Flex Matched Ferrules (also known as Joiners)
This is a tapered, high-strength injection-molded ferrule. By making the stiffness at the tip of the ferrule the same as our fiberglass rods, we have been able to almost completely eliminate the stress concentration typically experienced at the end of the ferrule.
These are joiners, also known as ferrules, designed to join fiberglass rods and tubes.
Traditionally, steel or aluminium tubes have been used to join pultruded rods and tubes:
So why Flex-Matched?
- Metal joiners are much stiffer than the fiberglass rods. This causes a huge stress concentration at the entrance and the metal tends to bite into the rods, damaging them and severely limiting their lifespan. This is particularly problematic at elevated temperatures (greater than 55°C). The Flex-Matched Ferrule eliminates this problem at room temperature and increases the temperature tolerance of a joined rod. For example: a 6mm Vinyl Ester Glass Rod with a steel ferrule, bent in a circle of 800mm diameter, will fail at the ferrule at around 55°C. The same rod with a Flex-Matched Ferrule fails at around 80°C.
- They look better, as they bend or flex in a similar way to our fiberglass solid rods.
- Being made from very high quality injection molded fiber reinforced plastic, they are extremely tough and will never corrode.
Stock sizes available
| Nominal size | Fit (ID) | Fit type |
|---|---|---|
| 3mm to 3mm | 3.2mm ID | Loose fit at both ends |
| 4mm to 4mm | 4.2mm ID | Loose fit at both ends |
| 5mm to 5mm | 5.2mm ID | Loose fit at both ends |
| 6mm to 6mm | 6.3mm ID | Loose fit at both ends |
Interference-fit sizes kept in stock:
The larger-size Flex-Matched Ferrules are designed to be a press/interference fit on one side and a loose fit on the other. The smaller side needs to be heated and pressed onto the rod — we do offer the service of cutting rods to length and fitting a ferrule this way. The Flex-Matched Ferrule becomes permanently attached to its rod on one side. In the table below, the left size is the nominal size of the rod the ferrule is fitted onto; the right number is the ID (inside diameter) of the ferrule hole for a loose fit.
| Nominal size → loose-fit ID | Body | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7mm to 7.2mm | E Body | |
| 8mm to 8.2mm | D Body | |
| 10mm to 10.2mm | C Body | |
| 11mm to 11.2mm | B Body | |
| 12mm to 12.2mm | B Body | |
| 14.6mm to 15mm | A Body | Fits 14.6mm round rod and the X-profile rod. Note: the 14.6–15 matches the X-profile stiffness, not the 14.6mm solid bar stiffness. |
Stepped-size Flex-Matched Ferrules
Our Flex-Matched Ferrule bodies can also be used to join rods or tubes of different sizes — for example an 8mm to 14.6mm, or a 10mm to 12mm. These stepped sizes are custom made to order using the same injection mold cavities but with different-sized holes down the center. When used to join different-size rods, the flex can no longer match both rods, since these are very different.”
“Further customization available: the larger 7mm-and-up sizes are based on 5 body sizes, labelled A, B, C, D, E (biggest to smallest). In some applications it may not be necessary to match stiffness exactly — bigger holes than the standard sizes above can be made down the center. For example: the standard Flex-Matched range uses a large A-size body with a 14.6-to-15 hole through the middle to match the stiffness of an X-profile. To make a 14.6-to-8 reducing ferrule, a B or even C size body can be used with the same hole — the large A body isn’t needed, since only the 8mm’s stiffness needs matching, so a C body with a 15-to-8mm hole works
Stepped Ferrule Sizes currently stocked
15mm to 8mm in a C body (an interference fit on the 8mm side, loose fit on the 14.6/X rod side).
Please contact us for different sizes; stocked sizes will be added as demand develops.
Adapters
Adapters join rods and tubes of different profiles or sizes together, so a fibreglass X-profile or solid rod can connect into a standard aluminium or GRP tube pole system.
A01000 — Adapter X/8/10mm to 25.4×23 Ali Tube
Joins fibreglass X-profile rod or 8/10mm solid rod to standard 25.4mm aluminium tube.
A01005 — Adapter X/8/10mm to 19×16.2 Ali Tube
Joins fibreglass X-profile rod or 8/10mm solid rod to 19mm aluminium tube.
