Fluid Power World recently spoke with Zifan Liu, Bosch Rexroth Mobile Hydraulics System Engineer, to see where the mobile hydraulics market is headed. Read on to learn how tariffs, electrification and other trends are impacting the innovations and how they are developing the technologies we’ll see in the future.
FPW: How has the market been dealing with tariffs? Has there been more commitment to local/on-shoring developments?
Zifan Liu: In general, many companies are navigating the evolving global trade landscape by continually reviewing supply chain strategies, actively exploring diversification, on-/near-shoring options, and price adjustments. These ongoing reviews are important to mitigate the impacts of tariffs.
FPW: What types of technologies do you expect will see the most focus/growth going into CONEXPO?
Zifan Liu: Electronified hydraulic components — such as next-generation pumps and smart actuators — will continue to emerge. AI-enabled capabilities are also expected to gain more attention, alongside accelerated adoption of autonomous functions similar to what we’ve seen in the automotive sector. Electrification will remain a core theme, driven by advances in battery technology and electric motor design. Additionally, software-defined system solutions are poised to become central differentiators that attract substantial market attention.
FPW: Can you tease any product developments we will see there?
Zifan Liu: From Bosch Rexroth, some key highlights at CONEXPO include the electronic open circuit (eOC) pump, different sensors (ultrasonic, inertia, etc.), the next-generation eLION electric components (motor, inverter, on-board charger, dc-dc converter) and the software platform built around them.
FPW: Is electrification still as big of a focus as it was two or three years ago? Are you branching out into other areas with hydrogen, hybrid, bio-fuel, etc. developments on the horizon?
Zifan Liu: Exploration of alternative energy-storage technologies continues uninterrupted. For instance, Bosch Rexroth and other OEMs have consistently advocated for fuel-cell systems because of their high energy density and rapid refueling capability. Hybrid architectures also provide a strong value proposition in applications requiring concurrent high power and high energy.
FPW: For your electrification products, what is the ideal sweet spot/machine for them (size-wise, type, etc.)?
Zifan Liu: Our products are designed to fit a wide range of applications and machine types. The key differentiator lies in the choice of energy storage. For small- and medium-duty machines, a single energy source such as a lithium-ion battery is often sufficient. For heavy-duty machines, hybrid architectures are more common, combining an internal combustion engine with a lithium-ion battery.
For example, our motor/inverter is energy-source agnostic: as long as the system senses the appropriate voltage, it can operate regardless of whether the power originates from a generator, a lithium-ion battery, or a fuel cell.
FPW: Where is Rexroth on efficiency development? This continues to be the key area for development when it comes to electrification and hydraulics.
Zifan Liu: We are always at the forefront of efficiency improvements, as this remains a key specification for our customers. We continuously promote new component designs, such as the previously mentioned eOC pumps and eLION electric motors and complement them with software solutions that optimize efficiency at the system level.
For example, our software eOC-eLION coordinates optimal performance when coupling our eOC pump with the eLION electric motor. By simultaneously adjusting motor/pump speed and pump displacement, it enables a new level of efficiency gains. This capability is critical for future electrification, which we continue to view as a cornerstone of our strategy.
FPW: How are advances in sensors, software, and control systems changing the way hydraulic and electronic systems work together in off-highway machines.
Zifan Liu: These advancements require careful coordination across components with different dynamics and may necessitate updated system integration as legacy parts are replaced with new ones. Functional safety considerations must also be revisited due to differing failure characteristics of electronified components. In return, this enables higher system efficiency, quicker dynamic response, enhanced operator comfort and safer machine operation.
FPW: What technology or market shift do you think the industry is underestimating right now?
Zifan Liu: The automotive and consumer electronic sectors often serve as valuable reference points for emerging trends and innovations. In the off-highway market, we are seeing steady strides in advancements as the industry works to keep pace with widespread electrification, autonomy, advanced HMI and AI-enabled features. The integration of these technologies holds significant potential to boost efficiency and productivity.
