Think of a typical manufacturing or warehouse that benefits from the speed and efficiency that a forklift brings to the production. The forklift makes work easier, whether it be in terms of better efficiency or lowering production costs and is a needed piece of equipment.  But, what if the forklift noise were reduced and helped to make the working environment quieter and less difficult and distracting to work in? Reducing noise has a noticeable effect on operations that are typically quite loud. It is amazing how the work environment can be improved and can become more productive when quieter.  

Acoustic emissions in hydraulic systems is generated primarily by the mechanical works of the pump and fluid pulsations exiting the pump as it supplies the flow for the system. Hydraulic pumps generate noise and/or vibration levels that can be unacceptable for many applications especially if operating indoor.

This is the main reason why Parker has introduced a new gear pump generation, the 500H Series Pump, capable of minimizing acoustic emissions. The engineering phenomenon that influences the emission of hydraulic noise include:

• Cavitation 

• Pressure peaks arising from fluid trapped between gear teeth 

• Ripple or flow pulsation

Parker 500H Series Pump is capable of minimizing those parameters causing noise. The especially studied helicoidal rotor profile has a single point of contact between the two gears, eliminating any trapped volume of fluid during rotation. The result is a silent, continuous transmission of fluid. Extremely low pulsation (“ripple”) levels are delivered into the hydraulic system. Internal hydrostatic mechanisms are in place to avoid trade-off with efficiency. 

As the market shifts toward electric solutions, the need for noise reduction becomes a requirement which the 500H Series Pump matches perfectly.  

The 500H Series Pump is two-quadrant technology, enabling it to operate as a pump and a motor too, in the energy recovery phase typical of new generation forklifts. This technology offers many benefits;

• Reduced energy requirement

• Lower noise levels

• High speed of operations: possible up to 4000rpm

• Continuously variable flow rate: 0% to 100%

• Pressure up to 250 bar

• Response time < 100ms due to very small internal mechanical inertia

Thanks to the revolutionary helicoidal rotor profile design concept, screw step and inner force balancing, Parker 500H Series Pumps have several advantages over standard competitor's pumps, including:

• A huge noise emissions reduction, on the average of 15 db(A) less.

• Reduced noise levels for the machine operators and their surroundings.

• Cancel the need of sound barriers, saving on costs.

• Helps meet noise limits required by laws and regulations.

Here's a look at a pulsation-rate comparison between Parker 500H Series and competing technologies.

Now, listen to the silent operation of the 500H Series pump.

By using variable speed motor systems, it is possible to create energy-efficient hydraulic drives where depending on the machine cycle, the energy saving can be as much as 30% when compared to a metering-controlled drive. Losses are largely eliminated when the supply flow is matched to demand. An optimum solution is provided by Parker 500H Series Pump driven by servo-motor where shaft speed is controlled by a frequency inverter. Since the supply flow is proportional to pump speed, the result is a variable flow from a fixed displacement pump.

It is easy to see and hear why Parker’s 500H Series Pump is ideal for forklift applications.

Article contributed by Enrico Baiocchi, product manager, Pump & Motor Division

From piercing, punching or riveting applications in the automotive industry to press applications within industrial automation, a linear actuator can be found in virtually all manufacturing sites, sharing the common goal of moving a load. Until recently hydraulics and pneumatics have been the primary options for linear actuation. Increased accuracy and energy efficiency are accelerating the trend to replace traditional hydraulics and pneumatics with electromechanical solutions, such as Parker’s XFC Series. 

Parker’s electromechanical alternative to traditional fluid powered linear actuators, the XFC Series, utilizes a planetary roller screw allowing higher load capacities, increased life and increased tolerance to shock-loading applications. 

The XFC Series can support a maximum thrust load to 80,000 pounds providing a seamless substitution from hydraulic to electro-mechanical motion, while offering high levels of control and energy efficiency. Selecting a XFC Series product is easy, and can be done through Parker’s online configurator

Control – When it comes to traditional fluid-powered actuators, high precision and control is hard to come by due to the standard properties of hydraulic oils and other fluid mediums. By substituting a fluid-powered actuator with Parker’s XFC, a high level of precision and control can be achieved. Utilizing the roller screw lead (linear travel per revolution), combined with the revolutions of the motor, the controller can determine the position of the actuator.  In many applications it can achieve a repeatability of 0.001” or better. 

Maintenance and installation – By utilizing software and monitoring the actuator’s torque within the planetary drives the controller can predict when maintenance will be required. Along those same lines, it is easier to identify abnormalities that may occur well before the point of failure preventing production downtime. Then, in the event of needing to replace a unit, the only maintenance needed to be done is dropping in the new XFC product--there are no hoses, pumps, or other hydraulic system components to worry about. 

This plug-and-play ability of the XFC cuts down on installation costs and reduces system components costs of filters, pumps, hoses, etc. It is important to remember that although hydraulics may be lower cost upfront, long-term maintenance costs and higher installation costs significantly increase the total cost of ownership.

To read more about the advantages of the Parker’s XFC Series such as environmental impact, noise reduction and more, check out the case studies and information in the Parker XFC white paper from Parker's Cylinder Division. 

This article was contributed by Bruce Besch, product manager, Cylinder Division

Related articles:

Selecting Between Pneumatic, Hydraulic and Electromechanical Linear Actuators

A Simple Guide to Benefits of Electromechanical Technology

Roller Wheel Bearing Linear Actuators | Pros and Cons

It’s a sobering fact that many of the support structures holding up the world’s electrical grid are nearing the end of their serviceable life. After 50 or so years, wooden electric poles and corresponding cross supports inevitably rot and need replacement. When they do, power company linemen get in an insolated bucket and are hoisted by a crane as much as 50 feet in the air to repair those structures. However, many times the equipment used to hold the energized electrical lines in place while the work is done is less than ideal, creating a potentially hazardous environment. 

LinePro Equipment is a manufacturer of insulated crane and digger derrick attachments for energized transmission and distribution line maintenance. Among their products, the company’s Insulated Conductor Supports Jibs (ICSJ) temporary support energized ultra-high voltage power lines to allow faster and safer insulator and tower replacement/relocation.

“With electricity, you only get one mistake. There have been fatalities using equipment that was inadequate. Our products help to keep linemen out of harm's way.”

Larry Ewert, product designer,  LinePro Equipment

In addition, the company’s LinePro HA aerial devices are configurable as a Live Line bucket truck/aerial platform device, an energized conductor support, pole setting vehicle, and a material-handling crane. “In the past, we’ve used a multi-pin hole for the buckets and the supporting conductors,” Ewart says. “Linemen used to set the position on the ground, lift it up and hope they had the right angle. If they guessed wrong, they’d have to bring it all down and set it, so it was time consuming.”

A former vehicle technician with BC Hydro, Ewart recognized the safety and productivity issues involved in the traditional multi-pin method and designed an improved aerial device that includes hydraulic actuation, so the company’s bucket truck/aerial platform devices could be repositioned in the air, by radio control. According to Ewert, precise platform positioning without drift increases safety and allows for various degrees of articulation. 

For hydraulic actuation, LinePro Equipment relies on Parker’s Helac actuators, specifically the L30-215 helical rotary actuators, which is responsible for the articulation and boom positioning. Ewart says Helac actuators provide jib storage and quick deployment not previously available. “

We can’t accomplish the same thing with cylinders because they’re too cumbersome,” he says. “Because we get the same articulation out of a compact package, Helac actuators are more efficient for what we do.”  The actuator functions as a rotating device, mounting bracket, and bearing support. The large circular shaft flange with drilled and tapped bolt circle is used to attach the actuator to the jib boom. 

The characteristics of the helical rotary actuator make it ideal for this platform. Parker’s L30 helical actuator series offers high load carrying, high torque output, compact configurations, and corrosion resistance in a cost-effective package with 180-degree rotation. Its sliding-spline operating concept produces output torque to 215,000 pounds per inch at 3,000 psi.  At the same time, the actuator measures 23.6 inches with a 10-inch housing diameter and weighs 790 pounds. 

Because the spline teeth remain engaged at all times, loads are equally distributed over the teeth, resulting in increased shock load resilience. Large integral nylon composition bearings support heavy radial, moment, and thrust loads without additional external bearings. Sealing occurs against smooth cylindrical surfaces, effectively eliminating leakage and enabling selected positions to be held without drift.  

Parker’s Helac helical rotary actuator assists LinePro’s aerial devices to be safer and much more efficient. The load holding capability allows for safety with either the aerial work platform or the insulated conductor support application. 

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division and was originally published by Design Engineering.

Related articles:

Mobile Equipment: Powerful, Smart and Operator-Friendly

Lifters Designed with Rotary Actuators Dump Waste More Effectively

Rotary Actuator Steering Combines Power and Precision

Mobile off-road machinery is adding more advanced features such as advanced load moment indication (LMI), automated dig routines, and GPS based excavation and grading. In addition to off-road machinery, many on-road vehicles such as transit busses and motor coaches are adding sophisticated sub-systems to support adaptive cruise control and advanced driver assistance (ADAS), hybrid and electric drives.

These new sub-systems have also added the need for more information to be made available to the operators and service technicians. The additional complexity of the sub-systems has also resulted in increased complexity of the information for these systems.

