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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
What is a flow divider?
A flow divider is a hydraulic device that, as the name implies, separates flow into two or more parts. This lets a single pump simultaneously power more than one circuit. Two types of proportional flow dividers are the spool version; and the gear or rotary design. Spool dividers split the input flow proportionally into two […]
Electrification exposes hydraulic-pump shortcomings
Heightened concerns over climate change and global warming are key reasons for the growing interest in zero-emission vehicles. Battery-electric mobile machines, while still mainly in the prototype stage, may require hydraulic-pumps and variable-speed drives to evolve to suit future applications. Hydraulic pumps are high-performance components. However, according to engineers at Bucher Hydraulics, Klettgau, Germany, they […]
Bauma at forefront of global trends
Bauma, the world’s largest trade fair for construction equipment and mining machinery, will take place from the 8th to the 14th of April in Munich, Germany. The fair, which will be the 32nd edition, is held every three years. Like the construction industry, the show keeps growing. It will cover about 6.7 million square feet […]
Autonomous cranes on the horizon
Much has been made of the growing use of autonomous mining haulers at several sites around the world. Entrepreneurs at Israeli start-up Intsite hope to do the same for the construction industry, by developing the controls and software to permit autonomous cranes. The company recently announced it was awarded $1.35 million in funding by Terra […]
Cartridge proportional valves for mobile transmissions
The ever-increasing demand for fuel efficiency and emissions reduction continues to spur the need for more efficient and reliable drive systems in mobile, construction and agricultural machinery. These applications require precise, customizable controls, especially regarding the powertrains. ARGO-HYTOS, Kraichtal, Germany, offers innovative powertrain valve systems that help OEMs and equipment users increase reliability, efficiency, performance […]