Hydraulic hose fittings are essential components in countless stationary and mobile machines. The parts are critical links in fluid-power systems, designed to ensure safe and reliable operations and prevent equipment shutdowns, catastrophic failures and danger to nearby personnel. And in the hydraulics world, there are generally two types of hose fittings — permanent and reusable […]

Intermat 2024, the major construction-equipment exhibition taking place this week in France, is hosting around 1,000 manufacturers of mobile machines, tools, accessories, controls and software. One highlight of the show is the Intermat Innovation Awards, which shines the spotlight on exhibitors’ equipment, products and services that contribute to progress in the construction and materials industries. […]

Intermat, the largest construction equipment show in the western hemisphere this year, opened today at Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center. Held every three years, the event is being billed as the Sustainable Construction Solutions and Technology exhibition. “Focusing on the unavoidable issue of low carbon for the construction industry, the 2024 edition aims to constitute […]

At the halfway point of Sweden’s largest fossil-free job site, productivity and emissions-reduction goals have exceeded expectations. The 100-year-old “Slakthusområdet” area of Stockholm city center, also known as the meat-packing district, is being transformed to provide 3,000 new homes as well as retail and office spaces. As a testbed for innovation and emission-free construction equipment, […]

Electrohydraulic actuators are standalone, self-contained systems that perform powerful tasks without external piping. They typically include an electric servomotor driving a hydraulic pump — often an axial-piston unit. Other components include a hydraulic cylinder, tank, valving and charging circuits. Because they are fitted with their own closed fluid circuit, they require only a small amount […]

For decades, spool-type flow dividers have proven themselves well in the differential locks of hydraulic traction drives. In recent years, however, the demands of mobile machine operators have risen to a new level. For example, market requirements now include: • More intuitive operation. • Better vehicle control, particularly when driving under difficult conditions. • Optimization […]

For the last eight years engineers at Suncar AG, Zurich, Switzerland have been developing electric construction machines, and they offered some insights at the recent Future of Electrification 2024 conference, hosted by the Zapi Group. In a presentation titled “The all-electric construction machine,” Stefan Schneider, Suncar’s managing director, discussed progress on the road to electrification […]

There is heightened interest in optimizing the performance of mobile machines with electrohydraulic solutions, in particular with the coming need to transition from conventional machines to electrified zero-emission machinery. That’s according to Dr. Steffen Mutschler, Director Sales & Product Management Electrification of Mobile Machines at Bosch Rexroth. In a presentation, Empowering Optimal Performance with Electro-Hydraulic […]

Data-driven off-road equipment will improve uptime and performance and reduce operating costs. Mobile machine owners, fleet operators and rental companies increasingly want equipment that offers more-exacting control, higher productivity and efficiency, and is more environmentally friendly. Add to that is the growing interest in electrification, automation, and autonomy. In response, mobile OEMs and their suppliers are […]

By Michael Pyper Bucher Hydraulics High hydraulic performance is crucial in mobile machinery. Especially in this era of increasing electrification, hydraulics remains vital. This is particularly true for agricultural and forestry machines where compact installation and weight optimization are essential. Fluid power plays a significant role in energy efficiency and, when intelligently combined, electric and […]

ZAPI Group, a leading proponent of vehicle electrification, will hold its Future of Electrification virtual conference on February 7-8, 2024. The third annual conference will bring together industry leaders and experts in industrial and commercial vehicle electrification to discuss practical steps to achieve an all-electric reality. According to ZAPI officials, the conference will provide insights […]

General Motors and Komatsu will co-develop a hydrogen fuel cell power module for Komatsu’s 930E mining truck, said to be the world’s best-selling ultra-class haul truck. The surface-mining electric drive truck has an operating weight of 1,150,000 lbs and a nominal payload capacity of 320 tons. The companies will jointly design and validate the technology. […]

