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Featherlight cylinders

extra customisation

CTS offers a unique opportunity to customize your cylinder, not only by choosing the color of the available sleeves, the end finish, or the addition of many accessories, but also by installing additional stickers, custom paint colors, custom nozzles, and more.

We differentiate ourselves from the competition by meeting with the end client to discuss and explore options, then creating a feasibility plan. If you have an idea, just ask us and we’ll make it happen.

- The main features of our cylinders -

They are “TYPE 4”: this means that are made out of composite material, carbon fiber and epoxy resin, and underneath an ultralight liner made of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
Built according to EN12245 and ISO11119-3 standards
NON-LIMITED LIFE
For Firefighting, Diving, Industrial and Hydrogen applications
They are certified according to European Pressure Equipment Directive PED 2014/68/EU (CE), European Pressure Directive T- PED 2010/35/EU (π); US - D.O.T. approved

LIGHTNESS

CTS cylinders are 4 times lighter than the corresponding steel cylinders and 30% lighter than composite cylinders with an aluminium inner core

NON LIMITED LIFE

Generally, cylinders are marked with their lifetime. This number means that from the date of initial testing, the cylinder must be thrown away (even if still functional) after the years indicated.

CTS has designed cylinders that avoid this waste of raw materials, as CTS cylinders do not have an imposed limit. This does not mean that the cylinder will last indefinitely, but that it does not have a fixed term and will only be thrown away when it is no longer functional.

To be approved for unlimited life, in accordance with EN12245 or ISO 11119-3, the cylinder must pass 12000 continuous charge and discharge cycles (cyclic testing) from 30 bar to the test pressure (1,5 times working pressure). A limited-life cylinder, on the other hand, is designed to survive a smaller number of cycles.

Exceptional RESISTANCE

Among the tests to be carried out according to the standards are:
– Burst test (the burst test must be more than 3 times the working pressure)
– Cyclic test (in order for the cylinder to be defined as having unlimited life, it must pass 12,000 cycles at the test pressure, i.e. at 1.5 times working pressure)
– Salt water immersion test (one cylinder must pass the burst test and another the cyclic test after being immersed 90 days in water and salt).
– Fire test (cylinder, loaded with air at working pressure, immersed in flames must not burst within 2 minutes).
– Flaw test (two cylinders are notched according to dimensions prescribed by the standard, then one is subjected to the burst test and must exceed 2 times working pressure, while the other is subjected to a cyclic test and must exceed 5,000 cycles at working pressure).
– Hydrostatic test, test performed on all cylinders (each cylinder must be pressurised with water to 1.5 times working pressure and held for at least 30 seconds in that condition)
– Drop test (two cylinders are dropped from a height of 120 cm 8 times, in different positions. One is then subjected to the burst test, while the other is subjected to the cyclic test.

SAFETY guaranteed

CTS goes beyond the requirements of the standard and, to ensure the safety and reliability of its cylinders, regularly performs a series of additional tests:
– Cyclic air fast-fill test, a test performed during the design phase and then on a sample basis on manufactured cylinders (fast filling from 0 bar to 330 bar in less than 60 seconds with air).
– Burst test after cyclic test, test carried out in the design phase and then by sampling on produced cylinders (cylinder subjected to cyclic test and after approx. 12,500 cycles is subjected to bursting, criteria as per standard).
– Low-pressure leak test, test performed on all cylinders (cylinder is loaded with air at 5 bar pressure and then its correct tightness is verified by immersion in soapy water).
– High-pressure leak test, test performed on all cylinders (cylinder is loaded with air at working pressure and then its correct tightness is verified by immersion in soapy water).

BARRIER EFFECT

CTS cylinders meet the requirements of EN 12245 and ISO 11119-3 by a wide margin, and this is due to the unique design and the special PET ‘blend’ of the inner liner

High CORROSION Resistance

The classic problem of oxidation of the inner core, with the very dangerous risk of valve clogging, in CTS cylinders is averted by the use of PET instead of traditional metals.

Easy to CLEAN and SANITISE

A simple cloth soaked in alcohol or non-toxic detergent is all that is needed to easily clean the canisters; hygienisation is also simplified thanks to the screw nozzles made of special anodised aluminium alloys.

Easy MAINTENANCE

Design features such as the carbon fibre and resin composite structure, the PET core, the special caps and sheats, and the interchangeable nozzle, greatly simplify any maintenance work

CUSTOMIZATION

CTS carbon fibre cylinders are adaptable to satisfy the most different needs and requirements for the use of compressed gases. Please present us your requests and we will be glad to propose a customised solution

two type of finishings

↪ Fibreglass cover

The fibreglass cover consists of a single circumferential wrap of highly durable glass immersed in the same epoxy resin used for structural carbon wrapping to optimise the adhesion between the two materials with undeniable advantages on the protection of the information label. Subsequently, the layer is coated with a special fireproof paint to protect the cylinder even when directly exposed to flame and under the most extreme conditions.

Advantages: durable and resistant, aesthetically pleasing.

