Any Media Bellows

Our metal bellows expansion joints are engineered to handle any media, including gas, steam, water, saltwater, oil, aggressive chemicals and molten fluids. Built with corrosion-resistant alloys such as Inconel, Incoloy, Monel, Hastelloy, titanium or aluminium, these partly or non-ferrous bellows ensure reliable performance in demanding environments. Suitable for any applications, from chemical processing to metallurgy, HVAC to energy, they offer maximum durability and capability.

Request a quote • Send your specifications • Talk to an engineer

What 'Any Media Bellows' Means

What “Any Media Bellows” means

“Any Media Bellows” refers to our capability to design bellows that are compatible with the media they carry, including:

Steam and condensate
Hot exhaust gas and flue gas
Air and inert gases
Oil, fuel and hydrocarbons
Water, slurry and particulate-laden media
Aggressive chemicals and corrosive fluids

Media compatibility directly affects material choice, bellows construction, liner design, corrosion allowance and fatigue life. This page focuses on getting those decisions right.

Typical applications by media type

Water

Freshwater, saltwater, wastewater, HVAC and more
Rubber or metal bellows

Liquids & hydrocarbons

Oil, fuel and process liquids in industrial pipework
Metal or rubber bellows selected to manage pressure and vibration

Molten solids

Molten plastics
High-temperature-resistant metal bellows

Steam & condensate

Boiler connections, turbine pipework, condensate lines
High-temperature metal expansion bellows with fatigue-rated designs

Cryogenic fluids

Liquified natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LGP)
Nickel alloy expansion joints

Powdered solids

Cement, lime and mineral powders
Corrosion-resistant metal bellows

Exhaust & flue gas

Engine exhaust bellows, turbine exhaust, ducting
Metal bellows or fabric bellows depending on pressure and temperature

Chemical & corrosive media

Acids, solvents and aggressive fluids
PTFE bellows or lined designs to protect metallic components

Live personnel

Human transfer-under-pressure systems such as submarine rescue
Pressurised metal expansion joints

Bellows Types Selected By Media

We select the ideal material depending on the media:

Metal Bellows

Steam, gas, exhaust, oil, chemicals, more Ideal for steam, exhaust gas, high-temperature air and hydrocarbon service Used in metal expansion joints for power, LNG, marine and industrial pipework

Rubber Bellows

Water, mild chemicals Suitable for water, cooling systems, HVAC, and some mild chemical duties Excellent for noise and vibration reduction

Fabric Bellows

Hot gas, low pressure Designed for flue gas, hot air and exhaust ducting Common in power generation, CHP and industrial ventilation systems

PTFE Bellows

Aggressive chemicals Used for corrosive, high-purity or chemically aggressive media Suitable for chemical processing, pharmaceutical and specialist plants

Engineering Support & Validation

Customising the correct bellows for the correct media is not just about selecting the correct materials.

One must also consider:

Engineering review of media, duty cycle and failure modes
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) where fatigue or stress is critical
Advice on pipework layout, guides and anchors to prevent overload
Integration with testing and inspection requirements where specified
And many other contextual factors

Meticulously approaching these issues reduces risk of premature failures caused by corrosion, erosion or unexpected loading.

Media-Focused Specifications

Specifications we would require from you would include:

Process media (including composition, concentration and contaminants)
Operating and design temperature
Operating and design pressure
Required movement (axial, lateral, angular) and cycle life
Any cleanliness, purity or contamination requirements
Preferred bellows type if known (metal, rubber, fabric, PTFE)
Required standards, approvals or testing

Send a drawing, datasheet or basic description and our engineers will recommend a bellows solution compatible with your media.

FAQS About 'Any Environment Bellows'

How do you choose the right material for my media? We assess chemical compatibility, temperature, pressure and cycle requirements before selecting materials and bellows construction.

Can metal bellows be used with corrosive media? In some cases, yes, using appropriate alloys or liners. For aggressive chemicals, PTFE bellows are often more suitable.

Do you design bellows for dirty or abrasive media? Yes. For abrasive or particulate-laden media we consider liners, material thickness and geometry to minimise erosion.

Can one bellows handle multiple media? If operating conditions vary, we design to the worst-case media to ensure safe operation across all scenarios.

Read more FAQs here

Any Size

We manufacture bellows expansion joints – from synthetic materials, stainless steels or high-performance alloys – in any size to meet your specific application needs. Whether for large industrial ducting or compact systems, our custom-designed bellows ensure micro-flexibility, thermal expansion compensation, pressure-resistance and vibration control in demanding industries such as power generation, petrochemical, industrial piping systems and more.

Any Environment

Designed to perform in any environment, our metal bellows expansion joints withstand extreme heat, vacuum, pressure, vibrations, chemicals and mechanical stress, customised for superior flexibility, longevity, capability, reliability and system protection. Built from the highest-grade alloys, and synthetic materials, they will last in demanding industries such as power generation, chemical processing, marine systems and more, with no need to discard well into the future.

Custom-Engineering & Bespoke Design

We offer custom engineering and bespoke design for bellows and expansion joints tailored to your unique specifications. Our team provides advanced design, materials expertise and precision fabrication for demanding environments. From simple to complex, vacuum to high-pressure, cryogenic to high-temperature, small diameter or very large (>12m), thin multi-ply or thick-wall, we deliver engineered-to-order expansion joint solutions optimized for safety, durability and performance.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Our Finite Element Analysis (FEA) service delivers precise simulation of bellows and expansion joints. Using advanced software, we analyse stress, thermal load, vibration and fatigue conditions to verify strength, durability and performance. FEA ensures code compliance, optimal design and failure prevention for high-pressure, high-temperature and movement-critical piping systems.