Parker’s PHD display family is designed to keep pace with the advanced sub-systems in mobile machinery.  Modern full glass LCD screens offer both the ability to display this information in a flexible and dynamic fashion, but also allows for easy to understand messages in both graphical form and in multiple languages. An example of this is showing the speed limit to the driver through the Advanced Driver Assist System. This can be shown as a graphical image of the speed limit sign, which varies by the posted speed limit, the local language, and even the format of the sign itself. Traditional instrument clusters with dial gages and telltale indicator lights are simply not capable of showing this type of dynamic, advanced information.

In addition to the ability to show dynamic information, full glass LCD screens also offer several screen configurations and options to make sure the correct information is shown at the correct time. As the status of the machine changes during operation, the information and status relevant to the operator or driver will also change. Since LCD screens allow an almost unlimited number of screens available to the operator, the correct information can be shown to the driver or operator as needed. For example, generally, the operator doesn’t need to see temperature or fluid level warnings during general operation. However, if there is a fluid level or temperature warning, a display can automatically change screens, showing the relevant fluid level amount and the warning text to bring this to the attention of the operator.

This is also true for cranes with advanced Load Moment Indication systems as well as backhoes with auto-dig functionality. For a backhoe, in the normal operating mode, the display would function as a normal instrument cluster, showing engine RPM, temperature, fuel level, etc. However, when the operator enters the auto dig functionality, the screen needs to change to show the backhoe configuration, as well as bucket depth and slope. This information is dynamic in nature and needs the flexibility of a display screen to present this information to the operator. 

Flexible, dynamic screens are also essential to service technicians to troubleshoot systems. As sub-systems become more sophisticated, technicians need the ability to see a wide variety of information as well as various descriptions and possible repair options. For electric traction drives, the service technician needs to not only see the fault codes and status relating to the batteries, but also information relating the motors and drives. Since these sub-systems all interrelate, the information shown to the technician is dynamic and would vary by various failure modes between the batteries, drives and motors. Having this flexibility on the screens is essential to supporting these new sub-systems in the field.

Safe operation is also a very important factor in today’s machinery. The ability to see around the machine is key part of overall machine safety. This has driven the demand for back-up and peripheral cameras. In order to reduce the number of screens in the cab, the ability to dynamically change the screen to show one or multiple camera views is also important.

Todays modern on and off-road equipment are implementing more sophisticated sub-systems, such as all-electric drive, auto dig, advanced LMI and ADAS systems. Full glass, mobile displays, such as Parker Hannifin’s PHD mobile displays provide the flexibility and resolution that are essential for the operation, diagnostics and support of these new, advanced sub systems.

Download Parker's Display Product Selection Guide here

Article contributed by Kirk Lola, product manager, Electronic Controls Division, Parker Hannifin Corporation.

Related articles:

Advantages of Displays in Mobile Machinery

A Technology Shift That Helps To Improve Productivity in Mobile Equipment

Easy to Use Display Programming Tools Help Drive Value for Machinery OEMs

It is not unusual in the Pacific Northwest to get substantial rainfall, up to eighteen inches in thirty-six hours, which results in severe damage to forest roads. To make matters worse, many of these washed-out roads span fragile native streams and rivers — home to several threatened or endangered trout and salmon species. For instance, sediment is released into the stream beds causing serious damage to both individual fish and their stream habitats. Fortunately, the experienced team at JJ Welch Contracting have the right tools to rebuild these damaged roads and restore fragile stream habitats.

Jim Welch, Owner of JJ Welch Contracting, has experienced the benefits firsthand of having the right tools to rebuild roads and restore stream habitats. JJ Welch Contracting uses a unique Kobelco 200 excavator with an extendable dipper stick to regularly rebuild washed out road banks and stream habitats. The extendable dipper stick allows him to do more work from the road avoiding the need to cut shelves into the land around the road. However, the extendable dipper stick was only one piece of the puzzle. He still needed the right attachment for rebuilding the road bank and stream habitat. After trying a conventional digging bucket and a hydraulic thumb, Welch found the optimal attachment -- the Parker PowerGrip Multi-Purpose Bucket.

"In addition to saving up to an hour and a half each day, I am utilizing my materials much better with the PowerGrip. I’m not dropping rock or mishandling material like with a conventional bucket or hydraulic thumb"

- Jim Welch, Owner of JJ Welch Contracting

When Welch tried a conventional digging bucket, he found that he lacked optimal control of material placement — when the bucket rolled forward, all the material would tend dump out too quickly. With PowerGrip, Welch can virtually eliminate material waste when he uses the smooth lip of the bucket to pile up the rock or material, and then use the clam functionality to pick up materials. The PowerGrip eliminates excess dirt being picked up with rock which helps us gain efficiency through improved material utilization.”

When Welch used a hydraulic thumb on his smaller excavators, he discovered the thumb was less than ideal for placing rocks and other material, and the operator is required to keep constant pressure on the thumb to avoid dropping rock prematurely. With PowerGrip, the gripping action is accomplished by one circuit as opposed to two opposing circuits found with a thumb. Having one circuit and an integral lock valve that hydraulically locks and holds objects in the jaw, PowerGrip allows Welch to pick up the material and place it anywhere he wants.

"PowerGrip not only improves our efficiency - since any of our operators can use this solution - it’s also safer since there's less risk of dropping material around the job site.”

Soon after Welch began using PowerGrip in the rainy Northwest region, he discovered that PowerGrip exceeded his expectations in terms of durability and lower maintenance.

“PowerGrip is easy to maintain with just two zerks to worry about. With PowerGrip’s fully enclosed rotary actuator hinge, worrying about nicks, dings or debris contamination to exposed cylinders and rods is a thing of the past.”

PowerGrip is equipped with a durable, enclosed rotary actuator hinge that’s ideally suited for regions with heavy rainfall. With the rotary actuator hinge technology offering 120 degrees of jaw movement, there are no exposed cylinders and rods in the bucket shell or clam that can become polluted with debris, leading to attachment malfunctions. The rotating movement is generated by the massive rotating pivot point between the jaw and back of the bucket that’s designed with the Helac sliding spline operating technology by Parker, which converts linear piston motion into powerful shaft rotation.  The end caps, seals and bearings work in unison to keep debris and contaminants out of the inner workings of the actuator, prolonging life and reducing required maintenance.  High strength, abrasion-resistant steel is used throughout for added durability. 

With the variety of tasks JJ Welch contracting required from their Kobelco 200 excavator, PowerGrip provided them with a flexible, adaptable tool to get multiple tasks done with a single machine. Built to function as a trenching, grading or clamshell bucket and for gripping and loading, JJ Welch used PowerGrip for a diverse range of tasks – placing riprap and rock, rebuilding road embankments, and cleaning up salmon streams. 

This inherent flexibility allows JJ Welch Contracting to keep PowerGrip on their machine 85 percent of the time, year-round.  “PowerGrip’s versatility allows our operators to save time and better utilize our materials on the job site,” states Welch. 

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division.

Related articles: 

Productivity Improved with Multi-Purpose Jaw Bucket

Unique Tilting Coupler Technology Gives Construction Firm Competitive Edge

Landscape Design Made Easier with PowerTilt Tilting Coupler Attachment

The Tamrock Axera 226 — built in Lyon, France, by Sandvik Mining and Construction — is a rubber-tired, twin-boom rock-drilling machine. Typically used for underground hard-rock mining and tunneling applications, the machine is designed to drill a series of holes in the face, sides, roof and floor of a chamber without being moved. It can produce cross-sectional areas between six- and 40 m2 from one position. Depending on the application, rock bolts or explosives are inserted into the holes. With the drills located at the outboard ends of the booms, the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the main machine from falling rock and debris is minimized during the drilling operation.

Power comes from a Deutz BF4M2012 diesel engine that delivers 74 kW (100 hp). The rig carries twin 55-kW hydraulic power units that produce 18 to 24 kW of percussive power. A drill mechanism uses a combination of percussion and rotation of the drill bit. A manually operated, hydraulically controlled drilling system — with multiple automatic functions — allows high drilling performance with good drill-steel economy and high reliability.

The dual-boom design extends the time period between drill-bit changes. In addition, one boom can work while the other is being set up. A series of rugged cylinders coordinates the X-Y boom movements and manipulates the feed, making control of the drill simple and logical. Each boom includes a 360° helical rotary actuator that enables the operator to roll the feed beam over to drill into face, side, roof, and floor surfaces. The actuator also can position the feed for full visibility over the top of the feed and the drill bit.

The rotary actuators, special model L30-95 manufactured by Parker’s Helac Business Unit are integral parts of the machine, mounted in-line between the booms and drill heads. Their large circular, integral shaft flange — with drilled and tapped bolt circle — is used to attach the actuator to the boom. The drill head assembly is attached to the actuator’s octagonal rear mounting flange. The actuator’s shaft remains stationary with the boom while the housing and drill head rotate. (The actuator also incorporates a drilled and tapped mounting rail on the housing. Sandvik uses the rail mounting for other rotating applications.)

