Danfoss Power Solutions has partnered with Ashcourt Group to test the Danfoss Dextreme system in three Volvo excavators. Ashcourt, a building materials supplier based in East Yorkshire, England, expects the system to increase the productivity of its machines while reducing fuel consumption. The excavators were fitted with the Dextreme Swap system in collaboration with U.K. […]
Bosch Rexroth showcases next-gen mobile machine solutions at CONEXPO/IFPE 2023
Discover how Bosch Rexroth is providing practical, groundbreaking solutions for electric drivetrains, electronically controllable working hydraulics, future-proof telematics, and step-by-step off-highway automation at CONEXPO/IFPE 2023 March 14-18 in the South Hall, booth S80215 in Las Vegas. Through an extensive array of working technology demos, exhibits and mobile machine technology experts, booth visitors have the opportunity […]
Hydraulic cylinders staying tough and getting smart
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Technological advancement is accelerating at an exponential pace. Consider only fifty years ago how hydraulic cylinders were constructed much the same as they are today, yet how much has electronic, information and digital technology surpassed our venerable actuators? Hydraulic cylinders are simple and effective. They are so effective, in fact, […]
Hydraulic rotators let harvesters revolve freely
Forest machine manufacturer Ponsse is launching the new HH360 rotator, which lets the harvester head freely rotate 360° without limitations. The harvester head speeds up wood processing, makes the operator’s job easier, and reduces hose failures. The product was developed in close cooperation with hydraulic motor and rotator manufacturer Black Bruin, and Ponsse has exclusive […]
Keeping pace with the innovators at IFPE 2023
As we gear up for IFPE 2023 and all that comes with it, it’s good to know we’ll still be riding a positive wave throughout this year. Although many economists have warned of a softening in the fluid power market, so far that softening has been just that — soft. According to the NFPA, the…
IFPE looks to up the ante in 2023
The triennial fluid power megashow returns to Las Vegas from March 14-18. The fluid power industry’s biggest event returns to the Las Vegas Convention center this March, with 375 component manufactures expected on the show floor. Exhibitors will include those focused on electrical & mechanical power transmission, industrial hydraulics, mobile hydraulics, pneumatics, and water hydraulics.…
Preventing noise and vibration in industrial hydraulic systems
Learn how to reduce the damaging side effects of noise and vibration caused by hydraulic power units in industrial settings. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor There’s nothing quite like the high-pitched racket emitting from a hydraulic power unit. The combination of noises originates primarily at the hydraulic pump, but secondary harmonics and reverberations contribute to…
Danfoss to focus on “future of machine performance” at IFPE 2023
Danfoss Power Solutions will showcase its range of hydraulic, fluid conveyance, and electrification products and services at the 2023 International Fluid Power Exposition, March 14-18, in Las Vegas. At its booth, S80515, the company will demonstrate how it is “Powering the future of machine performance.” “Autonomy, electrification, connectivity, and digitalization aren’t just buzzwords. They’re enabling […]
Hydraulic fittings and couplings trend toward safety
Hydraulic fittings and couplings are often overlooked in mobile machinery design, yet they play a critical role in any fluid power system. In extremely high-pressure hydraulic applications, a leak or accidental disconnection can cause serious personal injury or damage to machinery. Therefore, machine builders must select fittings of the correct size, material, pressure and temperature […]
Sustainability drives hydraulic seal design
Sustainability continues to trend across the fluid power industry, as design engineers must develop more efficient products to meet the industry’s sustainability needs. Hydraulic seals, though relatively small in design, play a huge role in waste, emissions, efficiency, and overall environmental impact. At IFPE, companies such as Hallite will introduce new products that demonstrate sustainable […]
Hydraulic hoses are tougher, lighter, and more flexible
Ergonomics, safety, efficiency, and refined quality are key themes for hydraulic hose applications these days. Machine builders are looking for hoses that improve service life and fit their exact specifications. Therefore, manufacturers are designing more durable and flexible hose solutions for heavy-duty mobile machines and evolving electro-hydraulic systems. “A hose’s working pressure, flexibility, and lifetime […]
Remote monitoring of hydraulic fluid particles reduces costs and downtime
By Shaun Skilton, Product Manager; Andrew Baldwin, Engineering Manager; and Marc Williams, IoT Market Sales Manager, Parker Hannifin Industry statistics show that a whopping 80% of hydraulic system failures are due to contamination. In many of these cases, undetected contaminants of various forms have clogged, blocked, or otherwise damaged fragile hydraulic system components. The result […]
5 reasons why hydraulic drive service matters
