The extreme pressures and volatile environments in oil & gas require all that hydraulics has to offer — precise control and safety at high pressures. By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor I love the town of Ithaca in upstate New York. We discovered it years ago in a casual drive in and around the Finger Lakes.…
A new era of human-robot collaboration: the first pneumatic cobot
What if there was a robot that was easy to operate, did not require a safety fence and was also attractively priced? That would introduce a whole new era in human-robot collaboration. This new era is now dawning – with the world’s first pneumatic robot from Festo, which was announced by Festo at Hannover Fair […]
Sorting out auxiliary hydraulics for mobile machinery
Understanding the hydraulic system is critical when choosing work tools and attachments for mobile machines. George MacIntyre and Ted Polzer, Product Managers, Case Construction Equipment, Racine, Wisconsin Skid steers and compact track loaders (CTLs) are two of the most useful pieces of mobile equipment, and adding attachments makes them all that much more versatile when […]
Loopholes are legal, but are they ethical?
Early in my engineering career, the fluid-power company where I was employed received a request from the U.S. Navy for seven hydraulic fittings made of the superalloy Inconel. Fulfilling the order would be a major headache. Purchasing a single bar of the exotic material, much of which would go unused, would be incredibly expensive. Add…
Why you should create a preventative maintenance plan for your hydraulics system?
By John Joyce, Marketing Director, Brennan Industries Inc. The best way to avoid potential problems with your hydraulics system is to take proper measures to prevent them. The easiest way to do that is by looking at the manufacturer’s recommendations, along with the working environment. But it may not be that easy, which is why…
Canadian tractor manufacturer Versatile chooses Elevāt Machine Connect for IoT solutions
Elevāt, a global IoT connected machines SaaS innovator, announced that Versatile, a division of Buhler Industries Inc., deployed the Elevāt Machine Connect platform across its entire tractor line for Model Year 2022. Since starting tractor production in 1966, Versatile has remained a leader for articulating four-wheel drive tractors. “We manufacture all our tractors in our […]
How Gemco is working around supply shortages for its linear position sensors
A wide range of industries is showing significant supply chain issues. However, the Michigan-based manufacturer of Gemco linear position sensors, AMETEK Factory Automation, has proven they can still deliver in a timely manner. In the past couple of years, an increasing supply shortage due to various factors has caused manufacturing and on-time delivery issues. On […]
Troubleshooting Challenge: Why was this threading machine running slow?
Updated July 4, 2022 with the solution below: I was asked to troubleshoot a system where the customer was complaining about a slow hydraulic motor that drove a thread rolling machine for a “U” bolt they manufacture. The system had a pressure-compensated, load-sense, Rexroth pump with volume adjustment. They did not have any hydraulic drawings…
Danfoss Power Solutions and RISE Robotics collaborate on electrification innovation
Danfoss Power Solutions and RISE Robotics announce they’ve signed a collaboration agreement to jointly validate and test a key innovation that has the potential to transform the heavy machinery market through electrification. Danfoss and RISE Robotics, a zero-emission heavy machinery company, have formalized their collaborative relationship. The two businesses have signed an agreement to work […]
Considerations for offshore oil & gas environments’ hydraulic technologies
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor Environmentally friendly fluids, corrosion resistance, and fire- and explosion-proof technologies are just some of the design options necessary in offshore use. Offshore oil and gas applications are one of the most demanding environments for a machine of any name, let alone hydraulic equipment. Offshore describes the open water, of course,…
Novel tunnel-boring machine takes on mining with the help of hydraulics
Hydraulically powered unit is the first to cut rectangular tunnels in hard rock. Circular, full-face tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are well-engineered, proven pieces of equipment, and they’re considered the most efficient machines for mechanical excavation of tunnels in rock. But they are not often used in underground mining. That’s because mines generally require a flat […]
Terzo introduces its more powerful Hydrapulse F3 electrohydraulic pump system
Terzo Power Systems has introduced its most powerful product to date, the Hydrapulse F3. Designed to handle the largest electrification applications in the commercial trucking, mining, and off-highway markets, the Hydrapulse Frame Size 3 (F3) offers next level power density with all the proven features and options of the Hydrapulse line. Terzo’s solutions make it […]
New cartridge flow transmitter revolutionizes hydraulic flow monitoring
Dale Dietel always knew there could be a better way to understand hydraulic system flows. Tired of the frustration born from the lack of easy flow monitoring, he invented his technology to provide continuous flow monitoring of all hydraulic functions — the world’s first Cartridge Flow Transmitter (CFT), from DGD Fluid Power. The CFT offers […]
Troubleshooting Challenge: Rod gland keeps failing on a large bore cylinder
This article was updated May 8, 2022 with the solution to this challenge. By Robert J. Sheaf, Contributing Writer Troubleshooting Challenge is a new regular column in which Sheaf will highlight a situation where he was called to consult on a malfunctioning system or machine, provide a circuit to highlight the machine’s functions and ask…
Introducing Robert Sheaf’s Troubleshooting Challenge
Fluid Power World is happy to introduce a new column to our audience — Robert Sheaf’s Troubleshooting Challenge. Many readers may be familiar with these puzzling fluid power problems, as Sheaf has been penning his challenges for decades in several industry publications. Each month, Sheaf will highlight a situation where he was called to consult…
Why do hydraulic systems fail?
