Super Cell Rubber Fenders for High-Energy Berths
We manufacture super cell rubber fenders whose cylindrical cell disperses the berthing energy evenly and absorbs up to 70% of the impact, protecting the largest cargo ships, tankers, and passenger vessels. They come in 13 sizes from 500H to 3000H and in five reaction grades — RE, RS, RH, RO, and RL — so the same energy can be met at the reaction force your quay allows, rated at 52.5% and 55% compression. The body is high-strength natural and synthetic rubber with a low-friction UHMW-PE front pad, a design life of more than 10 years, and manufacture under an ISO 9001 quality management system. We have made marine fenders in Qingdao since 2005, and we size the cell and grade against your berthing energy.
Where Super Cell Rubber Fenders Earn Their Place
Super cell fenders suit high-energy berths for the largest vessels, where you need a lot of energy absorbed and the reaction force tuned to the quay — provided the foundation can take the bolts and the grade is confirmed. We use them on commercial and naval berths and offshore platforms, and we size the cell and the reaction grade from your berthing energy rather than from height alone.
How the cell absorbs energy
The cylindrical cell deflects under the vessel and disperses the energy evenly, absorbing up to 70% of the impact while spreading the load so the hull and dock are not point-loaded. A low-friction UHMW-PE front pad lets the hull slide against the face, reducing wear during the contact.
What sets the cell apart is the choice of reaction grade. The same size is offered in five rubber grades, from ultra-high to low reaction, so we can meet your berthing energy at the reaction force an old or sensitive quay can take — rather than forcing one fixed reaction on every berth.
Why a cell over a cone or cylindrical fender. The cell delivers high energy in a compact, single-cell unit and lets you tune the reaction force through the rubber grade, which suits high-energy berths with a tight reaction limit. For very high energy at low reaction a super cone is the alternative; for simple, low-energy berths a cylindrical fender is simpler and cheaper.
Commercial ports & terminals
High energy absorption for the largest cargo, container, and passenger vessels, dispersing the berthing force to protect hull and quay.
Military & naval facilities
Large naval vessels and submarines, handled with high impact capacity and corrosion-resistant rubber for long, stable service.
Offshore platforms & oil and gas
Protecting platforms against vessel impact in harsh sea states, with UV and seawater resistance for a design life over 10 years.
Reaction Grades, Energy & Angular Correction
Super cell fenders are selected on berthing energy, then on the reaction grade that keeps reaction force within the quay’s limit. The table gives the reaction force for each grade and the energy absorption at the rated 52.5% compression; a maximum 55% compression table is also available. All figures carry a ±10% tolerance, derate with the berthing angle by the correction factors below, and exclude hull pressure, which we confirm separately.
Reading the table — five grades, one energy column. RE, RS, RH, RO, and RL are rubber grades from ultra-high to low reaction; pick the grade that meets your energy at an acceptable reaction. The source lists one energy value (E, kN·m) per size, so we confirm the grade-specific energy with the factory. The column labelled “RS … energy absorption” carries kN in the source and is a reaction grade, which we read as such.
Reaction force & energy — rated 52.5% compression
| Model | RE (kN) | RS (kN) | RH (kN) | RO (kN) | RL (kN) | Energy E (kN·m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500H | 182 | 162 | 140 | 108 | 86.3 | 40.2 |
| 630H | 290 | 258 | 224 | 172 | 137.5 | 80.4 |
| 800H | 464 | 412 | 365 | 275 | 211 | 163 |
| 1000H | 737 | 655 | 567 | 436 | 349 | 324 |
| 1150H | 975 | 865 | 750 | 591 | 462 | 492 |
| 1250H | 1153 | 1062 | 886 | 682 | 546 | 632 |
| 1450H | 1581 | 1376 | 1193 | 918 | 735 | 987 |
| 1600H | 1813 | 1553 | 1376 | 1062 | 850 | 1175 |
| 1700H | 2131 | 1892 | 1640 | 1262 | 1097 | 1591 |
| 2000H | 2491 | 2270 | 1994 | 1534 | 1382 | 2591 |
| 2250H | 4145 | 3697 | 3188 | 2454 | 2085 | 4095 |
| 2500H | 5118 | 4354 | 3937 | 3028 | 2574 | 5618 |
| 3000H | 7521 | 6619 | 5687 | 4322 | 3677 | 6619 |
Reaction force by grade and energy absorption at 52.5% rated compression; a 55% maximum-compression table is available on request, and all values carry a ±10% performance tolerance. Items we reconcile with the factory: the source pairs one energy value with five reaction grades (we confirm the grade-specific energy), the RS column is labelled “energy absorption” but carries kN and is a reaction grade, and the 3000H row shows RS and E both as 6619 and an outer diameter equal to the 2500H — all confirmed on the certified data before contract. A temperature correction factor is applied per site; hull pressure is confirmed against the contact area.
Angular correction factors (tilt compression) — apply to the rated reaction force and energy at a berthing angle:
| Angle (°) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reaction factor | 1 | 0.96 | 0.94 | 0.93 | 0.93 | 0.92 | 0.91 | 0.90 | 0.90 |
| Energy factor | 1 | 0.94 | 0.92 | 0.89 | 0.87 | 0.84 | 0.80 | 0.77 | 0.70 |
Source factors as published; intermediate angles (e.g. 2°, 7°, 9°, 11–14°) are interpolated for your case. Energy derates faster than reaction with angle, which is why we pin the size to the actual berthing angle.