Risks versus rewards of complete hydraulic drive maintenance practices Contributed by Timothy McCrea, market segment manager, aftermarket, pulp & paper, Hägglunds – Bosch Rexroth Corp. Hydraulic direct drive systems are a crucial part of industrial recycling operations. Engineered for reliable performance under demanding conditions, recyclers and other users of these systems will sometimes postpone critical…
Troubleshooting Challenge: Pressure problems on a multi-circuit system
Updated April 25, 2023 with solution By Robert J. Sheaf, Founder/CEO of CFC Industrial Training The circuit shown here is used to open and close the cage doors on a zoo enclosure. The staff would start the hydraulic system when they needed to open and close the gates. They then would shut it down when…
Bosch Rexroth to highlight its eLION technology at IFPE/CONEXPO 2023
Bosch Rexroth will exhibit during IFPE and CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 14-18, 2023 in Las Vegas in booth S80215 in South Hall 3. In their booth, Bosch Rexroth will showcase a wide variety of technologies suited for mobile equipment, including the eLION electrification platform. eLION includes a full range of electric motor-generators, inverters and accessories, as well […]
Refrigerator-sized hydraulic power units that don’t make a peep
Technology advancements enable smaller, quieter, and more energy-efficient hydraulic power units that save space and reduce the total cost of ownership. The common perception of conventional hydraulic power units is that they are large, loud, and inefficient. Such claims are valid for facilities that still use power units from the 1960s and 1970s and among…
Sustainable machine designs top Bauma innovations
While many compact machines boast all-electric systems, several prototype designs feature alternative options to power larger, heavier-duty equipment. At Bauma this past October, most mobile machinery makers touted new or prototype designs that feature low-carbon, sustainable systems. Electrification was a hot topic as it has been, but all-electric designs were mostly limited to compact machinery. […]
The future is sustainable and it’s here to stay
Last month, organizers for CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE announced that a key focus of the 2023 events will be on next levels of sustainability in construction, highlighting the many aspects of the shows designed to ensure a sustainable future. This is a reflection of an industry moving towards a sustainable future. First up are manufacturers that […]
Hydraulic technicians can’t stop making this one mistake
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Nobody’s perfect – I certainly am not. It takes a level of self-awareness to admit you’re not perfect but exponentially more self-awareness to do something about it. Try as I might with my nutritional plan; I regularly fall short of perfection. But even if perfect was possible to manifest, even…
Troubleshooting Challenge: System overheating on drum pusher system
A scrap processing company has a large rotating drum that pushes scrap aluminum components into rotating hammers to pulverize the scrap parts into small pieces. They then press the scrap into large bales for easy shipping. The attached circuit is one of the hydraulic systems that runs three functions on the machine. They had problems…
New plans announced for Festo Didactic’s Mechatronics Apprenticeship
Last week, Festo Didactic Learning Systems North America and its partners gathered to announce new plans for the Mechatronics Apprenticeship Program (MAP) at its Regional Service Center (RSC) in Mason, Ohio. Industry, education, and government came together to strengthen workforce development for Industry 4.0 careers. Guest speakers included representatives from the Lt. Governor’s office and…
Finally, a win for domestic manufacturing
There is no problem, goes the current wisdom, which some federal program won’t try to solve by throwing money at it. That is, unless it means devoting dollars for research on traditional manufacturing processes. Take, for instance, the National Science Foundation, a government entity that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields…
Moving from point A to B with hydraulics
Mobile material handling machines rely heavily on hydraulic technologies which pair well with the robust, sometimes challenging environments these machines work in. By Josh Cosford • Contributing Editor Material handling machines are some of the most widespread hydraulic applications developed. Where you must move product or material, a hydraulic machine is available to help. Industrial […]
Hydraulic cylinders keep moon rocket on track
Jacking and equalizing cylinders on NASA’s crawler transporter hold steady the massive launch vehicle. Contributed by Ingo Rühlicke, Head of Project and Export Depts., Walter Hunger GmbH and Co Kg Artemis I is the inaugural moon rocket mission in a program that aims to one day return astronauts to the lunar surface. Perhaps unnoticed, but…
Analytics power: optimizing operations through digital transformation
Contributed by Amit Patel • Senior Marketing Manager, Digital Transformation at Emerson Digital technologies along with pneumatics automation can transform a facility’s efficiency, productivity, and versatility. The digital transformation of processing and packaging operations is well underway. Manufacturers are integrating connected technologies into their operations and seeing significant results. Digital technologies have the power to […]