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.
A customer received some feedback regarding an issue with a set of leaking flat face couplings and heavy brinelling* evident on the male part of the coupling.
Holmbury prides itself on the quality of all our products, so it was a priority for us to ensure these couplings made their way back to undergo rigorous inspection at our state-of-the-art test facility in Tonbridge, Kent. Once the goods arrived at our site, we carried out our standard inspection checks and tests. Supporting report documentation, complete with images, to convey our findings was prepared for the customer.
Our investigation had revealed the leakage was due to the seals being extruded alongside the very clear brinelling. Further discussions with our customer followed and we learned the couplings had been subjected to a combination of extreme pulsing and hose vibration which on this occasion took the application out of the performance zone of the HQ flat face series. It was clear to our technical team that our customer required a different coupling solution to resolve this issue. Holmbury advised that our HFT series could be a good solution.
HFT series screw to connect couplings incorporate all the benefits from our HQ range, whilst simultaneously strengthening the connection. Eliminating brinelling. Connection and disconnection can take place at high residual pressure in both the female and the male coupling, thus make the HFT series an ideal solution for high pressure pulses.
Our customer purchased several sets of the HFT series couplings and throughout the last 6 months we’ve had no recurrence or issues.
Holmbury continues to work closely with our customers when problems arise. Modern machines which, on the surface do the same job as they always have, have higher performance characteristics than previous models meaning higher performing couplings are sometimes required.
Rest assured that our team will always be ready to offer technical support when you need it and a solution to keep your equipment up and running.
For more information, please visit the rest of our website or call our sales office on 01732 378912.
* What is Brinelling? Brinelling is a type of mechanical damage that occurs on the surface of a metal object when it is subjected to extreme pulsation – in the case of a quick release coupling the ball bearings cause indentations to the coupling itself generally due to the above and excessive side loading of a heavy, unsupported hose assembly.
Yet another exciting development for us, as Holmbury introduce our Android App! Having already launched the app for IOS devices in December 2021, we are delighted to now be able to offer this useful tool on even more devices…
High performance when you need it most
Screw to connect couplings for the toughest applications
Holmbury Group offers its customers a wide range of hydraulic quick release couplings for low to high pressure applications manufactured in various materials and finishes to suit all installations.
Anyone browsing the Holmbury website or using the Holmbury App will easily see that the range is extensive and to support customers further, the decision was made to have all of the Holmbury products available for download as 3D models.
The challenge was to find the correct partner for this.
Parts supplied by Holmbury Group are components used by designers for creating hydraulic based fluid transfer systems. Designers want to build virtual systems in the specific 3D CAD format that they need.
We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with TraceParts to make our range of quick release couplings and high pressure ball valves available as 3D models via their online portal.
Over 70 different 3D CAD formats are available as well as technical data sheets and 2D PDF CAD drawings providing the system designer with comprehensive information at the click of a mouse!
TraceParts is a world-leading digital engineering 3D content company, offering progressive business software solutions for over 20 years through powerful web-based products and services such as CAD part libraries & electronic catalogues. The TracePartsOnline.net CAD portal is immensely powerful and freely available to millions of CAD users worldwide providing thousands of supplier catalogues and over 100 million CAD models and product datasheets suitable for the Design, Purchasing, Manufacturing and Maintenance processes.
The TraceParts portal is very dependable and easy to use whilst offering flexibility & ease for the designer to filter the full range of Holmbury products by specific product series, body size and thread type. Once selected the 3D models can be downloaded in seventy different formats ensuring compatibility with all design software systems.
Please feel free to download whichever products you require and keep coming back as any new products will be available as they are released.
Holmbury Group also offers bespoke solutions so if you do not find what you are looking for then please contact one of our experienced and knowledgeable staff who are on hand to answer any questions that you may have.
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.”