Modern mobile machinery has changed quite a bit. Here is a look at how construction equipment hydraulics have changed over the last couple hundred years. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor On a road near my home, there exists a hand-laid stone fence, perhaps 4 ft high and a hundred times as long. Crafted from locally-sourced […]
Danfoss names public and industry affairs director
Danfoss has announced the appointment of John Sheff as its new Director of Public and Industry Affairs for North America. Sheff will succeed Mark Menzer in the role when Menzer retires in July. Sheff previously was Business Development Manager for Danfoss in North America, leading cross-business initiatives within buildings, including strengthening engagement with utilities and […]
FORCE America acquires Mobile Equipment Systems
FORCE America has acquired Mobile Equipment Systems, Tukwila, Wash., a supplier of power-takeoffs, pumps and mobile hydraulic components to the northwestern United States. The acquisition extends FORCE America’s reach into the Pacific Northwest and provides local support for the company’s customers in the region. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Mobile Equipment Systems […]
Energy-efficient hydro accumulators for energy storage or conversion
Roth Hydraulics, Biedenkopf, Germany, offers energy-efficient hydro accumulator solutions for systems requiring storage or conversion of hydraulic energy. These fluid technology components are used in mobile hydraulics, energy and power plant systems, industrial hydraulics, machine tools and oil and gas systems. Roth Hydraulics, formerly known as Bolenz & Schäfer, is a company with a long […]
HED appoints Randy Silasiri as VP sales and marketing
Randy Silasiri has joined HED Inc., Hartford, Wis., as its VP Sales & Marketing. He comes to HED from a 12 year career with Danaher/Fortive with global sales responsibilities at several divisions including Danaher Motion, Dover Motion, and Kollmorgen. Previously, he had a 16 year career with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation, with various sales and engineering roles […]
New differential pressure gauge for any budget
Ashcroft 1140 series differential pressure gauges are the budget-friendly solution in applications that do not require all stainless steel protection. These gauges feature a sturdy glass filled nylon front case that allows the window to be easily removed and cleaned. No additional hardware is required for either direct or panel mounting. Designed for either liquid […]
Registration is open for 2019 ICUEE-The Demo Expo
Registration is officially open for 2019 ICUEE-The Demo Expo, set for October 1-3 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. New registration options make it easier than ever to attend and take advantage of ICUEE’s exhibits of the latest utility and construction product innovations. Attendees will also find new education opportunities and the show’s […]
Bucher Hydraulics announces “revolutionary” new pump design
The performance of traditional hydraulic pumps has not kept up with increasingly stringent customer demands and new application requirements, according to officials at Bucher Hydraulics, Klettgau, Germany. They’re tackling such concerns with a new design for piston pumps and motors called the AX series. The AX is not an evolutionary improvement over existing products, said […]
Registration now open for CONEXPO Latin America 2019
Construction industry professionals who are looking ahead and want to invest in their future will find the newest equipment and product innovations as well as focused industry networking and learning opportunities at CONEXPO Latin America 2019. Registration is now open for the exhibition, which will be held October 2-5 in Santiago, Chile (Espacio Riesco). CONEXPO […]
Transforming mobile machines
Like the construction equipment industry as a whole, the Mobile Hydraulics Group of Bosch Rexroth enjoyed a good a year in 2018. “Our efforts to restructure the company and gain market share definitely paid off,” said Bernd Schunk, Senior Vice President Sales for Mobile Hydraulics. “We generated another double-digit increase in revenue, boosted by the […]
What is the difference between fixed and variable pumps?
