are used to hold tarpaulins in place and secure equipment.
Bungee cords for POS displays and packaging
Bungee cords and tensioners are also used by packaging and retail professionals. Tensioners can be used to secure and stabilize products and packaging.
Technical characteristics of a tensioning bungee cord
Define the elongation and the restoring force
Choice of materials
Dimensions of a bungee cord
Unlike a rope, which is designed to support a load, an elastic band deforms to perform a specific function before returning to its original shape.
A product such as a bungee cord, for example, is designed to absorb a certain amount of deformation and respond to a specific force and stress.
When designing the product, the elongation and the restoring force required to stretch the elastic band are defined in order to perfectly meet a given use.
The elastic therefore deforms up to a certain threshold, beyond which there is a high risk of it tearing. It is in this sense that the term “resistance” cannot be applied. It is therefore important to use an elastic that is suitable and designed to perfectly meet the required application.
In order to choose the right product, it is important to determine the specific need it must meet. Based on the identified need, the elongation and force parameters required to achieve the desired deformation must be defined.
Depending on the final application of the product and the parameters defined during the design phase, our teams can then advise you on the most appropriate material and dimensions.
Several materials can be used to manufacture a bungee cord. The cover of the tensioner can be made from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, cotton, polyamide, etc.
Some bungee cords that must meet specific requirements can also be designed with technical materials such as Kevlar, aramid, fiberglass, copper, and Technora.
The core of the tensioner, on the other hand, can be made from natural latex, Fulflex, elastane, or EPDM elastomer, depending on the end use of the product.
Choosing the right size bungee cord is crucial to ensuring its performance and durability for its intended use. Two main criteria come into play: the diameter of the bungee cord and its length.
For applications such as securing pool covers, the diameter of the bungee cord will depend on the type of cover to be secured. For example, for a winter cover, a bungee cord with a diameter of 9 mm will be more suitable.
In industry, bungee cords can be used to hold heavy loads. In these cases, a product with a sufficient diameter should be chosen. Our “Géant Pro” range of bungee cords is more suitable for this purpose, with cords measuring 12 mm in diameter.
On the other hand, for applications such as signage and point-of-sale displays, bungee cords measuring 6 mm in diameter are sufficient.
Choice of manufacturing process
Several manufacturing techniques can be used to make a bungee cord, including braiding or weaving.
Braiding remains the most widely used manufacturing process for making bungee cords today. This technique involves wrapping a central material (natural latex, synthetic rubber, elastane, etc.) called the “core” with textile threads using a precise rotation of thread spools.
How are our bungee cords made?
Once the technical characteristics of the product have been defined and the manufacturing process selected, our teams proceed with the winding operations. The weft threads are wound onto the bobbins.
The textile spools and the rubber that forms the core of the bungee cord are then placed on the braiding machine. The cable output speed and rubber tension are then adjusted. These parameters are essential to ensure that the final bungee cord perfectly matches the mechanical properties defined during its design: elasticity, tensile strength, elongation, and durability.
Our cutting-edge machinery, consisting of more than 150 braiding machines, operates continuously at our production site in Saint-Étienne. This industrial capacity allows us to meet a wide range of demands, from small to large production runs, while ensuring consistent, controlled quality.
How can the quality and safety of a bungee cord be guaranteed?
The quality and safety of a bungee cord depend on a series of rigorous checks at every stage of its manufacture.
All products designed in our factories, whether in France or in Romania, are tracked throughout the production process.
Thanks to our ERP system, we are able to ensure complete traceability for each product. This enables us to precisely identify the batches of components used, the machine on which the product was manufactured, and even the operator who supervised its manufacture.
The rigorous quality control process we apply to finished products, through various tests, allows us to ensure that they comply with the technical specifications defined during the design stage.
Several quality tests can be performed on tensioners:
- Flammability tests
- Odour tests
- Fogging
- Sweat tests
- Ageing
- Strength and elongation
- Breaking strength
- Fatigue tests
Unless otherwise specified, our products should not be used beyond 75% elastic elongation. Our products should be used with common sense and without taking unnecessary risks. Our products should no longer be used if visible wear is detected.