The unique characteristics of the helical rotary actuator make it ideal for this application. Its sliding-spline operating concept produces very high output torque (in this case: 90,000 inch-pounds at 3,000 psi) from a compact configuration. The actuator measures 33 inches in overall length with an eight-inch housing diameter and weighs 415 pounds.

Because all spline teeth remain engaged at all times, loads are equally distributed over the teeth This results in exceptional durability and high tolerance to the shock loads inherent in rock drilling. Backlash is almost negligible — approximately 1°. Parker’s patented integral bearing design enables the actuator to support heavy radial moment, and thrust loads without the need for additional external bearings.

In the Axera 226 machine, one actuator supports the entire drill head assembly on each boom. Because all sealing occurs against smooth, cylindrical surfaces, internal bypass and external leakage has effectively been eliminated, resulting in smooth positioning capabilities and zero drift after a position has been selected. The actuator has an integral dual counterbalance valve that further improves positioning accuracy and adds an extra margin of safety in case of system failure. In short, the helical rotary actuator functions as rotating device, mounting bracket, and bearing support — all in one component.

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division and was originally published by Hydraulics & Pneumatics. 

Related articles:

Related articles:

Know Your Pneumatics: Rotary Actuator Basics

Know Your Pneumatics: Which Rotary Actuator Should I Choose?

Lifters Designed with Rotary Actuators Dump Waste More Effectively

Know Your Pneumatics: 3 Ways to Increase Your ROI from Rotary Actuators

The construction boom in Western Washington spawned many new entrants to the construction business. The leaders of the pack availed themselves of the right tools needed to provide quality workmanship on time, every time. Thomas Construction Company, located in Maple Valley, WA, fully understands the importance of having the right tools for the job. That's why they switched from a cylinder-style tilting bucket to a Helac PowerTilt Tilting coupler PowerTilt allowed the Thomas Construction Company to double their productivity on a host of heavy construction projects that required 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 slopes for retention ponds and roads.

PowerTiIt has been an important tool for Operations Manager, Dennis Gilkinson’s team at Thomas Construction Company. In the hands of a skilled operator, PowerTilt yields incredible time-savings.

"With the PowerTilt, I accomplished twice as much work on the job site. PowerTilt allowed me to simply tilt the bucket instead of repositioning the entire machine. When the PowerTilt was in the shop for service, I was forced to use a standard bucket and the job took me twice as long to complete.”

CAT 330 Equipment Operator, Kelly Kazaro

Increasing the speed at which projects were completed was only half the battle for Thomas Construction Company. Using their cylinder-style tilting bucket while working on rough uneven roads proved difficult and required significant care, time and attention to detail to achieve the quality finished product that they are known for. A cylinder-style tilting bucket forced the equipment operator to put extra dirt on the uneven road under the tracks of his excavator to level the machine in order to build a smooth, consistent 1:1,2:1 or 3:1 slope that the customer demanded. A switch to PowerTilt allowed them to deliver consistent quality without all the hassle and time inefficiency of a tilting bucket.

The cylinder-style tilting bucket did not have the adequate range nor rotation necessary to complete slope work efficiently. The construction company found that they had to reposition the excavator far too frequently, resulting in wasted time spent moving the machine instead of doing productive work. PowerTilt turned out to be the perfect solution to bridge this productivity gap.

The greater rotation of 134 degrees side-to-side swing rotation provided by PowerTilt addressed problems with the tilting bucket. With PowerTilt the need to reposition the machine far less frequently resulted in dramatically increased productivity. Without the PowerTilt, it was very difficult to build a consistent, smooth, finished slope. PowerTilt allowed operators to make small subtle adjustments that saved a tremendous amount of time and improved the quality of the finished product on the job site.

PowerTilt uses Parker’s innovative sliding-spline operating technology to convert linear piston motion into powerful shaft rotation. Each actuator is composed of a housing and two moving parts — the central shaft and piston. As hydraulic pressure is applied, the piston is displaced axially, while the helical gearing on the piston outer diameter and housing's ring gear cause the simultaneous rotation of the piston. PowerTiIt’s end caps, seals and bearings all work in tandem to keep debris and other contaminants out of the inner workings of the actuator, prolonging product life and reducing required maintenance.

Over a decade of research, innovation and engineering has gone into making PowerTilt an integral solution for worksite efficiency. PowerTiIt is specifically engineered to work with a variety of attachments to enhance machine versatility and productivity. PowerTilt's inherent flexibility allowed Thomas Construction Company to keep PowerTilt on their machine 100 percent of the time, year-round. PowerTilt is available for equipment up to 75,000 pounds in eight sizes with standard rotation of up to 180 degrees. Each model is engineered for a specific class of machinery and individually customized to fit your machine.

To learn more about PowerTilt, visithttp://solutions.parker.com/powertilt.

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division 

Related articles:

PowerTilt Reduces Manual Labor, Lowers Costs and Increases Operator Safety

Landscape Design Made Easier with PowerTilt Tilting Coupler Attachment

Unique Tilting Coupler Technology Gives Construction Firm Competitive Edge

Difficulty and danger have always been inherent in the mining profession. Miners typically face risks ranging from flying debris to mine collapse, to vehicular incidents.

But as mining operations move toward the future, many offer a new vision. It’s one of partially and fully autonomous mining equipment, programmed to handle some of those difficult and dangerous tasks traditionally handled by people.

Mining automation is a key component of many companies’ digital transformation strategies. It promises improvements to safety, productivity, and reduced labor costs. In a 2020 survey of global mining leaders, 75% said they view this kind of technological disruption as more of an opportunity than a threat, while 36% identified innovation and technological transformation as one of their company’s top two growth strategies.

The former CEO of Australian mining firm BHP, Andrew Mackenzie, has stated that automation could save the industry billions.

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

The use of automated equipment in mines is still small. One estimate stated that less than 3% of current mobile mining equipment is autonomous. However, it’s expanding rapidly. Multiple OEMs now offer autonomous equipment, such as hauling trucks, load/haul/dump (LHD) machines and drillers. According to an article published in Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration in July 2020:

• As of February 2020, 459 autonomous trucks were accounted for and active in mines around the world.

• Caterpillar® has provided more than 239 autonomous trucks to mining operations in several countries globally, including the United States.

• Komatsu® has distributed 141 autonomous trucks to mines in several countries, including the U.S. At one mine in Chile, the use of these trucks over 10 years has significantly reduced the frequency of collision, while raising productivity and tire performance.

• The industry expected a 32% growth in the use of automated vehicles in 2019-2020, and higher rates are expected for future years.

Other key emerging technologies include:

• Auto-tunable robotic loading (ARTL) technology, which uses non-visual sensors to allow an LHD to judge the size and configuration of a rock pile and adjust for excavation. This technology promises to help automated LHDs better operate in low light/dusty conditions.

• Automated power crushers that provide greater crush down capacity between primary and secondary crushers.

• Automated, electric light rail systems. These may combine features from conveyors, trucks and heavy rail in a single system for hauling bulk materials out of a mine.

Despite the great promise for automated equipment to transform mine operational efficiency, productivity, and safety, challenges do remain.

As pointed out in a 2018 report by McKinsey & Co., investing in technology is only one piece of the puzzle. Mines also need to adapt management and operational systems to realize automation’s potential, while shifting company culture to being one that embraces a more agile organization that can get value from the technology.

Mining has traditionally been difficult and often dangerous work. But new technologies are poised to remove some of the most challenging mining tasks from human hands, creating jobsites that are safer and more productive. Leading OEMs now offer automated mining equipment, including trucks, LHD machines and drillers. While industrywide adoption has been somewhat slow, it’s difficult to imagine a future of mining without these technologies — and others such as artificial intelligence — playing a key role.

To learn more about the trends in mining automaton and how Parker plays a key role, read our Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery White Paper. 

This article was contributed by the Hydraulics Team

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

How IoT Systems Will Impact the Future for Off-Road Equipment

Electronic Control Systems for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Implements

How Are We Going to Benefit From 5g Connectivity?

Overcoming Challenges of Fully Autonomous Vehicles

As we embark on an era where technology has seemingly evolved every aspect of our lives, the agriculture industry as well is undergoing an evolution. 

New technologies, including drones, robots, GPS, artificial intelligence, big data, IoT technologies and more, are helping farmers use “precision agriculture.” This is farming that optimizes the use of land, uses fewer resources, creates less waste and helps ensure we meet the world’s food demand. 

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

The precision agriculture trend is said to have begun in the 1980s when GPS technology was first made available to the U.S. public. Smart farming tools were developed to help farmers more effectively apply fertilizers and pesticides. By 2015, according to a survey by Purdue University and CropLife magazine, nearly 90% of U.S. farmers were using GPS for chemical applications. In 2020, the Federal Communications Commission announced it would focus on supporting the development of precision ag technologies and committed $1 billion to the effort. 

Today, precision agriculture encompasses a variety of technologies and farm management applications, including: 

• Robots that use vision, guidance and machine learning technology to handle tasks such as identifying and spraying individual weeds. The ability to target an individual weed frees farmers from having to spray entire fields, greatly decreasing their use of pesticides. 

• Drones that can monitor fields in real-time, gathering a variety of data for farmers to analyze and improve their practices. Advanced drones can selectively apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. 