If shelling out a hundred grand for a new hydraulic excavator is a bit beyond your holiday shopping budget, numerous mobile OEMs offer fun and more-economical alternatives. The offerings are great for fans of favorite machines and brands, collectors, and kids of any age. Here’s a quick overview of some of the company merchandise shops…

The construction, mining, forestry, and industrial heavy equipment markets are experiencing rapid and massive growth in electrification driven by CO2 reduction efforts, regulatory demands, ESG and operational improvement needs. That’s the motivation behind the announcement that Komatsu, through its wholly owned subsidiary in the U.S., Komatsu America Corp., has agreed to acquire American Battery Solutions, […]

Caterpillar has announced the launch of a three-year program to demonstrate an advanced hydrogen-hybrid power solution built on its new Cat C13D engine platform. Starting in the first quarter of 2024, Caterpillar will develop a transient-capable system for off-highway applications. The project will demonstrate how state-of-the-art control systems and electric-hybrid components can help hydrogen-fueled engines […]

Check valves are proven components that allow media to flow in only one direction and prevent backflow in the opposite direction — similar to diodes in electrical applications. For years, the engineers at Bucher Hydraulics based in Dachau, Germany, have continuously optimized this unobtrusive component, which is often concealed inside hydraulic blocks. For instance, the […]

Teleo, a Palo Alto, Calif. based company building autonomous technology for heavy construction equipment, today announced that Florida-based Tomahawk Construction will become the first customer to deploy its autonomous capabilities on an active job site. Tomahawk Construction’s articulated dump trucks will use autonomous functions to move material to build a residential community in Naples, Fl. […]

Diesel-electric mobile machines provide many of the benefits of electrification without the shortcomings. The push for electrification of mobiles equipment is in full swing, with dozens of OEMs showcasing battery-electric models that promise zero emissions, low noise, and minimal maintenance headaches. But the current generation of electric machines also has serious drawbacks. They struggle to […]

Volvo Construction Equipment is at the forefront of global efforts toward electrification and non-diesel alternatives for mobile machines, and the company aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. It has offered battery-electric wheel loaders and mini excavators for several years and will soon launch an electric road asphalt compactor and an electric version […]

Norrhydro, based in Tampere, Finland, and Volvo Construction Equipment are moving ahead with field trials of a new excavator concept that engineers say could revolutionize machine hydraulic performance. If proven successful and widely adopted, the system could improve overall productivity of various types of off-road equipment and help meet the mobile industry’s sustainability targets and […]

Given heightened interest in battery powered mobile equipment, engineers are starting to weigh the benefits of hydraulic versus electric drives to power various machine functions. During the recent Future of Electrification conference, hosted by the Zapi Group, Kirk Martin, Global Director of Sales for Mobile Machinery at Ewellix explored this topic in his presentation, “The […]

Engineers at Sennebogen, Straubing, Germany, are embracing advanced diesel, hydraulic, electric and control technologies to design machines that generate significantly fewer emissions, compared to traditional equipment, and cut energy consumption in half. They’re building on proven and, in some cases, simple concepts that greatly benefit equipment users. Here’s a look at some of the innovations […]

When engineers consider next-generation construction equipment, much of the attention today centers on electrification, alternative-fuel engines, automated functions that increase precision and reduce waste, and “smart” control networks that wirelessly tie together all the machines on a worksite for greater efficiency and productivity. Perhaps a bit under the radar, but potentially game-changing, is the possibility […]

Last year Bobcat introduced the T7X, the world’s first all-electric compact track loader. The company is now expanding its electrification portfolio with the recent introduction of the first all-electric skid-steer loader, the Bobcat S7X, and its new concept track loader, the Bobcat RogueX. “At Bobcat, we are always pushing the boundaries to explore the next […]

To maximize the opportunities in the growing compact equipment segment, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced the launch of a new Compact Business Unit. The new Compact Business Unit will: Take advantage of the shift to electrification in the compact equipment segment to secure a fully electric line up of productive and sustainable products […]