The most common sizing mistake. Reading the rated table straight and ignoring the grade, the angle, and the ±10% tolerance. At 10° the energy is already down to 0.77 of rated, and a different grade changes the reaction by a third. We pick the size and grade against your energy, then derate for angle and check reaction force and hull pressure.
Know your berthing energy and reaction limit?
Send the vessel, approach speed, angle, and quay limit — we pick the cell size and reaction grade.
Construction, Mounting & Geometry
Natural and synthetic rubber, UHMW-PE face
The cell is moulded from high-strength natural and synthetic rubber for resistance to UV, seawater, and abrasion, with a design life of more than 10 years. The front face carries a low-friction UHMW-PE pad that lowers the friction against the hull and extends the life of the face.
The cell bolts to a solid foundation with 4 to 12 bolts depending on size, through bolt holes of 32 to 90 mm. We confirm the front panel, mounting hardware, and bolt pattern with the structure rather than leave them generic.
| Model | H (mm) | Φ1 (mm) | Φ2 (mm) | Bolts n | Bolt hole Φd (mm) | L (mm) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500H | 500 | 550 | 650 | 4 | 32 | 300 | 300 |
| 630H | 630 | 700 | 840 | 4 | 40 | 360 | 412 |
| 800H | 800 | 900 | 1050 | 6 | 40 | 360 | 800 |
| 1000H | 1000 | 1000 | 1250 | 6 | 47 | 420 | 825 |
| 1150H | 1150 | 1150 | 1350 | 6 | 47 | 490 | 1300 |
| 1250H | 1250 | 1250 | 1450 | 6 | 50 | 530 | 1450 |
| 1450H | 1450 | 1450 | 1650 | 6 | 56 | 530 | 2000 |
| 1600H | 1600 | 1600 | 1850 | 8 | 62 | 570 | 3200 |
| 1700H | 1700 | 1900 | 2100 | 8 | 62 | 650 | 3700 |
| 2000H | 2000 | 2000 | 2550 | 8 | 74 | 720 | 4600 |
| 2250H | 2250 | 2150 | 2950 | 10 | 74 | 720 | 6700 |
| 2500H | 2500 | 2750 | 3350 | 10 | 90 | 720 | 8700 |
| 3000H | 3000 | 3150 | 3350* | 12 | 90 | 800 | 18500 |
Geometry and bolt pattern by model; weight is per fender. Φ1 and Φ2 are the inner and outer diameters. The 3000H outer diameter (marked *) reads the same 3350 mm as the 2500H, which breaks the rising trend and looks like a transcription error in the source, so we confirm it on the certified drawing before contract.
When a Different Fender Fits Better
Super cell fenders are one option in our wider rubber fenders range, built for high-energy fixed berths. They are not the right fender for every job, so here is where something else fits better.
You need very high energy at low reaction
Where the priority is the highest energy at the lowest reaction in a tapered unit, a super cone rubber fender is the alternative high-performance type.
You have a simple, low-energy berth
For general berths and workboats that do not need the cell’s energy or grade choice, a cylindrical rubber fender is simpler and cheaper.
You have a floating berth
For a floating fender that rises with the tide rather than a fixed bolted one, a pneumatic fender or foam filled fender suits better.
An honest boundary. The performance is real but carries a ±10% tolerance, derates with the berthing angle, and excludes hull pressure and a temperature factor in the source data. We confirm the grade, the angle correction, the temperature factor, and the hull pressure for your berth before contract rather than quote a single rated number.
Super Cell Rubber Fenders — Frequently Asked Questions
What do RE, RS, RH, RO and RL mean?
They are five rubber reaction grades, from ultra-high (RE) to low (RL) reaction force. They let the same cell size meet your berthing energy at the reaction force your quay can take, so we choose the grade against the structure’s reaction limit.
How much energy does a super cell fender absorb?
The cylindrical cell absorbs up to 70% of the impact energy, dispersing it evenly to protect the hull and dock. The rated energy per size is in the performance table at 52.5% compression; a 55% maximum-compression table is available on request.
How does the berthing angle change performance?
Both reaction and energy derate with angle. At 10° the energy is about 0.77 of rated and the reaction about 0.90, so we apply the angular correction factors to the rated figures and size to the actual berthing angle rather than read the table straight.
What is the front pad made of?
A low-friction UHMW-PE front pad, which lowers the friction against the hull and extends the life of the fender face. The mounting panel and hardware are confirmed with the structure for your berth.
How long do they last and what maintenance is needed?
The design life is more than 10 years, with the natural and synthetic rubber resisting UV, seawater, and abrasion. They need only simple maintenance and regular inspections of the rubber, the front pad, and the bolts.
When should I use a cone or cylindrical fender instead?
Use a super cone for the highest energy at the lowest reaction in a tapered unit, and a cylindrical fender for simple, low-energy berths and workboats. The cell suits high-energy berths where you want to tune the reaction force through the rubber grade.
Pick the cell and grade on energy, reaction and angle
A cell fender is right when its energy covers your berthing energy and the grade keeps reaction within the quay’s limit, corrected for angle. Send us the vessel and berth and we return the size, grade, and corrected performance — not a single rated figure.
What to send us
6 inputsYou get back: a recommended cell size and reaction grade with energy absorption and reaction force corrected for angle, plus the bolt pattern and front pad.