• Satellite imagery and Geographic Information Survey (GIS) mapping to help farmers monitor fields, detect threats and gather a variety of data for analysis. 

• Software that helps farmers make more informed, data-driven decisions regarding field conditions and needs, weather implications, record keeping and more.  

Other precision agriculture applications leverage smart farming machinery; machines using either machine-to-machine communications or artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize farming practices. These technologies and applications include: 

• Irrigation systems using smart controllers and sensors to deliver water only where it’s needed and only in the amount needed. 

• GPS-guided autosteer systems for tractors, combines, sprayers and other large equipment. These systems can help keep crop rows straight and prevent overlaps. 

• Satellite-guided, precision seeders and fertilizer systems. These can be accurate to an inch or less, helping maximize yield. 

• Sensors integrated into farm equipment that can help monitor data such as seed counts, nutrient levels and fertilizer flow. 
   

The benefits of using precision agriculture to help feed a growing population seem clear. And while precision agriculture is likely to grow — the market has an expected CAGR of 12.7% between 2020 and 2025, according to Markets and Markets — the technology does present some challenges.  

One challenge is related to big data in agriculture, and to making sure farmers have the tools they need to make maximum use of the information returned to them. This might be another job for AI. Quoted in Inside Unmanned Systems, 

“Using AI and deep learning makes it possible to harvest the data and make sense of it. The data is more manageable when algorithms automatically search and sift through it, pulling out the analytics growers need most.” 
Jeff Williams of Empire Unmanned

Another challenge, cited in the same article, is that of speed. Farmers need tools to process sensor-collected data by themselves, without having it send it off for processing. This speed allows farmers to use big data to make more actionable, meaningful decisions. 

Perhaps no other human activity has been as important throughout our history as farming. It will continue to be critical as our global population swells to nearly 10 billion people by 2050. 

Precision agriculture is poised to help farmers step up to the daunting challenge of meeting this growing population’s food demand. Employing a variety of technologies, including GPS, satellite imagery, drones, big data and AI, precision agriculture gives farmers much more sophisticated control of their farm management practices, helping them improve yields while reducing their use of resources and production of waste.  

To learn more about the trend of precision agriculture and how Parker plays a key role, read our Off-Road Trends White Paper. 

This article was contributed by the Hydraulic Team

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

The Move Toward Smart Sprayers

How Will New Trends in Seeding and Cultivation Impact Machine Design?

How Can Pneumatic Technology Help Farmers Boost Their Crop Yields? Part 1 of 2

How Can Pneumatic Technology Help Farmers Boost Their Crop Yields? Part 2 of 2

Sowing the Seeds and Harvesting Innovation in Agriculture

In the residential excavation field, time is money. For Ken Williams of Williams Loader Services Inc. the time savings that he gained from adding a PowerGrip multipurpose bucket to his CAT 314 was immense. When using the PowerGrip in conjunction with his existing PowerTilt Tilting Coupler, Williams is able to complete certain jobs, such as loading trucks, up to 30 percent more quickly than with a conventional bucket/thumb combination. The PowerTilt/PowerGrip combo in addition to the four other PowerTiIt attachments that Williams uses on his fleet of backhoes has maximized his productivity and improved his bottom line.

Prior to using the PowerTilt/ PowerGrip combo, Ken Williams used a hydraulic thumb for clearing lots and found it to be challenging at best. When loading trucks with the thumb, Williams would have to swing around the material at only one angle to the truck, and when he was clearing and loading six foot saplings, he always had to rely on a chain saw to rip them apart, costing him extra man-hours swapping between the excavator and the chain saw at the job sites. With the PowerTilt/PowerGrip combo, Williams never has to leave his machine. The unique design allows him to angle the material into the truck in any direction and rip apart six-foot saplings with ease.

The PowerGrip with its unmatched, hand-like manipulation and dexterity is also unique in that it can be used to pick up and stack brittle stone without breaking it; a task that Williams Loader Services does frequently. When Williams added the PowerGrip to their existing CAT backhoe, it also opened up the opportunity to add utility work to their services. In working on water and sewer lines, Williams found that “When getting into rocky material; you can scoop up a bucket of rocks, then open up the bucket three to four inches to separate the smaller material. You can never do this effectively with a standard bucket.”

Parker's integral designs are based on research, engineering and innovation, providing the most efficient solutions for work site versatility. PowerTiIt is available for equipment up to 75,000 pounds in eight sizes with standard rotation of up to 180 degrees. Each model is designed for a specific class of machinery and individually customized to fit the carrier. In addition, PowerTiIt is specifically engineered to work with a variety of other attachments, greatly enhancing your machine's versatility. Wide buckets, brushcutters, narrow buckets, hydraulic hammers, rippers and mowers, are just a few of the attachments that are compatible with the PowerTiIt.

PowerGrip buckets are available for equipment up to 20 tons, in three sizes, with bucket width ranges from 24 to 48 inches in the trenching profiles and 48 or 60 inches in the ditching profiles. PowerGrip has been engineered with the flexibility to function as a trenching, ditching, grading or clamshell bucket and can also be used for gripping and loading. PowerGrip’s adaptability allows it to be a true multi-purpose tool that can change from one job to another without the need to change tools.

Williams uses their four PowerTilts and one PowerGrip on his entire fleet of backhoe loaders to perform a wide range of tasks throughout the residential excavation process, ranging from clearing lots, digging basements, tight grading, cutting a swale and picking up soapstone to ripping trees apart, separating materials and loading dump trucks. Because there is no need to remove the PowerGrip bucket, Williams can switch easily from working on his excavating jobs to doing his water and sewer utility work; an important labor and time-saving feature.  For his excavation business, Williams uses a grading bucket with PowerTiIt attachment 100 percent of the time, as well as a PowerGrip multi-purpose bucket in combination with a PowerTilt attachment on their CAT314.

“I don't take the PowerTilts or PowerTilt/ PowerGrip combo off the machines, even though they wouldn’t be hard to remove. I personally use the machine with the PowerGrip 50 percent of the time; the other 50 percent of the time my operators use it. Currently we have over 3,000 hours logged onto the PowerGrip. I would never buy another hydraulic thumb. The weight savings and overall versatility of PowerGrip puts it so far ahead of a thumb. I can clear lots, dig basements, cut a swale, rip trees apart, separate materials, and even pick up brittle soapstone without breaking it.”

Ken Williams, Williams Loader Service, Inc

PowerGrip and PowerTilt use Parker’s innovative Helac sliding-spline operating technology to convert linear piston motion into powerful shaft rotation. Each actuator is composed of a housing and two moving parts — the central shaft and piston. As hydraulic pressure is applied, the piston is displaced axially, while the helical gearing on the piston outer diameter and housing’s ring gear cause the simultaneous rotation of the piston. PowerGrip and PowerTilt’s end caps, seals and bearings all work in tandem to keep debris and other contaminants out of the inner workings of the actuator, prolonging product life and reducing required maintenance.

To learn more about our construction attachments, including PowerGrip and PowerTilt, visit http://solutions.parker.com/powertilt

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division.

Related articles: 

PowerTilt Reduces Manual Labor, Lowers Costs and Increases Operator Safety

Productivity Improved with Multi-Purpose Jaw Bucket

Unique Tilting Coupler Technology Gives Construction Firm Competitive Edge

Since the 1960s, the diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) has reigned as the powerplant of choice for off-road heavy equipment, offering high levels of power and torque relative to weight and volume.

In the future, however, diesel’s reign as the construction powerplant of choice may be threatened by an even older technology: the electric motor. Just as electric vehicles are a growing trend in automotive, electric construction equipment is poised to have an impact on its industry as well.

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

Several major original equipment manufacturers already are producing a variety of electric construction vehicles for various applications.

Volvo, for instance, now offers a selection of electric compact equipment, including an excavator and a wheel loader. Bobcat unveiled an electric/hydraulic excavator and loader, and an all-electric loader in 2020. And Caterpillar introduced a battery-powered dozer, wheel loader, and mini excavator at the 2019 bauma construction trade show in Munich, Germany.

These and other OEMs are leading the research and development charge to introduce additional electric construction equipment that meets the needs of operators and applications across the globe.

According to a 2019 study by 360 Research Reports, the worldwide market for electric vehicles for construction, agriculture, and mining is expected to grow at a CAGR of 51.3% between 2019 and 2024. By 2024, the market is predicted to be worth $2.27 billion. A September 2020 report by Markets and Markets predicts a 22.8% growth in sales of electric off-highway vehicles between 2020 and 2025.

Many construction firms already realize that using electric equipment may make more economic sense than using diesel-powered equipment. A 2019 report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. shows how in some scenarios, the use of electric equipment offered a 20% lower total cost of ownership than diesel.

Stricter government regulations for emissions and noise pollution are helping drive the adoption of electric construction equipment. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency now limits new diesel engines to near-zero levels for the emission of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Rules in the European Union are even stricter, according to a 2019 article in Construct Connect. [Missing Link to article]

Many electric construction vehicle OEMs are using lithium-ion batteries, which are smaller, lighter, and 20% to 30% more efficient than lead-acid batteries. According to an article in OEM Off-Road, [MISSING LINK] the newest battery technologies have reached a point at which electric equipment can have the same, eight-hour duty cycle as ICE equipment.