A01010 — Adapter X to 24.3×20.2 GRP Tube
Joins X-profile rod into standard V3 base pole tube.
A01015 — Adapter 15mm Rod to 24.3×20.2 GRP Tube
Joins 15mm UD rod into 24.3 x 20.2 Pulwound tube ( standard V3 base pole tube).
A01050 — Adapter 24.3×20.2 Tube Joiner (tube to tube)
Joins two 24.3×20.2mm GRP tubes together end-to-end. Used in XL 6m builds between B33000 and B33010.
Brackets
Joiners are already covered under Flex Matched Ferrules above (Section 1) — everything here is the separate family of arm brackets used to build a banner’s top and bottom arms
A01260 — Top Arm Bracket
Plastic bracket that clips onto an 8mm rod tip to form the top arm of Feather and Telescopic banners. Used on both V2 and V3 pole systems.
A01215 — Bottom Arm Bracket — 15mm (V2)
Plastic bracket that takes a 6mm rod to form the bottom arm ofa Feather. Wing , Telescopic ,Sharkfin or any banner that needs a rectaungular bottom held open. This fits onto a 15 mm UD upright pole.
A01224 — Bottom Arm Bracket — 24.3mm (V3)
Plastic bracket that takes an 8mm rod to form the bottom arm of Feather, Wing, Telescopic. Sharkfin banners or any banner with a rectangular bottom using a 24.3 mm x 20.2 upright tube (Used on the V3 (24.3×20.2 tube) pole system). The downward pull of the tensioning rope is spread along the bottom of the flag instead of point loading on the band . This gives a much flatter less creased fabric ‘ This is designed to work with a ratchet pulley and has 12 mm slots to take a 12 mm webbing strap. The 8 mm arm is angled 5 deg downward for improved fabric tension.
A01212 — Bottom Arm Bracket — 12mm (V3-Small)
Plastic bracket that takes a 6mm bottom rod to form the bottom arm of Feather, Wing, Telescopic ,Sharkfin or any banner that needs a rectaungular bottom held open. This fits onto a 12 mm UD upright pole. Used for Small banners ( 2.2m ) on the V3-Small pole system.
Twist lock fittings
NEW ! COMING SHORTLY. An exciting fitting that allows telescopic adjustment of the 20 mm tube inside a 24.3 x 20.2 mm tube. This is a complete rethink of how these grippers work . Watch this space.
Tube End caps with internal gripper and rod tips
Tube End caps ( with Internal grippers)
Our tube end caps fit onto the top of our 20 x 15.2mm and 24.3 x 20.2mm Pulwound tubes (see Fibreglass Rods & Tubes).
They do three jobs in one :
Finish — caps finish off the open tube end neatly.
Strengthen — reinforces the top of the tube, which takes the most knocks and wear.
Grip and seal — an internal rubber gripper does two things at once: it grips the inner tube in a friction fit so joined tube sections stay together and don’t easily fall apart inside the banner fabric band when pulled out, and it keeps sand out of the joint so the tubes don’t bind or jam with grit — especially useful for beach use.
Sizes available:
20mm cap — part code C01020
24.3mm cap — part code C01024
Bonus use:
Painter’s extension pole. The 24.3mm tubes (1.39m lengths) join together into a lightweight, surprisingly stiff strong extension arm — the same friction-fit rubber ring that holds banner poles together does the job here too. We’ve joined 5 tubes with a paint roller on top: a 7m-high reach for painting high walls.
Rod End Caps
We also make two small rounded caps that glue onto the tip of our solid 6mm and 8mm fibreglass rods, giving a smooth, finished end.
- 6mm rod cap — part code A01255 — rounded to a 9mm diameter tip
- 8mm rod cap — part code A01250 — rounded to a 12mm diameter tip
Tapered Tip Cap (4 mm)
For rods with a tapered 4mm tips — used on Flying, Wing, Sharkfin and Teardrop shaped banners with tapered tips — we developed a dedicated cap with an oblong 12.7 x 9.8mm cross-section and a blended, rounded end: part code T01260. Its job is to stop the thin 4mm tip from pushing through and wearing a hole in the banner fabric band. This one small part extends the working life of the banner fabric by orders of magnitude.
