VDA Fittings and ECH Hose Assembly
Stop struggling with VDA fitting assembly—our ECH Hose Assembly Tool eliminates the frustration of forcing fittings into tight-tolerance electronic cooling hose.
Get perfect barb engagement every time with consistent pressure and zero hose damage, so your team can build leak-free e-mobility connections in seconds, not minutes.
Barb-Tech™ ECH Assembly Tool
VDA fittings weren’t designed to be assembled by hand—the tolerances are too tight, the barbs too aggressive, and the hose too rigid.
That’s why we engineered a tool that does what human grip strength can’t: deliver consistent, controlled pressure that seats fittings perfectly without destroying your hose or your operators’ hands.
Turn an impossible task into a repeatable 30-second process.
VDA fittings come in multiple angles and sizes—and generic tooling can’t handle that variability.
The Barb-Tech™ ECH Assembly Tool includes six mandrels specifically engineered to securely cradle each fitting type during installation, preventing rotation, slippage, or damage to the fitting body.
Grip without Compromise
ECH thermoplastic hose has an outer jacket that’s easily damaged by improper clamping—crush marks, surface scoring, and deformation all lead to rejected assemblies and costly rework.
The Barb-Tech™ ECH Tool solves this with three sets of precision-engineered jaws specifically designed for 14mm, 18mm, and 22mm hose diameters. Each jaw set distributes clamping pressure evenly across the hose surface, securing it firmly without compromising the jacket integrity.
Sustained Force, Zero Fatigue
The challenge with VDA fitting installation isn’t just the initial push—it’s maintaining consistent force as the hose expands over multiple barb ridges. Manual assembly requires operators to grip, push, reset their hands, and push again—creating inconsistent insertion depth and exhausting hand strength after just a few assemblies.
The Barb-Tech™ ECH Tool eliminates this start-stop struggle and applies steady, uninterrupted pressure from start to finish.
VDA Style fittings and ECH
Parflex Electronic Coolant Hose (ECH) Hose is a hose product developed by Parker Hannifin for e-mobility as well as a variety of other electronic cooling applications.
Parflex ECH fittings are VDA style connectors that are quickly becoming the standard in E-mobility.
Push to connect VDA fittings provide full flow with no restriction for minimal pressure drops and foolproof push to connect installation for maximum manufacturing efficiency.
The inside diameter (ID) of ECH is nearly the same as the ID of the VDA fittings, for minimal restrictions and maximum flow without high system pressures.
This design creates challenges to push the VDA fittings in the hose as the hose needs to expand significantly to properly engage on the barbed section of the fitting.
To effectively assemble these hose connections requires an effective hose grip system, a way to hold the fittings to prevent damage, and a system to create a steady insertion pressure.
The Barb-Tech™ ECH Hose Assembly Tool is designed to provide all three requirements of ECH hose assembly.
The tool is a portable, lightweight solution to simplify the assembly process of assembling VDA – ECH connections.
HOSE & FITTING COMPATIBILITY
| Parameter | Specifications |
| Hose Sizes Supported | 14mm, 18mm, 22mm (Parker Parflex ECH) |
| Fitting Types | VDA Style Push-to-Connect |
| Fitting Configurations | Straight, 45° Elbow, 90° Elbow |
| Hose Material Compatibility | Thermoplastic (ECH, PA12, ETFE-lined) |
| Insertion Force | 50-60 lbs operator grip strength required |
| Assembly Time | 30 seconds per connection (typical) |
TOOL SPECIFICATIONS
| Specification | Details |
| Tool Weight | 4.2 lbs (1.9 kg) |
| Overall Length | 14.5 inches (368 mm) |
| Handle Type | Ergonomic pistol grip with trigger mechanism |
| Jaw System | Quick-change, tool-free swap (3 size sets included) |
| Mandrel System | Quick-mount (9 mandrels included) |
| Construction | Anodized aluminum body, hardened steel components |
| Warranty | 2-Year Limited Warranty |
KIT CONTENTS
| Component | Description |
| ECH Assembly Tool | Main tool body with handle and clamp system |
| Hose Jaw Sets | 3 quick-change jaws in 14mm, 18mm, 22mm |
| Straight Mandrels | 3 mandrels for 14mm, 18mm, 22mm straight VDA fittings |
| 45° Elbow Mandrels | 3 mandrels for 14mm, 18mm, 22mm 45° Elbow fittings |
| 90° Elbow Mandrels | 3 mandrels for 14mm, 18mm, 22mm 90° Elbow fittings |
| Deburring Tool | For hose end preparation |
| Hard Carrying Case | Protective storage and transport |
| Optional Add-On: Hose Expansion Tool Kit | For pre-expanding hose prior to assembly |