Charging remains a concern for many operators, though, as the remoteness of some construction sites and limited access to electricity can be an issue in some applications. However, battery chargers are being integrated into the equipment they power, according to a July 2020 article in OEM Off-Highway, making it easier for operators to charge anywhere.

Not so long ago, it might have been hard to imagine an alternative to diesel-powered construction equipment. However, driven by a variety of factors — including regulatory trends and advances in technology and customer economics that make it possible — construction firms are starting to adopt electric equipment on jobsites across the world.

To learn more about trends in the Construction industry, read our white paper, Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery.

This article was contributed by the Hydraulics team. 

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

Parker's Solutions for the Off-Road Machinery Industry

Parker Innovations That Keep the World Moving

Off-Road Trends- Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery

A Look at the Compact Construction Equipment Market

Internet of Things (IoT) technology enables otherwise unconnected objects to be connected digitally. The technology already is transforming industries such as automobile manufacturing, consumer products, shipping and logistics and more. IoT in construction promises to be transformative as well.

With IoT, objects are tagged with unique identifiers (UID), through technology such as UHF RFID chips. As “smart” objects, they can collect and transfer data through a gateway and over a network, all without the involvement of human operators. That data can be put to use in a variety of ways, depending on the application.

Fact is, such smart construction technology makes good sense. According to an article in Orange Business Services:

The (construction) industry has seen a rise in operational complexities, and since the start of the current decade, construction companies have been growing in scale and expanding their operations geographically and in the type of projects they undertake. They need to manage projects simultaneously in different geographies, while also needing to optimize asset lifecycle management and manage projects to tighter deadlines to prevent potential delays and reduce unnecessary costs.

All this means that more robust project management is needed in the face of intensifying competition and the need to be more environmentally focused. Digital technologies are providing the way forward.
Paul Tucker, global ICT sales and account management professional

To learn more about trends in the Construction industry, read our white paper, Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery.

IoT enables smart construction, where machines collect and transmit data to each other, via cloud networks, to site supervisors, company managers, and even original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Sensors placed on individual pieces of IoT construction equipment can track performance and location, providing broad datasets for further analysis. 

According to a projection by Bain and Co., 6.8 million smart construction machines will be shipped between 2018 and 2025.

• Equipment maintenance— Sensors can monitor the operation of a piece of equipment, and alert operators and users that equipment needs to be serviced or repaired. Improving the frequency of preventative maintenance can help companies better manage costs. Meanwhile, IoT gives equipment suppliers the opportunity to evolve into long-term partners who can monitor customer equipment from afar, and provide necessary maintenance as needed. Such services open new value streams for the OEM while allowing the customer to focus on their core business.  
• Site monitoring— Supervisors and company managers can get real-time insights into the activities of both construction workers and machinery without having to keep track manually. IoT can, for instance, help monitor man-hours and the efforts that are put in by each employee at a construction project. In some cases, IoT can monitor the motions and movements of individual workers, alerting supervisors to inefficiency, human error, and possible employee fatigue. This data can also help owners better calculate the cost of construction projects, to create more accurate estimates for future work. 
• Equipment tracking— Construction technology using GPS can help site managers keep track of the location of individual pieces of equipment at a construction project, helping prevent loss and monitor theft. Through geofencing, they can limit how close equipment gets to sensitive structures. IoT can also monitor things such as tire pressures and temperatures, axle load, harsh braking/acceleration, and even seat belt use. All of this can help managers and operators improve overall efficiency and safety.
   

Many of Parker’s core equipment offerings already are being outfitted with the types of sensors described above. These are designed to integrate with the Parker Mobile IoT solution, which includes a ruggedly engineered gateway that’s installed on a machine (an excavator or loader, for instance) to create smart construction technology. The gateway then collects data made available by the sensors and transmits it to the Parker Internet cloud. 

That data can then be made available to construction project supervisors, company managers, OEMs, and other stakeholders, and analyzed by Parker software to provide a range of actionable information. In the future, the technology may provide for levels of autonomy, where the equipment can respond by itself to the gathered data. Imagine a construction crane that turns itself off when detecting a failure mode, helping avoid damage, and possibly preventing a safety issue.

The Parker solution thus allows construction equipment OEMs to track and stay in touch with all the machines they have deployed in every fleet, in every country throughout the world, in real-time. So, they know the status of every machine: whether or not it’s operating, and whether or not it has failure modes. It allows them to deliver new services and capabilities to their end-users — the owners/operators of those machines— that they couldn’t deliver before.

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

This article was contributed by Hydraulics Team.

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

Parker's Solutions for the Off-Road Machinery Industry

Parker's Mobile IoT for Equipment Manufacturers

Parker Innovations That Keep the World Moving

A Look at the Compact Construction Equipment Market

The Strategic Approach to Fleet Optimization for Heavy Equipment

There is hardly any question that the 21st century is bringing about a revolution in construction processes and equipment. Many of the aspects of what’s traditionally thought of as manual labor is changing forever with the introduction of construction robotics and autonomous equipment.

The pace of this change is being amplified by even broader trends in the industry. Perhaps most impactful has been the growing labor shortage. More than 2.3 million construction workers left the industry after the housing crash and recession of 2007 – 2009. And while job growth has been strong in recent years, hiring construction companies are still challenged by a shortage of skilled labor. The pandemic of 2020 has only exacerbated this trend.

Meanwhile, automation and robotics have started to transform a wide range of industries. So, it follows that construction equipment original equipment manufacturers also have begun to adopt robotic solutions to help their customers address the dearth of available skilled labor. The construction job site of the next decade is poised to look less and less like what traditionally comes to mind.

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

While autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars) get a lot of buzz in the news, it’s autonomous construction equipment — used on closed sites, away from traffic — that’s made real progress. Such equipment is now being used to excavate, grade, and do other work, all without the direct involvement of a human operator. These autonomous machines use sensors, drones, and augmented GPS to navigate to precise spots on a site. 

Similarly, construction companies are now using autonomous drones and rovers outfitted with cameras and LiDAR technology. This equipment can scan a site daily, then use artificial intelligence to determine progress against a set schedule. All this helps the site supervisors and company managers more efficiently and effectively identify errors and increase efficiency. 

This equipment also can be used to inspect dangerous areas of a job site, providing valuable information to help avoid worker injuries and improve overall site safety.

Construction tasks may be challenging to automate, but progress is indeed being made. Robots are now able to handle some of the industry’s most repetitive work. This includes tasks such as bricklaying, masonry, painting, tying rebar, and street laying. Robotics also has been engineered for use in demolition. While slower than human demolition crews, robots are nevertheless safer and cheaper for this dangerous work.

Recently, the first-ever 3D-printed bridge was built in the Netherlands. It was manufactured by a 3D-printing robot that can build large structures using pre-programmed instructions.

According to an article published by robotics.org,

This combination of 3D printing and industrial robots is some of the most promising automation technology in the construction industry.

IoT-enabled “smart” construction equipment uses sensors to gather and transmit data, wirelessly, to other equipment and computers. This data is then analyzed to help human operators and other stakeholders make more informed decisions. It can be used to track how equipment is being used on a job site; artificial intelligence can help optimize the placement of tools and equipment for maximum efficiency. 

Using predictive analytics, OEMs can use data transmitted by equipment to diagnose maintenance issues before they happen and provide actionable alerts to dealers and customers. This helps transform OEMs’ value proposition from an equipment supplier/service provider to a fully integrated partner.

This is a time of change and opportunity in the construction equipment industry. Pressured by a labor shortage and other trends, equipment owners are hungry for new ways to operate effectively, safely, and profitably. Through applications involving autonomous construction equipment, construction robotics, and the IoT, this transformative technology promises to deliver. 

To learn more about trends in the Construction industry, read our white paper, Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery.

This article was contributed by Hydraulics Team.

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

Parker's Solutions for the Off-Road Machinery Industry

Parker's Mobile IoT for Equipment Manufacturers

Parker Innovations That Keep the World Moving

Off-Road Trends White Paper: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery.

A Look at the Compact Construction Equipment Market

The Strategic Approach to Fleet Optimization for Heavy Equipment

The electrification trend is clearly impacting the automotive industry’s reliance on internal combustion engines (ICE). It is even affecting change in off-road segments, such as construction. With the growing use of precision agriculture technology, and focus on optimizing farm management, it only seems natural to wonder about the potential for electric agricultural equipment.

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

On farms across North America and the world, the diesel ICE has been the powerplant of choice for decades. Diesel offers high levels of power and torque relative to weight and volume, which is necessary for many of the massive tractors and other powered equipment used in modern farming.

Precision agriculture and other trends, however, have prompted OEMs to start rethinking their complete reliance on diesel. Some are starting to introduce electric agricultural equipment, with auxiliary equipment possibly being where we see the most growth in the near future.

Several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have introduced electric tractors, including John Deere, Seletrac, Rigitrac, and Agco/Fendt. But for the largest equipment categories, electric motors have not yet replaced diesel engines due to insufficient battery power for the torque required. Battery packs also are difficult to charge in remote locations and during long hours in the fields. Electric motors are more often seen in non-mobile agricultural applications such as driving pumps, for instance, or for running some of the smaller, autonomous equipment used in farm management.

