Hydraulics have been a critical component of construction equipment for many years, providing the power necessary to move heavy loads and perform other important functions. However, the increasing popularity of hybrid and all-electric vehicles has raised questions about the future of hydraulics within construction. Is there a future? The answer is, DON’T PANIC!
While it is true that hydraulic systems are typically powered by diesel engines, which are becoming less popular due to their high emissions, there are still many reasons why hydraulics will likely remain an important part of construction equipment for the foreseeable future.
First and foremost, hydraulic systems are incredibly powerful and efficient, making them ideal for heavy-duty tasks like lifting and moving large loads. This means that even as construction equipment becomes more electric, there will likely still be a need for hydraulics to provide the power necessary to perform these critical tasks.
Furthermore, many manufacturers are already developing hybrid and electric construction equipment that still incorporates hydraulics.
For example, some hybrid excavators use electric motors to power the machine’s movement, but still rely on hydraulic systems for the lifting and digging functions.
In addition, hydraulic systems are highly customizable, which means that manufacturers can tailor them to meet the specific needs of different types of construction equipment. This makes them a versatile and adaptable technology that can continue to evolve alongside other advances in construction equipment design.
Overall, while the rise of hybrid and all-electric vehicles may have an impact on the future of hydraulics within construction, it seems likely that they will continue to play an important role in powering heavy-duty construction equipment for many years to come.
Last week Holmbury had the pleasure of welcoming Sapphire to our Tonbridge office to meet some of the team. Sapphire have been our provider for SAP Business One for over a decade and they have been incredibly helpful over the last year or so, helping us integrate our new Kardex Machine into the day-to-day life at Holmbury. The team at Sapphire had to write custom coding as SAP and our Kardex machines program Remstar Power Pick, had never been used together before. This was a challenge, as it would be for any company, however Sapphire handled the task with ease and created a bespoke system for Holmbury. This particular system allows us to send pick lists from SAP directly to our Kardex machine so our warehouse team can pick orders as efficiently as possible while helping to streamline the picking process.
SAP Business one also has an MRP function which we at Holmbury have been using to review and place purchase orders for the last 2 years. Before this function was available to us, Holmbury had to create purchase orders manually which was not only more time consuming but allowed more room for error. By using this integrated system in SAP, it has allowed Holmbury to have a better understanding and control over what is required to ensure we have the right products on the shelf at the right time to supply and fulfil our customers’ requirements.
How hard is it to relieve 5,000 PSI of trapped pressure in a hydraulic system? With a decompression block coupling from Holmbury it may be easier than you think. Learn more in the upcoming podcast episode of #FluidPowerForum featuring Brad Longmuir of Holmbury Inc. on Monday 8th November.
When Komatsu UK approached Holmbury in 2007 it was clear there was an opportunity for both companies to work towards a common goal of improving the efficiency of changing hydraulic attachments on Komatsu’s large excavators. Holmbury comments that it has always sought to work collaboratively with its business partners as shown by longstanding relationships with a variety of construction equipment manufacturers. Holmbury recognised that the opportunity to work together with one of the world’s largest construction OEMs was one not to be missed.
Komatsu’s reputation for quality and reliability meant it demanded testing to a very rigorous standard; incorporating high levels of vibration, pressure impulse and temperature simultaneously during the testing and approval process.
Holmbury was established in 1982 by David French and quickly became recognised for its high quality, reliable products. The company is best-known for its innovative flat face coupling design, launched in 1984, which soon became a preferred quick release coupling solution for heavy construction equipment OEMs. The flat face design prevents the inclusion of air and contaminants, while preventing fluid loss during disconnection.
Critical component Furthermore, the design also helped shape the ISO 16028 Standard. Quick release couplings have now become a critical component of hydraulic circuits, especially where attachments are changed regularly. Since then Holmbury has greatly expanded its product range to include many hydraulic component designs, tailored for specific applications and environments.
The request from Komatsu was to develop a coupling that could withstand the extreme conditions of severe vibrations and high pressure pulses produced by its large excavators. The Komatsu UK produced machines are in the range between 20 and 80 tonnes, traditionally utilising solid pipes or valves to accommodate the high flow rates passing through the sizeable hydraulic lines.
Komatsu had already realised that switching to quick release couplings presented the opportunity to reduce attachment changeover times to a couple of minutes, significantly faster than with solid pipes or valves, reducing costs associated with machine downtime and labour.
After initial discussions with Komatsu, it was evident that there was no existing quick release coupling solution in the hydraulic industry that met the demanding criteria set by Komatsu. The Holmbury design team worked closely with the design and purchasing engineers from Komatsu, establishing a clear development schedule that thoroughly explored all options for the coupling design. Over the course of numerous meetings and collaborative workshops, the design began to take shape and in 2009 the PS Series was born.
Superior corrosion resistance The PS Series is constructed from carbon steel with zinc nickel plating, offering superior corrosion resistance (Holmbury zinc nickel plating process subjected the parts to 1200 hours of salt spray testing without the appearance of red rust).
The PS SeriesThe PS Series utilises a screw thread connection, eliminating the Brinelling effect commonly seen on push connection couplings. Brinelling occurs where locking balls cause indentation damage and create structural weakness over time. The male and female halves are locked into place using a retaining clip, preventing accidental disconnection. Once fully connected, all internal components are held rigid which significantly reduces the risk of material fatigue. Finally, Viton and HNBR seals are fitted, which are shielded to minimise wear.
Once the design phase had been completed the coupling was put through a rigorous testing period, at an independent laboratory, where it exceeded 3 million impulse cycles while being subjected to heavy vibration in the horizontal and vertical planes. Testing showcased the many strengths of this coupling. Beyond the time savings on machinery changeover, minimal oil loss occurs on disconnection, due to the double shut-off action. In addition, the coupling experiences low pressure drop and can accommodate flow rates up to 1000 l/min. Furthermore, the coupling can be connected and disconnected with up to 50 bar residual pressure in either or both, the hydraulic lines.
Award recognition The PS series has been received extremely positively and has helped Komatsu machines to become highly successful in the construction industry. To emphasise this success, this month (April) saw Komatsu’s PC490-10 HRD (high-reach demolition) excavator winning the ‘Industry Service Provider Award’ at the National Federation of Demolition Contractors Awards 2015 for ‘Innovation of the Year’.
The PS Series is now available to the general market and offers a tempting alternative to traditional options for large excavators and demolition equipment. The extra heavy duty screw coupling is one of many innovations which Holmbury has in its product range and Holmbury continues to explore new opportunities across the hydraulics industry.
Martin Vanns, managing director of Holmbury Ltd., added: “The PS Series is a product that Holmbury are enormously proud of. It reinforces our drive for growth in new products and markets. Holmbury always welcomes the opportunity to partner with OEMs, working together to solve complex problems with simple solutions.”