There is much going on in the world of hydraulic, pneumatic and electric motion systems, from technology introductions and industry advancements to new trends and industry leaders. Each week the Power & Motion team collects the latest industry news to help keep our readers up to date on what's happening in the fluid power and electric motion control sectors as well as the industries they serve.
DOE Requesting Information on Decarbonization of Off-Highway Machinery
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Progression of Net-Zero Emission Propulsion Technologies for the Off-Road Sector Request for Information (RFI). Through this RFI it aims to learn about propulsion technology preferences in the mobile machinery sector as well as the technologies which could help achieve decarbonization goals.
Stakeholders working in this industry, such as fluid power suppliers, are encouraged to provide their thoughts on the technologies which could help to reduce carbon emissions produced by heavy-duty mobile equipment. The Biden-Harris administration has set a targe of eliminating emissions from the transport sector, including off-highway equipment, by 2050. To do, input is needed from those working in the market to help determine how and when it can be achieved.
Per the DOE, there are three critical questions which must be addressed to decarbonize off-highway machines:
- What is the current state of the off-road vehicle fleet?
- Which powertrain technologies are most promising for decarbonization of off-road vehicles?
- What is the timeline for the off-road sector to transition to net-zero emission GHG (greenhouse gas) technologies?
Those interested in responding to the RFI can electronically submitted their input as Microsoft Word (.docx) attachments to [email protected] no later than 5:00 p.m. ET, on June 7, 2024.
READ MORE: Decarbonization of Construction Equipment can aid Climate Goals
SKF Lincoln Expands Air Hose Lineup
SKF Lincoln has added two air hoses to its line, a nitrile rubber hose and hybrid hose. Both are designed for use with air compressors.
The new 72N3850 and 72N1250 nitrile rubber hoses are designed to withstand use in harsh operating environments. Its durable construction protects against exposure to oil, grease and various chemicals, suiting its use in maintenance facilities, paint booths and more.
This hose is also flexible and kink resistant as well as equipped with leak-free brass fittings and protective sleeves to further ensure its durability.
Also new to SKF Lincoln's lineup are the 72H3850 and 72H1250 hybrid hoses which are lighter in weight but durable. These hoses are a combination of PVC, for strength, and rubber for flexibility. The latter aids use in tight spaces that could otherwise be difficult to route hoses through if made with other materials.
SKF Lincoln's hybrid hoses are kink resistant and feature an operating temperature range of -40 to 150 F (-40 to 65.6 C). Leak-free brass fittings and protective sleeves are included with these hoses as well.
Both hose types are available in 3/8 and 1/2 in. diameters and fit 1/4 in. NPT and 1/2 in. NPT fittings. The hoses can be used on the ground or on air reels. The hoses are free of PFAS chemicals, ensuring they comply with upcoming U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
Freudenberg Acquires Trygonal Group
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has acquired Trygonal Group which will help strengthen its services business known as Freudenberg Xpress. This segment focuses on offering small and medium batch sizes, rapid prototyping and custom sealing solutions.
Trygonal is known for its custom sealing products made with thermoplastics, elastomers and rubber-metal compounds. Through the acquisition, Freudenberg will be able to expand in various regional markets as well as gain more manufacturing capabilities to aid its growth plans for its service business.
Freudenberg will benefit from additional materials expertise as well through the acquisition, enabling it to provide customers with the sealing solutions they need for their varied applications.
READ MORE: How Company Mergers Bring Expanded Market Opportunities
Desktop Metal Launches Reactive Safety Kit for 3D Printing Parts Made from Titanium and Aluminum
Desktop Metal has introduced a Reactive Safety Kit for its Production System P-1 binder jet 3D printer to enable printing of parts made from titanium and aluminum.
The safety kit includes ATEX-rated components as well as hardware and software updates to allow for safe printing of titanium and aluminum parts. ATEX is a certification which indicates equipment is safe to use in potentially explosive environments.
"Titanium and aluminum are two of the most frequently requested materials at Desktop Metal, and we’re proud to say that we can now offer a commercial 3D printer with the necessary safety features to binder jet 3D print these materials," said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal.
As binder jetting is considered to be a faster method of 3D printing, inclusion of the safety kit will allow for greater flexibility in material choices and higher volume production capabilities.
BAE Systems Partnerships to Aid Electrification of Trucks and Buses
BAE Systems, a developer of electric propulsion technology, is partnering with Eaton and Cummins to aid with the hybridization and full electrification of heavy-duty on-road vehicles.
BAE will work together with Cummins Inc. on the integration and certification of a B hybrid-compatible diesel engine and hybrid electric drivetrain for transit buses. This will help to reduce fuel use and emissions for bus operators while enabling use of known technology.
For its part, BAE will supply its electric drive hardware to help create a full hybrid electric drivetrain.
The company is also collaborating with Eaton to develop electric drive solutions for heavy-duty trucks. BAE's electric motor and power electronics will be paired with Eaton's HD 4-speed electric vehicle transmission to create full system solution for truck OEMs. The BAE technology is compact and modular to easily fit into a range of applications.
Industry partnerships like these can help to speed up development as each party can bring its expertise to the design of a system while also alleviating the cost and development burden associated with developing a new solution. Doing so helps brings products to market fast which are designed to meet the needs of the applications for which they are intended — each of the companies in these two partnerships have years of experience developing powertrain technology for heavy-duty trucks and buses.
READ MORE: Revenue Potential Increasing for Electric Truck Powertrain Components