Farm equipment OEMs, unlike other OEMs, are also not under high levels of environmental regulatory pressure to make the switch to producing all-electric agricultural equipment. When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted its Tier 4 emission standards in 2015, it excluded existing equipment up to 30 years old. OEMs were able to redesign new diesel engines to comply with the standards.

As stated in a 2020 article by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association:

There are many benefits of replacing diesel motors with electric motors. Highly efficient electric motors can operate at 90% efficiency, which helps to provide cost savings over time, compared to inefficient diesel motors that only operate at 30% to 40% efficiency. Farmers can simply plug in the electric equipment without needing to refill a diesel tank. One of the greatest benefits of electric motors is they do not emit fumes like diesel motors, which means farmers get to breathe in cleaner air around them. Overall, electric motors are cleaner, quieter, and easier to maintain. Some farmers are making the switch to electric tractors as companies like John Deere, AGCO, and other companies continue to perfect their own electric models. While electric tractors are more efficient, quieter, and better for the environment than conventional diesel tractors, they lack the battery power that many farmers need for a long day of working in the fields.

The full electrification of the largest farm equipment may be off in the future, but there are currently large equipment applications where electrification makes sense. One trend is the replacement of hydraulic systems used to run auxiliary equipment and implements with electric motors.

To learn more about the trend of precision agriculture and how Parker plays a key role, read our Off-Road Trends White Paper. 

This article was contributed by the Hydraulics team. 

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

Parker's Solutions for the Off-Road Machinery Industry

Parker Innovations That Keep the World Moving

Precision Agriculture Poised to Help Farmers Feed Billions

The evolution and refinement of the hydraulic excavator’s design has been constant, with today’s models incorporating electrification; hydraulic technology; and machine analytics, which all positively impact the comfort and safety of the operators. Large fleet owners and many smaller contractors are reaping a variety of benefits through—including cost savings, improved maintenance and better machine uptime—with every evolution of the excavator.  

For instance, the PowerTilt full-tilting, telescoping attachment can provide extra jobsite versatility—handling the work of many different machines. Couplers that allow excavator attachments to tilt and/or rotate can dramatically increase jobsite efficiency when used in the right applications. An excavator with a standard coupler or pin-on bucket is only able to work in parallel with the direction of the boom and stick. Adding tilting and 180° rotating functions to the end of the stick increases the mobility of the excavator front structure, enabling the possibility to work in all directions, with different angles. Tilt-rotators eliminate the need to constantly reposition the excavator, which increases not only productivity and fuel efficiency, but also safety on the jobsite. 

We know hydraulic pumps and motors have been effective and compact ways of transferring available energy for years. However, on the propel side, the transition to electric will continue to develop as technologies advance to provide a better way or an easy interface to amplify the torque of the electric motor via a gearbox or some other gear ratio to get the machine to move. We have started to see electric motors replace diesel engines for the elimination of noise. This is most popular in the mini excavator which favors itself to projects that might take place inside a building where noise is factor.

The electric motor isn’t new to off-highway as the technology has long been used in the mining industry but the challenge in construction is how often the batteries need to be recharged and if the construction site has a convenient power source. The engineers at Parker, after months of development and testing, developed a patent-pending Global Vehicle Motor (GVM) for electric and hybrid electric powertrain motors and electro-hydraulic actuation that is scalable for a variety of applications as well as compact in terms of size and weight – all without sacrificing performance.     

On the data side, the increased use of telematics or IoT in excavators remains a common theme. Fleet managers increasingly are recognizing the value of monitoring machines as a means to quickly respond to service or maintenance needs and perhaps make recommendations to operators for reducing fuel consumption. Parker’s newest equipment and hydraulic monitoring cloud-based solution, Mobile IoT, is vastly improved over the traditional telematics solution, with its sophisticated data, monitoring and performance control capabilities. 

Fleet managers and equipment owners also are thinking more and more about total cost of ownership and the elements that drive lifetime equipment costs up and down. There is an increased emphasis on IoT, enabling contractors to remotely monitor, diagnose, and trouble-shoot operational issues as a means of optimizing productivity and operating efficiency, as well as ensuring long, product life for their equipment.  Parker’s Mobile IoT solution can be customized and the ROI can be seen within the first two years in terms of operator behavior, fuel consumption, predictive maintenance and unplanned downtime.  

Within construction equipment segment, hydraulic excavators, which are the most widely used earthmoving equipment in heavy duty operation, are expected to experience much faster growth than other sub-segments. As an equipment with the widest applications across the infrastructure development value chain, it is imperative for hydraulic excavator perform with maximum efficiency and be productive.  

Technology, product quality, reliability, and aftermarket support - apart from worksite conditions and operator skills - have significant impact on efficiency and productivity of hydraulic excavators. Advancements in technology can provide enhanced quality, reliability without costing more. For instance, made-to-order pre-formed hose has been around for decades but can be very costly in excavators as well as extend unplanned downtime.  Designed to handle extreme bends while allowing full-flow, kink free performance, Parker’s E-Z Form hose effectively replaces pre-formed hoses in many applications— eliminating special design, tooling and fabrication costs and associated long lead times. It also eliminates the need for ordering excessive minimum production quantities.

The ongoing labor shortage has made it more important than ever for manufacturers to ensure that operators are comfortable inside the cabs of excavators. Easy-to-operate controls, good visibility to the work area and surrounding areas—including rear-view and side-view cameras—comfortable seats, clear displays and automatic HVAC systems all contribute to keeping operators content. 

Onboard monitors provide a wealth of information and capability that can increase productivity, reduce fuel consumption and enhance safety on the jobsite. The monitors often interface with modern electrohydraulic systems to provide semi-autonomous functions and customized capabilities that make novice operators more efficient while reducing fatigue in more experienced operators. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips. For instance, Parker’s PHD programmable electronic display family has been developed to meet the needs of the mobile sector, where they can help to enhance equipment productivity and profitability. These robust and compact displays are fully programmable through a graphical, easy to use programming tool for rapid application and menu screen development.

When you think about comfort during those hot summer months, you think about the air conditioning. Having the ability to repair the existing air conditioning lines with the correct components can be both a time and cost saver. However, if worn-out or damaged hoses need replacement, you can build a new custom hose assembly immediately with Parker’s innovative hose tube assemblies.  In addition to offering the parts needed to make custom assemblies, ParkerStores offer custom-made hose tube assemblies for A/C repair. Prompt, efficient, professional in-store services while you wait.

Above all, there is a high demand for fuel-efficient excavator, rapid technological advancements, use of IoT in construction, and rising adoption for other applications are all increasing the demand of excavators within the rental market. With this type of machine utilization, product selection, maintenance and monitoring are essential to reduce unplanned downtime and maintenance costs.  Parker is here to help identify the right components for your construction equipment.

The Parker Global Mobile Systems team application engineering experts are available to assist our customers in designing and implementing new systems to meet your application needs. Contact us for more information, or if you'd like to receive more relevant hydraulics, pneumatics and electromechanical product and technology updates for excavators in your inbox, subscribe here.

Related content:

Unique Tilting Coupler Technology Gives Construction Firm Competitive Edge

New Hydraulic System on Sugarcane Harvester Exceeds Performance Goals

Discover How Load Sensing Valve Improves Heavy Duty Machine Productivity and Fuel Savings

As the wheel loader is the stalwart of the construction site, equipment manufacturers know that technological advances are important in their customers' buying decisions. Add in the stringent government regulations regarding carbon emissions and the result has been more efficient, environmentally-friendly equipment. These efforts are key to increasing profits and occur through the design of components, the addition of maintenance improvements or the integration of data insights. 

One area for future innovations is the use of more hybrid technology. The integration of hybrid components for wheel loaders can positively impact the environment as well as improve fuel savings, reduced maintenance, lower repair/rebuild costs and, in some instances, increased productivity. The goals for end-customers vary. For some, zero-emissions are key; for others, it might be burning less fuel or increasing power density. We know that customers won’t sacrifice quality, reliability or durability to achieve these objectives. That’s why our electrification strategy begins and ends with our customer needs. Working with design engineers to solve complex problems requires not a single solution but a versatile approach to helping match the right product to the application. This article discusses some of the components and technology that Parker brings to the table for wheel loader applications. 

Whether it is an all-electric or hybrid wheel loader, the motor design has a direct impact on the maintenance and reliability of the components. Parker’s Global Vehicle Motor (GVM) advanced electric motor is intended to be used in electric and hybrid electric vehicle traction, electro-hydraulic pumps (EHP) and auxiliary applications. High power density, compact design combined with the highest efficiencies in the market provides the key. Introduction of electric solutions allow the efficiency recovery and storage of energy which would previously be wasted.  Parker offers a wide range of motors with up to over 400kW of power.  With a variety of sizes, lengths and voltages up to 650V each application can be uniquely engineered to maximize a machine’s performance. 

The design of the GVM means that is can be used as a motor or a generator. This feature facilitates efficient system energy recovery whether from smart system design or braking solutions. This can provide a means of reducing expensive battery costs, extend the range between charges reduce overall machine operation costs.   