For novices in the fluid power industry, lack of understanding between the fixed flow and variable flow pumping concepts is quite common. A hydraulic pump has one mission, and that is to transform incoming mechanical energy at its shaft into hydraulic energy capable of transferring force to actuators somewhere downstream. This transfer of force is […]
Bosch Rexroth’s Subsea Valve Actuator receives award of merit
Bosch Rexroth’s new Subsea Valve Actuator (SVA) received the Award of Merit as one of five finalists in the 2019 Woelfel Best Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award. This award was presented at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston on May 6, 2019 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The SVA was recognized as a […]
HAWE expands its market and application presence with Hoerbiger’s automation buy
On March 26, HAWE Hydraulik SE, Aschheim / Munich, signed the contract for the purchase of Hoerbiger Automatisierungstechnik Holding GmbH. The manufacturer of hydraulic components and systems has thus acquired several legally independent companies at three locations and the associated product range from Hoerbiger Deutschland Holding GmbH effective May 1. In 2018, the division generated […]
New excavator has hydraulic ladder
Komatsu America Corp., Rolling Meadows, Ill., has introduced the new PC1250SP-11 and PC1250LC-11 hydraulic excavators, which are said to increase power and productivity over previous versions while maintaining high fuel efficiency. “The PC1250 offers exceptional customer value across a broad range of applications, including sewer and water, general construction, mass excavation, as well as mining, […]
Linde Hydraulics names Stegmann as new Director, Products & Markets
Magnus Stegmann has been appointed Director Products & Markets at the technology company Linde Hydraulics. In his function, he is globally responsible for the Product Management, Business Development and Marketing & Corporate Communications of the international manufacturer of drive systems consisting of hydraulics, power transmissions and electronics. Stegmann has been successfully working for Linde Hydraulics […]
Notes from bauma: 12 cool things on display at the show
bauma, which just wrapped up last Friday, April 12, is truly an eye-catching show, with massive construction machines and component manufacturers highlighting their new technologies and designs. Read on about 12 cool things that caught my attention throughout the week. Liebherr LH 110C gantry Reminiscent of a Star Wars At-At machine, this Liebherr LH 110C […]
Panel: The future of mobile hydraulics
Mobile hydraulics is often the elephant in the room when people talk about fluid power. This portion of the industry is one that’s fast moving, innovative and gets people’s attention. Even little kids dream of someday driving a backhoe or a huge hydraulic dump truck. But what’s new in the field today, and how will […]
Notes from bauma: Five machines riding the wave of electrification
It seems on every corner at bauma 2019 someone was talking electrification – replacing diesel powered machines with battery powered electric drives. Among the reasons: legislative pressures for zero-emission vehicles in city centers, their suitability for indoor demolition and basement projects, and the preference for low-noise machines required for night-time work and in quiet zones […]
Notes from bauma: Hydraulic hybrid excavator among new introductions
At bauma 2019, Volvo is exhibiting a soon-to-be available hydraulic hybrid excavator that is said to improve fuel efficiency by up to 17%. The EC300E Hybrid excavator’s boom-down motion charges energy-storing accumulators that are used to subsequently power the hydraulic pump. Unlike other systems that capture the swing energy of an excavator’s superstructure to electrically […]
APEM introduces new configuration options for their XD series joystick
APEM, Inc. introduces new configuration options for their XD series joystick including single axis operation, higher operating torques and dual Hall effect rollers. Accompanied with the new configuration options, the XD series is now more suitable for use across a greater variety of vehicle application. Single axis joysticks are widely used in scissor and boom […]
Notes from bauma: Hydraulics faces the digital, sustainable and electrifying
Without a doubt the overriding theme at bauma 2019 among construction-machine builders and component suppliers alike is digitization. Most mobile-hydraulics engineers are well-aware of the possibilities: Digital machine management, data storage in the cloud, telematics, software and apps, electrohydraulic controls, ubiquitous sensors, and so on – these are clearly becoming the new standard building blocks […]
New Balluff IO-Link masters add flexibility in designing controls architecture
The newest family of IO-Link masters from Balluff provide more flexibility in designing controls architectures with Smart IO-Link devices. The new Device Integration IO-Link masters — BNI00E1 (Ethernet/IP) and BNI00AZ (Profinet) — feature 4x Type A IO-Link ports and 4x Type B IO-Link ports, each with up to 2A of output per channel to meet […]
Enerpac, Hydratight combine businesses to enhance tools, service offerings
On January 1, 2019, the Enerpac and Hydratight businesses along with their associated brands (Mirage Machines, Biach, Sweeney, Simplex, Larzep and Equalizer International) began the initial stages to combine into a single business unit: Enerpac. The Hydratight brand will remain as Enerpac’s services brand. By consolidating the businesses, Enerpac says it will enhance its tools […]
Eaton appoints Paulo Ruiz as President of its Hydraulics Group
Eaton today announced that Paulo Ruiz has been named president, Hydraulics Group, effective April 1. He will be located in Eden Prairie, Minn., and will report to Uday Yadav, President and COO, Industrial Sector. “Paulo is an ideal fit to lead Eaton’s Hydraulics Group into its next chapter,” Yadav said. “His strong customer focus, extensive […]
When should you use on/off valves?
Contributed by Josh Cosford Although any “bang-bang” valve is one where the valve shifts between two discreet positions, either open or closed, it can also apply to valves with three positions, such as with a 4/3 solenoid operated directional valve. But there are occasions where a true On/Off valve provides the best solutions to a […]