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 looks to the future
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 […]
Bosch Rexroth launches drive systems for hydrogen filling station compressors
At Hannover Messe this week, Bosch Rexroth announced that it has developed a scalable portfolio of servohydraulic drives for compressors in the power range between 10 and 280 kW in partnership with others from the hydrogen industry. Hydrogen produced from renewable energies plays a key role in achieving global climate targets. It is a CO2-free […]
Fossil-free worksite significantly cuts emissions
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, […]
Will AI soon predict internal cylinder leakage?
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 […]
Proportional valves make crane precision possible
Cranes lift heavy loads, and precise control of the lifting process is paramount for safety and efficiency. Proportional valves fine-tune the hydraulic pressure applied to the lifting mechanism so that operators can control speed and force while lifting and lowering. In 2021, Australian crane manufacturer Franna sought to improve the performance of its MAC 25 […]
OTC shifts the mix for offshore industries
Energy professionals reconvene at the Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston’s NRG Park, May 6-9, 2024. Since 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) has gathered thousands of experts from the oil and gas, solar, wind, hydrogen, and marine industries to discuss global energy advancements and needs. Last year, the theme was “Delivering the Future of […]
NFPA to present Advanced Hydraulics Conference at iVT EXPO 2024
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) has entered into a partnership agreement with UKI Media & Events to convene and co-locate an advanced hydraulics conference for off-highway vehicle and fluid power engineers at iVT EXPO, to be held August 21-22, in Chicago. iVT EXPO is an annual exposition for the off-highway vehicle design and engineering […]
When should you use hydrostatic pumps?
The term hydrostatic refers to the fundamental concept we hold dear in fluid power, which is that confined hydraulic fluid under pressure exists in equilibrium and balance. Although hydraulic fluid does no more than hold objects stationary without the active application of force through a pumping device, the concept is entirely different than hydrodynamics, which […]
Differential lock valves improve fuel efficiency and control
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 […]
Editron electric converter receives agricultural engineering distinction
Danfoss Power Solutions’ Editron EC-C1700B-420 electric converter has been named a Davidson Prize winner in the annual AE50 Awards program, highlighting its value to the agricultural machinery industry. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers presented the award to Danfoss on Friday, March 1, at the Commodity Classic […]
The promise and pitfalls of electric construction machines
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 […]
Raising mobile machine efficiency via advanced electrohydraulics
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 […]
Lightweight hydraulic low-speed, high-torque motors
FluiDyne Fluid Power announced the newest addition to its motor product line: the FM4 series motor, which is now available in stock alongside the FM1, FM3, and FM50/51 models. The FM series geroter gear set and spool valve flow distribution make these hydraulic motors compact, highly efficient, and perfect for low-speed high-torque applications. Whether you’re […]
The growing wave of software-defined machines
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 […]
Stone walls make a comeback with an autonomous hydraulic excavator
It’s no secret that the construction industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. As such, engineers and researchers constantly explore new technologies that align with sustainability goals while increasing productivity and reducing manual labor. Take dry stone wall construction, for example. This manually intensive task dates back thousands of years and was historically […]
Duplomatic MS expands in Germany with mobile cylinder-maker Phillip Acon Hydraulik
Duplomatic MS Spa, a company within the Daikin Group, is pleased to announce a significant development in Germany. Günther Till GmbH & Co. KG, a well-known German cylinder manufacturer and already a part of Duplomatic MS since December 2021, has successfully signed an agreement to transfer the assets of Phillip Acon Hydraulik GmbH, a branch […]
Concentric AB appoints Dr Roger Ingemey as Senior Vice President Hydraulics Division
Concentric AB has appointed Dr Roger Ingemey as Senior Vice President Hydraulics Division. The appointment, from February 1, will be pivotal in executing the Group strategic plan, to deliver profitable growth in the hydraulics division aligned to the company’s electrification strategy, and driving productivity improvements through the Concentric Business Excellence program. Ingemey holds a PhD […]
Bosch Rexroth and Modine partner on thermal management for electrified machinery
Collaboration and innovation drive the transition to electric vehicles in industrial vehicles as two transportation industry leaders advance the state of the art together. As part of its industry-leading efforts to electrify critical off-highway machinery, Bosch Rexroth announced a partnership with thermal management manufacturer Modine. The two organizations are collaborating to bring Modine EVantage thermal […]
The shift towards electrified mobile machinery: a Q&A with Domenico Traverso of Danfoss Editron
As I noted in our mobile trends feature last month, the discussion around transitioning machinery to more efficient alternatives, particularly in embracing electric solutions, has gained significant traction. This paradigm shift is not merely about the evolution of technology; it’s about redefining the very core of how construction machinery operates. Digital hydraulics, especially when combined […]
Smart management, smart control blocks
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 […]
Will this crazy motor concept take off in fluid power?
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor You may not know this, but I’m a straight-up car fanatic. There are as many car guy tribes as cars, and there are more ways to be into cars without bumper-sticker-level dedication to one brand. Me? I’m a Mazda guy who does the occasional track day, although I lust after […]
Electrification conference set for February
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 […]
Mobile machinery: working towards a sustainable future
All trends in mobile machinery development point toward creating more compact, fuel-efficient machines that reduce emissions. It seems like every day, news is released from key fluid power manufacturers, mobile OEMs themselves, and others about a transformation in off-highway machinery. These innovations are driving a wave of change that promises efficiency, sustainability, and enhanced performance. […]
GM and Komatsu collaborate on hydrogen-powered mining truck
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. […]