As machinery moves more toward electrification, sensors become increasingly important to improve efficiency. Our UTS mobile sensors eliminate the need for redundant sensors lowering your total spend on electronic controls systems. For OEMs and their customers, this means one single part can perform the many functions that formerly required many individual products. This can reduce inventory requirements, simplify installation and replacement, as well as reduce related labor costs. Further contributing to less operator fatigue and higher productivity are steer-by-wire solutions. Our steer-by-wire system consists of an input device, SIL2-class control units, display and a hydraulic directional control valve. It has on-board diagnostics and component redundancy in the event of single component failure.  

The incorporation of electric components require different plumbing. Equipment with the new Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) engines require after treatment, and DEF fluid requires heated hoses. Designed for heating and conveying DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) throughout the SCR system on wheel loaders, our SCR hoses are specifically engineered for equipment that requires Tier IV and EPA 10 compliance.  

In addition to product selection, maintenance still plays a crucial role in reducing the lifecycle costs of owning and operating a wheel loader. Harsh working conditions, poor maintenance and abusive operation can reduce the life of the machine by half. Often, it’s the simple details that lead to premature component failure and increased lifecycle costs. Managing equipment or machinery maintenance can be a challenge for even the most capable and well-resourced organization. However, maintenance schedules can be streamlined with the utilization of an assist management system such as the Parker Tracking System (PTS). This innovative system provides fast and accurate product information, speeding replacement regardless of where or when the original component was created. Because tagged products can be replaced sight unseen, PTS eliminates the need to wait for removal before new parts can be acquired. For instance, a customer can scan the barcode on Parker’s hydraulic GlobalCore hose and immediately find out the part number, size, rating, and length of hose; end fitting sizes, and configurations; and where and when the assembly was made. Documentation of the original bill of materials ensures hose assembly replacement to exact OEM specifications and compliance with applicable industry and safety standards. This information can immediately be communicated to the nearest Parker distributor, reducing unplanned downtime to a minimum.  

Machine use is equally as important as maintenance. With the evolution of IoT, construction companies can measure and run reports regarding fuel consumption, productivity, machine utilization and health and more. Our Mobile IoT solution can help businesses lower cost and energy consumption by providing data that can reduce emissions for off-road equipment.Users can customize and adjust parameters, monitor their heavy equipment’s location, component health status including real-time signals. Our solution enables organizations to create quantifiable and real-time dashboard statistics about the performance or utilization of their industrial equipment. These insights have the potential of helping users avoid unplanned downtime events through continuous monitoring with the use of alarms or analytical models.

As we look to the future of wheel loaders there is no doubt that technology will play a major role in improving efficiencies and sustainability. The thought of replacing the traditional mechanical transmission with a generator, inverter and motor will increase in popularity. It won’t be uncommon for new powertrains to utilize switch reluctance technology, which will result in up to a 25 percent overall improvement in efficiency and up to 49 percent in high production tough digging applications. Wheel loaders are becoming more fuel-efficient, automated and connected and Parker's experience in the industry helps us to deliver the right solution. 

The Parker Global Mobile Systems team of application engineering experts are available to assist our customers in designing and implementing new systems to meet your application needs. Contact us for more information, or if you'd like to receive more relevant hydraulics, pneumatics and electromechanical product and technology updates for wheel loaders in your inbox, subscribe here.

Split Pump IFC on a Wheel Loader: Simply Smarter

How Will New Trends in Seeding and Cultivation Impact Machine Design?

High-Power Density Motor supporting Cleaner On and Off-road Vehicles of the Future

Modern, highly mechanized forestry practices are known for being fairly carbon-intensive. New technologies, however, are being introduced with the potential to help lessen the environmental impacts of forestry while helping the industry be even more productive. 

Today’s mobile forestry equipment is purpose-built to make “light work” out of timber harvesting — traditionally very heavy, difficult, and time-consuming manual labor.

Within a matter of seconds, a modern harvester — a tracked vehicle weighing up to 20 tons — can transform a standing, 60-foot pine tree into a pile of logs. Another vehicle, known as a forwarder, can then haul those logs — up to 8 tons’ worth at a time — out of the forest and to a road for further transport. 

To handle this sort of heavy work, mobile technology used in forestry is typically powered by large diesel engines. The process of harvesting is very carbon-intensive. As stated in a 2018 article in the ScienceDirect Journal of Cleaner Production: 

While efficiency has increased through mechanization (Berg and Karjalainen, 2003), forest operations still account for the majority of emissions along the wood value chain: in that regard, harvesting is the most critical phase, due to its large consumption of fossil fuel (Dias and Arroja, 2012, Morales et al., 2015).

Fuel consumption during harvesting operation plays an important role in the overall timber extraction process: Lijewski et al. (2017) report that the fuel consumption of CTL harvesters represents 38% of the total fuel used along the technological cycle, which is higher than that consumed during forwarding (35%) and transportation (27%).

With this challenge in mind, several approaches are being taken to help reduce the environmental impacts of forestry equipment, including the use of hybrid power and digital technology.

Download our white paper Off-Road Trends: Driving Cleaner, More Efficient and Connected Machinery, and learn what influences the advances in mobile heavy machinery.

While forest industries are thought to have lagged others in the adoption of digital technology, the tide is starting to turn. Digital technology is being used to increase productivity and sustainability, as forestry companies are leveraging tools such as geographic information system (GIS) mapping, satellite imaging, 3D simulations, big data and data collection, telematics and remote diagnostics, and supply chain digitalization. All this can help mobile forestry equipment operate more efficiently and improve forest productivity, getting more done with less impact on the environment.

As a 2018 report by McKinsey states:

Advanced technology can enable lower delivered costs for wood. It also makes possible higher wood yields from a given area of forest, which is especially valuable in Western Europe and East Asia, regions where little additional forest land is available.

The report goes on to project that forestry operators stand to realize productivity increases in the range of 5% to 25%. This is similar to what operators in general agriculture have realized as that industry has made the switch to digital. 

One European manufacturer has developed a hybrid harvester with a diesel engine and an electric drivetrain system. Software controls each drivetrain component, enabling it to react instantly based on workload. According to the manufacturer, the hybrid system delivers up to 510 horsepower and 2,000 Nm of force at working revs. The lower fuel consumption and stable engine performance also limit the amount of exhaust and greenhouse gases released into forest ecosystems.

Modern technology used in forestry makes light work out of tree harvesting. Because of its reliance on diesel power, this makes forestry a carbon-intensive activity. However, newer technologies — including hybrid-electric power and digital technology — hold great promise to help lower the environmental impacts of forestry. 

To learn more about the environmental impact of modern forestry equipment, read our Off-Road Trends white paper.

This article was contributed by the Hydraulics Team.

Related, helpful content for you:

Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World

Parker's Solutions for the Off-Road Machinery Industry

Parker Innovations That Keep the World Moving

Hybrid Actuator System Offers Alternate Solution to Electrification

Electronic Control Systems for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Implements

After witnessing first hand what the PowerTilt Tilting Coupler and the PowerGrip Multi-Purpose Jaw Bucket could do for a neighboring county’s public works department, Paul Stubbs, Road Supervisor with Idaho's North Latah County Highway District proposed the acquisition of PowerTilt and PowerGrip to his county commissioners. After receiving budget approval, Stubbs’ team procured the productivity-enhancing attachments they coveted, in the form of two PowerTilts and two PowerGrips for their CAT excavator fleet.

Every day poses new challenges for the North Latah County Highway District, and it was imperative to find attachments that could work to keep up with the skilled team maintaining the North Latah County infrastructure. On any given the team may need to widen roads, slope banks, clean ditches, replace culverts, remove brush or trim trees. PowerTilt and PowerGrip allow the highway district to move seamlessly between these tasks without skipping a beat. “With PowerTilt and PowerGrip we complete a variety of roadside maintenance and repair projects faster and with a better-finished appearance than before," said Stubbs.

Before using the PowerTilt and PowerGrip combination, clearing brush and trees with the cylinder-style swing coupler and thumb combination was cumbersome, lacking gripping capability when rotated and involved a significant disturbance to roadside vegetation, resulting in a less-than-tidy finished look. However, with PowerTilt and PowerGrip you can use the PowerGrip’s jaw functionality through the full range of PowerTIt’s rotation. Tree and brush removal is less invasive due to the ability to grab the brush at the base and pull it out instead of having to dig the root system out. Branches of trees can be snapped off with PowerGrip leaving the tree. This has garnered positive feedback from county residents.

Equipment operator Tom Carter agrees with Stubbs’ favorable impressions of Parker’s Helac attachments. The department switched to the PowerTilt and PowerGrip combination from their previous cylinder-style swing coupler and thumb set up and has been very pleased with the performance. PowerTiIt allows them to hold the PowerGrip Jaw Bucket at the perfect angle for sloping and ditching work without drift. PowerGrip’s multi-purpose functionality is a tremendous time-saver since it can seamlessly transition between grading with the smooth lip, clamming material to move it out of the way, to trenching like a conventional digging bucket and functioning like a thumb or grapple.