In our recent Engineering Week, I sat down with Carl Dyke, founder of LunchBox Sessions and CD Industrial, to talk about hydraulic system troubleshooting. In this multi-part series based on that conversation, we’re going to look at why hydraulic systems fail, how system maintainers can prevent failures, and tips and tricks to troubleshoot problems and…
Efficient mobile electrification with smart electrohydraulic pump
Nearly a year ago, Terzo Power Systems officially launched its electrohydraulic pump systems designed for on- and off-highway mobile vehicles and industrial applications. Terzo Power Systems developed the world’s first compact and energy efficient smart hydraulic solutions for the electrification of fluid power. Their flagship product, the Hydrapulse, is a complete electrohydraulic system that is […]
Hydraulics takes a direct hit with all-electric Bobcat loader
Up until now, mobile electrification efforts were a shot across the bow of the hydraulics industry. Doosan Bobcat just hit it broadside. At this year’s CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the company premiered a new all-electric Bobcat T7X compact track loader, said to be the first machine of its kind to be fully electric and […]
John Deere and the autonomous future
At last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, John Deere put on an impressive hybrid press conference to announce its fully autonomous tractor. This isn’t some concept machine or a test vehicle. We’ve seen plenty of those over the years from OEMs; this is one that’s ready for large-scale production. The machine combines Deere’s […]
Why manufacturers are walking on air with IIoT
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies are placing compressed air systems front and center, despite usually being in the shadows. Contributed by Graham Coats, Sales Director at CMC Until very recently, the air compressor has been nothing but a workhorse; a key tool in the manufacturer’s toolbox, certainly, but one that’s kept away in the […]
Hydraulic direct drives tackle rugged marine applications
Hydraulic drives and effective maintenance strategies are key to success in demanding offshore environments. By Collins Bioseh, Market Segment Manager — Hägglunds Marine & Offshore and Tom Shickel, Business Development Manager — Marine & Offshore, Bosch Rexroth Corp. Workboat and offshore environments often involve lifting, moving or operating heavy equipment, especially within tight space constraints. And,…
Doosan Bobcat unveils world’s first all-electric compact loader
Doosan Bobcat has introduced its new, all-electric Bobcat T7X compact track loader at the CES 2022 show in Las Vegas. The T7X is said to be the first machine of its kind to be fully electric and, according to company officials, offers the benefits of eliminating hydraulic systems, emissions and vibrations while providing cleaner, quieter […]
Why hydraulic efficiency is becoming critical
Given the heightened attention on climate change and growing regulatory attempts to rein in CO2 emissions, the push toward electrification of mobile equipment is gaining momentum. Mobile OEMs are in the infancy of a major transformation toward electric-powered systems, but success in large part hinges on more-efficient fluid power systems. Why does hydraulic efficiency matter? […]
What’s coming in 2022 for fluid power
At the NFPA’s recent economic update meeting in Cleveland, Jim Meil of ACT Research Co., LLC talked to attendees about what’s ahead for the industry, from an economics perspective. Meil sees a COVID recovery through 2021, and “into 2022-2023 and beyond,” which is good news for fluid power manufacturers. Meil sees some definite problems in…
Registration open for NFPA/FPIC conference on eco-friendly fluid power systems
Registration is open for the Thursday, December 2, NFPA/FPIC Quarterly Conference on “Advanced Technologies for Eco-Friendly Fluid Power Systems.” This program will be a live webinar using the Remo Online Conference Platform and features a look at several innovations in fluid power. The half-day event begins at 8 a.m. with a brief welcome and icebreaker…