Suitable for most applications due to its durability.
Not recommended in situations where it is deemed necessary to remove and replace the outermost layer of the cylinder

↪ Heat-shrink sleeves

Our heat-shrink sleeves are designed and engineered to withstand high temperatures and prevent the spread of flame so as to protect the cylinder in the most dangerous situations. They also allow quick and easy repair or decontamination of the cylinder from possible hazardous substances deposited during its use by replacing them.

Advantages: wide possibility of customisation, even after purchase.

Suitable for situations where the cylinder is more prone to impact or fire, as rework is quick and easy.
Not recommended for UW applications, as water can penetrate between the liners.

what does type 4 mean?

fire

diving

ind

Firefighting and rescue

Diving

Hydrogen

Industry

Faq

I need a cylinder for underwater use, which model should I choose?

CTS cylinders have small corrosion problems compared to metal cylinders, as the only component subject to corrosion is the nozzle. CTS has chosen 3 materials for its nozzles: aluminium, AISI 316L and AISI 904L.

The aluminium nozzle is fitted on most CTS cylinders. Until a few years ago, it was also used for underwater use. Over the years, however, we have realised that aluminium nozzles can be corroded if the end user does not use them very well (cleaning, being careful not to damage them…).

Therefore, since the military or fire brigade cannot be so careful, we decided to approve cylinder models with AISI 316L or AISI 904L stainless steel nozzles for SCUBA diving cylinders.

The AISI 316L nozzle is now our standard for SCUBA, while the AISI 904L nozzle is designed for military applications where the absence of residual and detectable magnetism is required.

If I order a cylinder with a valve, how do I ensure correct assembly?

CTS can issue two types of documents for valve assembly.

The first type is the certificate of correct assembly, which is a certificate drafted by CTS without the Notified Body.

In this certificate CTS confirms that the valve has been screwed correctly on the cylinder and the assembly cylinder + valve has been tested at leak test. This certificate is released by CTS whenever we send a cylinder with a mounted valve to the customer, we can draft this certificate for any cylinder model assembled with any DIN300 valve.

The second type is the PED assembly certificate. It is a certificate drafted by CTS and APPROVED by the Notified Body.

In this certificate the Notified Body confirms that the assembly of a specific cylinder model + a specific valve model is PED approved. To have this approval CTS has to draft a technical dossier with risk analysis, a technical drawing of the cylinder + valve assembly, and perform a testing procedure under the Notified Body witness. The cylinder model and the valve are decided with the customer, if either one changes, the PED assembly must be re-certified. In addition, the valve must be PED marked.

If I order a cylinder, what documents will I receive?

On receipt of the invoice, the customer will receive the Declaration of Conformity as per the PED directive signed and stamped by the CTS representative, and the Testing Certificate, which certifies that the hydraulic test required by current regulations has been passed, stamped and signed by the inspector of the notified body and the CTS representative.

Each cylinder is also shipped with a quick start guide, which summarises the first and most important cylinder operations. It does not pretend to be exhaustive, in fact full manuals for use, maintenance, inspection and retesting are available on this website.

I have to ship a cylinder, what do I need to know?

Cylinders can be shipped either empty or filled. If they have an internal pressure greater than 2 bar (29 psi) they must be handled as hazardous material, otherwise they are handled normally.

Type 4 cylinders should always maintain a minimum internal pressure in order to keep the inner liner clean and hygienic.

However, this is not possible in the case of shipment by air, as IATA regulations do not allow transport under any pressure, so the cylinder must remain empty throughout the entire journey.

Can CTS cylinders be shipped by air?

CTS cylinders can be shipped by air, but with some precaution. The IATA regulation (Internationa regulation for air transport) states that the air transport of compressed gases is always to be considered, and must always be handled, as a dangerous material transport, even if the cylinders are stored at a pressure of only 2 bar. For this reason the cylinder must travel without any internal pressure.

In order to preserve the hygiene of the internal liner during transport, it is advisable to use caps or open valves with anti tampering tape.

Since type IV cylinders should always maintain a minimum internal pressure, where this is not possible (as in air transport) CTS recommends a charge and discharge procedure in the hours following the end of transport. You can find all instructions in the manual.

What customs code do CTS cylinders have? What about the valves alone? Do the customs code change if the valve is mounted on the cylinder?

Our cylinders come with a unique customs code (HS code). After opening its market to the world, CTS requested a specific code from customs, as the existing ones were not suitable for our products.

Following a meeting with customs officers, we created the code 6815.11.00, which can be used for our cylinders, even if equipped with a valve.

If the valve is supplied but not installed on the cylinder, the correct HS code for the valves alone is 8481.20.60.

CTS’s composite cylinder are made with a non-structural PET liner, wrapped with a composite material made of carbon fibres and epoxy resin, which confers the structural and mechanical properties. The plastic liner has the only function to contain the gas. The cylinder comes with rubber protective caps (upper and bottom) which have the purpose of cushioning the impacts. It can also come with protective sleeves, which are intended to protect the composite surface and the label and also work as a flame retardant.