With the PowerTilt and PowerGrip combination and an excavator, an equipment operator can handle all steps of culvert installation or replacement more efficiently and safely than ever before. The operator angles the PowerGrip Jaw Bucket with PowerTilt and scarifies the road surface with the corner of the bucket. Then the operator simply digs out the weakened soil or substrate to the depth of the existing culvert or to the appropriate trench dimensions for the new culvert installation. When replacing an old culvert, Stubbs values the safety enhancements offered by PowerTilt and PowerGrip. “Previously, culverts were lifted and stood on end to clean them out with chains which created some potential hazards. We can now' grab the culvert with PowerGrip and rotate it with PowerTilt, dumping any loose material out, virtually eliminating the risk of an uncontrolled event," according to Stubbs. PowerTiIt and PowerGrip have quickly made their mark for the North Latah County Highway District and the team expects that their opinions of  Parker's Helac attachments will only increase as they log more hours using them.

“The PowerGrip Multi-Purpose Jaw Bucket really impressed me and our team with the tremendous maneuverability of its gripping action relative to a hydraulic thumb. I would rate both PowerGrip and PowerTilt very high on all accounts."

Paul Stubbs, road supervisor

PowerTiIt is available for equipment up to 75,000 pounds in eight sizes with a standard rotation of up to 180 degrees. Each model is designed for a specific class of machinery and individually customized to fit the carrier. PowerGrip buckets are available for equipment up to 20 tons, in three sizes, with bucket width ranges from 24 inches to 48 inches in the trenching profiles and 48 inches or 60 inches in the ditching profiles.

Learn more about PowerTilt and PowerGrip on www.parker.com/cylinder

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division.

Related Content:

Productivity Improved with Multi-Purpose Jaw Bucket

PowerTilt Reduces Manual Labor, Lowers Costs and Increases Operator Safety

Unique Tilting Coupler Technology Gives Construction Firm Competitive Edge

Considering that more than six million people live in the Philadelphia region, government officials realized they needed a fast-response emergency river vessel with both fire fighting and rescue capabilities for any type of emergency it may encounter. Philadelphia officials turned to Derecktor Shipyards, New York, to manufacture the Independence, a 2000-Class Fireboat, which was christened in December 2007.

Established in 1947, Derecktor Shipyards builds a variety of commercial vessels and custom mega yachts for customers around the world. The waterways around the Philadelphia region pose a significant and serious set of obstacles that needed to be considered when designing and building the Independence. With regional responsibilities from as far north as Trenton, New Jersey and as far south as the Delaware Bay, the Independence would find itself in water depths as shallow as 30 inches. Furthermore, some of the waterways are very narrow, so the Independence was designed to make 360° turns.  

The Independence is powered by four 825 horsepower engines, allowing it to achieve speeds of 36 knots. Its fire fighting arsenal includes a water pump capable of 5500 gallons per minute and 200 foam tank capacity. It also has a 16-ft rescue boat, and its galley can be converted into a trauma unit complete with advanced life support equipment. 

However, the greatest challenge for the fireboat was its height. Many bridge structures in the area only allow vessels with an air draft of 18 feet to pass underneath. Air draft is the distance from the water surface to the upper-most point of a vessel. Therefore. keeping the air draft of the Independence less than 18 feet was imperative to its safe travel and access to all areas within its range.

To enable the Independence to achieve an air draft of only 18 feet, a navigation tower on top of the pilot house needed to be pivoted 110°. This is accomplished using a helical rotary actuator from Parker’s Cylinder Division. 

According to Joe Beckham, project manager at Derecktor Shipyards. “With the navigation mast situated on top of the pilot house, determining how to rotate it through its 110° of travel was difficult." Hydraulic cylinders and electromechanical positioning devices had been considered, but a Helac L20-15-E-FT-180 rotary actuator was specified to position the mast. 

Helac actuators are designed to replace multiple components and function as a rotating device, mounting bracket and bearing, all-in-one. The innovative, sliding-spline operation technology of a Helac actuator converts linear piston motion into powerful shaft rotation. Each actuator is composed of a housing and two moving parts — the central shaft and piston. Helical spline teeth on the shaft engage matching teeth on the piston’s inside diameter. A second set of helical splines on the piston’s outside diameter mesh with the gear in the housing. 

Beckham summarized the rationale of partnering with Parker in four major points. First, the Helac rotary actuator makes better use of space than the other alternative considered. Hydraulic cylinders and electromechanical positioning devices would have required a well or cavity below the mast. This well would have protruded down into the pilot house. Considering the limited space available, the compact design of the rotary actuator made it the optimal choice.

Second, the Helac rotary actuator requires less maintenance as a positioning device than hydraulic cylinders. Sealing occurs against smooth cylindrical surfaces, effectively eliminating all leakage and holding selected positions without drift. There are no external moving parts, which eliminates the service and maintenance issues often associated with hydraulic cylinders and mechanical linkages in a marine application. 

Third, this helical rotary actuator delivers high torque and 110° of smooth rotation from the limited hydraulic supply with power to spare. Achieving 110° of rotation is possible with alternative solutions. However, the L20-15 delivers up to 15,000 pounds per inch of torque and produces consistent, smooth motion from a 3,000 psi hydraulic source..

Fourth, Derecktor shipyards saved substantial installation time and cost because the L20-15 serves the double function of rotary actuator and bearing support all in one compact package. This self-contained design reduced the number of parts required of the mast assembly. 

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division and was originally published by Hydraulics & Pneumatics 

Related articles:

Know Your Pneumatics: Rotary Actuator Basics

Know Your Pneumatics: Which Rotary Actuator Should I Choose?

Lifters Designed with Rotary Actuators Dump Waste More Effectively

Firefighters have one of the most dangerous and demanding jobs in the public’s eye. They are called upon to face complex fires or natural disasters to save lives or property. Innovative technology to help protect people and property is in high demand from firefighting forces around the world. This demand led Crash Rescue Equipment to team up with Parker’s Cylinder Division to design a telescoping nozzle on fire trucks that allow the nozzle to penetrate composite fibers and be placed inside small door openings or other restricted areas. 

“Our Snozzle is a quick attack tool that can penetrate all current building, aircraft, automobile or train container materials including composite panels. By using Parker’s Helac hydraulic rotary actuator to position our piercing nozzle, we can quickly penetrate and maneuver into tight spaces in a variety of aviation and municipal applications,” stated Grady North, chief engineer for Crash Rescue Equipment. 

Before using Parker’s Helac rotary actuator, Crash Rescue Equipment used two electric motors to position the piercing and water volume nozzles on the telescopic booms found on the fire trucks. When the object was pierced, a load was also put on the water volume nozzle, taxing the motors. The result of this overload condition caused the motors to slip and lose positioning control of the piercing nozzle. 

Crash Rescue Equipment changed the overall design of the telescoping boom assembly to overcome this problem. They separated the function of the piercing nozzle from the water volume nozzle and used Parker’s helical, hydraulic rotary actuator to stow and deploy the piercing nozzle through 180 degrees on the telescopic boom. “Because of the inherent (zero-drift) features of a Parker’s Helac rotary actuator, our piercing nozzle could receive higher torque loads and hold side loads during piercing operations,” said North. 

It’s the operating technology that makes Parker’s Helac hydraulic rotary actuators unique and offers a powerful combination of features – high torque and moment loads capacities, high angles of rotation and compact configurations. Sliding-spline operating technology replaces multiple components and functions as a rotating device, mounting bracket and bearing, all-in-one. This innovation converts linear piston motion into a powerful shaft rotation. 

Each actuator is composed of two moving parts – the central shaft and piston. Helical spline teeth on the shaft engage matching teeth on the piston’s inside diameter. A second set of helical splines on the piston’s outside diameter mesh with the gear in the housing. When hydraulic pressure is applied to the piston, it moves axially, while the helical gearing causes the piston and shaft to rotate simultaneously. 

Crash Rescue Equipment looked into several electric positioning alternatives before proceeding with a hydraulic rotary actuator. They wanted to avoid adding hydraulic lines to the internal electrical flex tube if at all feasible. They began their search with electric linear cylinders, yet quickly discovered that the geometry wouldn’t fit the application and that the cylinders also needed a much higher degree of rotation. Additionally, cylinders have external rods and linkages that would increase the maintenance costs associated with particle contamination to the electric circuitry. 

Electric motors were also researched. This possibility failed to offer the torque requirements or mounting strength needed for the piercing nozzle application. The selected rotary actuator provided the engineers with compact configurations, 180° of smooth rotation, and a durable, enclosed envelope without any external moving parts. It also offered torque output to 740,000 inch per pound, even though only 4,200 inch per pound of torque were needed to operate the piercing nozzle. 

The Helac L20-4.5-180° rotary actuator was mounted directly onto the boom. Because of the actuator’s high radial and torque capacity, auxiliary bearings are not needed. All external forces are supported solely by the actuator.  

This article was contributed by Jessica Howisey, marketing communications manager and Daniel Morgado, applications engineer, Helac Business Unit, Cylinder Division and was originally published by Pneumatics Tips Fluid Power World Resource 

Related content:

Sprayer Steers Clear of the Ordinary

Lifters Designed with Rotary Actuators Dump Waste More Effectively

Unique Tilting Coupler Technology Gives Construction Firm Competitive Edge