News Bites: Komatsu Becomes Hydraulic Innovation Partner for F1 Team, New Tech Launches from HKX and Eaton
Welcome to News Bites, where I bring you a collection of recent news relevant to the hydraulics and pneumatics industry. Through the brief synopses and analysis contained in this piece, I aim to help you stay on top of what is going on in the fluid power industry as well as other technological areas of interest that may aid your own work in a quick and easily digestible manner. Like what you see, have suggestions for improvements or your own news to share? Email me at [email protected] to let me know!
HKX Introduces Auxiliary Hydraulics Kit for Wheel Loaders
HKX Inc., the construction equipment division of Multi Parts Solutions (MPS), has introduced a line of Wheel Loader 3rd Spool Auxiliary Field Installable Kits. These kits enable dealers and machine owners to add auxiliary hydraulics to their wheel loaders so they can use various types of attachments, such as rollout buckets, grapples and snow blowers.
This is the company’s first kit developed for wheel loaders. The company used its years of expertise in developing auxiliary hydraulic kits for excavators to create the new line for wheel loaders.
As the company explained in its press release announcing the launch of the new kits, ordering a wheel loader with auxiliary hydraulics from the factory can mean a lead time of 12-20 weeks. However, HKX states its kit can be ordered and installed in a fraction of the time as the kit is designed for quick and easy installation.
With this kit, HKX is enabling attachments to be added to existing equipment, so machine owners have more flexibility to use different attachments based on application requirements. And for dealers, this kit makes it easier for them to sell through existing inventory because they can easily add auxiliary hydraulics only for those customers who may need it.
“Dealers have told us for years that lead time is the constraint, not the hardware,” said Robert Burnett, vice president and general manager of HKX. “A loader sitting on the lot is a versatile machine if you can equip it quickly. These kits let a dealer say yes to a customer this month instead of pointing at a plant schedule, and they let that dealer stock a simpler machine that stays sellable to everyone.”
FluiDyne Adds Steering Control Units to Stock Inventory
FluiDyne Fluid Power is expanding its inventory of 200 Series Steering Control Units to ensure better availability of the product for customers.
Per the company, these steering control units are designed to provide precise, responsive steering control while reducing the amount of operating torque required. Options for open center, closed center, and load-sensing hydraulic steering systems are available, as well as non-load reaction and load reaction configurations.
The company states in its press release announcing the increased inventory that expanding its stock of steering control units enables it to continue broadening its hydraulic product offering so it can provide customers with greater access to the components they need.
Lead times are still an issue for many. Having more products readily available helps overcome this by getting customers the components they need faster. They do not have to wait for the product to be manufactured because FluiDyne is providing them with a ready-to-go, off-the-shelf solution.
Komatsu Becomes Official Hydraulic Innovation Partner for Atlassian Williams F1 Team
Mobile equipment manufacturer Komatsu is extending its partnership with the Atlassian Williams F1 Team by becoming its Official Hydraulic Innovation Partner.
Under this new partnership designation, Komatsu will bring its years of expertise developing hydraulics and other advanced technologies for construction, mining and forestry equipment.
Komatsu states in its press release announcing the expanded partnership that its technical expertise in advanced manufacturing will be a feature of the extended partnership. The OEM’s engineers will help to develop key components of Williams’ future F1 cars as part of the partnership as well.
In addition, the two organizations will continue working together to develop the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) talent through the Komatsu Williams Engineering Academy (KWEA). Each year, 10 engineering students from around the world take part in KWEA’s immersive program of mentorship, hands-on experience, and access to a library of technical learning modules.
The organizations are also establishing the Komatsu Williams Leadership Academy, a leadership development program focused on building the next generation of Komatsu leaders from around the world.
Through its partnership with the Williams team, Komatsu is demonstrating how hydraulics technologies and engineering expertise can be applied to a range of applications as well as the importance of supporting the next generation of engineers and other STEM professionals.
Eaton Launches New Automated Manual Transmissions with Built-In Intelligence
Eaton’s Mobility segment has introduced the Advantor automated manual transmission portfolio for light-, medium- and medium-heavy duty vehicle applications. The transmissions combine advanced automation with smart, adaptive controls and application-specific tuning.
Marcos Janasi, business unit director, Commercial Powertrain, Eaton’s Mobility segment, stated in the company’s press release announcing the launch of the new transmissions that the Advantor line represents a new chapter in intelligent drivetrains.
Eaton’s automation technology is a key component of the transmission’s built-in intelligence. It combines an electronically controlled X-Y shifter, pneumatic clutch actuation, inertia brake and an intelligent transmission control unit powered by advanced software.
Per the company, the system continuously analyzes road conditions, vehicle load and driver input to optimize shift timing and clutch engagement in real time. Features such as Load-Based Shifting, Smart Gear Selection, Hill Start Aid and Engine Overspeed Protection work together to enhance drivability, improve efficiency and help protect drivetrain components.
This new transmission helps demonstrates an ongoing trend within the fluid power industry and its customer markets — the creation of more intelligent and automated systems. Everyone is trying to do more with less these days. Automation and smarter systems are seen as a way to help address this by making vehicles and machines easier to operate as well as more productive.
About the Author
Sara JensenSara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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