CASE Construction Equipment recently introduced a range of new machines, including mini excavators and powerful skid steers. They’ll be up and running October 3 to 5 at the ICUEE show in Louisville, Ky. The C Series mini excavator family expands the CASE lineup and provides a more-comprehensive and feature-driven machine for the construction, landscaping, utility […]
Komatsu updates “intelligent” hydraulic excavator
Mobile-equipment manufacturer Komatsu America, Rolling Meadows, Ill., just introduced its new PC210LCi-11 Machine Control hydraulic excavator. This second generation PC210LCi reportedly leverages the proven track record and success of the previous PC210LCi-10, while increasing machine functionality. Key features of Komatsu’s Machine Control technology used in this unit include a factory-integrated sensor package with a GNSS […]
Fluid-power universities among world’s best
With kids returning to school, parents and academics alike are gravitating to the annual college ratings hitting the newsstands. One of note is the World University Rankings 2018, published by Times Higher Education, a spin-off of London’s The Times newspaper. It reviewed about 20,000 research-intensive universities around the world and ranks the best from 1 […]
Nanovate CoP replaces chromium rod plating
Steel used in aggressive environments subjected to corrosion coupled with high wear have traditionally used electroplated “engineered” hard chrome (EHC) for surface protection. While other electroplated metals like cadmium and zinc-nickel provide good corrosion resistance, they wear off quickly, leaving the underlying steel exposed. And, in recent years, there has been a push to replace […]
How do accumulators improve system performance?
Hydraulic accumulators are pressure vessels that store and discharge energy in the form of pressurized fluid. In essence, potential energy is stored in a compressed gas and released on demand to force oil from the accumulator and into the circuit. Here are some important benefits accumulators provide, and how they make hydraulic systems better. Energy […]
Bucher safety valves deliver energy savings
Safety valves are critical for protecting equipment and personnel. And, according to officials at Bucher Hydraulics, Neuheim, Switzerland, they can also play a major role in the global competitiveness of mobile machines like cranes and excavators when the focus is on high performance and availability. The company offers an extensive portfolio of safety valves that […]
ICUEE offers a hands-on look at new products, machines
The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE), slated for October 3 to 5 in Louisville, Ky., will let industry professionals and engineers explore some of the latest technology innovations related to mobile equipment and fluid power. Of particular interest will be the opportunity to get a hands-on look at hundreds of new machines ranging […]
Next-generation electrohydraulic controls for off-road machines
Integrated hardware and software replace traditional mobile-hydraulic control systems. Today’s mobile-equipment manufacturers, for the most part, face a number of common challenges. OEMs want to streamline engineering and production processes yet build machines that are highly efficient, reliable and productive. And, increasingly, their customers want to monitor and track how these products operate—to ensure they […]
Will global warming kill fluid power?
Two new studies released this month paint a grim picture of the consequences of global warming. The papers published by scientists at the Universities of Colorado and Washington say that due to CO2 emissions, global temperature will likely increase more than 3.6°F by the end of the century, triggering a catastrophic rise in sea levels, […]
How does a hydraulic accumulator work?
Hydraulic accumulators are energy storage devices. Analogous to rechargeable batteries in electrical systems, they store and discharge energy in the form of pressurized fluid and are often used to improve hydraulic-system efficiency. An accumulator itself is a pressure vessel that holds hydraulic fluid and a compressible gas, typically nitrogen. The housing or shell is made […]