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.
This week's edition is centered around news from Work Truck Week 2024 which took place March 5-8. Considered to be the largest North American event focused on the work truck industry — an important customer segment for hydraulics and pneumatics — this annual event brings together a range of new vehicle and technology introductions for this segment of the transportation industry.
Several new products were introduced throughout the week, including many from the fluid power industry. Following is a sampling of those products as well as additional news and insights from Work Truck Week which would be of most interest to Power & Motion's audience so it can stay informed about how this market continues to evolve technologically.
APSCO Introduces Four New Technologies
APSCO LLC, a developer of pneumatic and hydraulic solutions for the mobile equipment and transportation industries, introduced four new products during Work Truck Week.
The new APEX system is a display and control system for dump trucks featuring an enhanced user interface designed to simplify use for operators. It includes over 20 safety features to alert operators of potential issues, helping prevent operational mistakes from occuring.
Integrated into the system is an inclinometer which measures slope, roll and pitch angles; if pre-programmed limits are exceeded, the system's controls stop operation of the truck to ensure safety.
APSCO introduced a new addition to its direct mount air actuators for directional control valves with the EDM Series offering an electric over air control solution. Electric signals are sent for air actuation. This enables use of a simple and cost-effective solution compared to some of the more expensive proportional electrical systems in the market the company said during its press conference at Work Truck Week.
Another debut was the ATAS-210, a hydraulic manifold and control system for trailing axles. It is used to redistribute a truck's payload to accommodate bridge laws across the U.S. while also enabling higher payloads to be carried, helping increase productivity for fleets. It is a complete hydraulic system for trailing axles, something for which the company said the market has been asking.
The final new product unveiled at the show was the ARIS-250, a hydraulic manifold reservoir system with integrated filter and control system. It is geared toward Class 3-6 vehicles and is designed to help protect their hydraulic systems by removing contaminents from the oil, extending both system and vehicle lifespans.
IMT Showcases Remote Control Tech and Battery-Powered Telescopic Crane
Iowa Mold Tooling Co. Inc. (IMT), an Oshkosh Corp. company, highlighted its IMT CMD.CTRL and a prototype battery-powered telescopic crane.
IMT CMD.CTRL combines hardware and software technologies to enable remote control of crane and body operations. A core element of the system is its advanced Load Moment Indicator (LMI) which provides real-time load and safety information to vehicle operators. The system can be used to operate a truck's crane, stabilizers, lights and compressor as well as auxiliary equipment.
This system can also provide remote and easy-to-understand diagnostics information in a simple text format for easier troubleshooting and customizable options to fit specific customer application requirements.
Also displayed was a prototype of IMT's battery-powered telescopic crane and compressor package which it first unveiled at CONEXPO-CON/AGG, a large construction show, in 2023. It is outfitted on the company's Dominator I body equipped with the IMT CMD.CTRL system and is a fully electric 3,200 lb. telescopic crane.
The vehicle is powered by the Vanair EPEQ ELiMENT battery system and includes Vanair's EPEQ AIR20 reciprocating compressor. A key feature is the ability to operate the electric crane even when the vehicle is turned off.
Mack Trucks Features Newest Electric Truck
Mack Trucks exhibited three of its medium-duty trucks for the work truck segment, including the MD Electric which is the most recent electric truck added to the company's lineup. It also featured the Mack Granite and Mack MD7.
The MD Electric was first introduced during Work Truck Week 2023 and can be configured to be a Class 6 or Class 7 vehicles. It is equipped with a three-phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous 260 hp motor and Nickel Manganese Coblat (NMC) Oxide lithium-ion batteries. The 240 kWh batteries are capable of providing a range of up to 230 miles.
Mack Trucks is now in full production and vehicles are being delivered to customers. It joins the company's LR Electric refuse vehicle, which continues to gain acceptance in the marketplace, as a part of its electric vehicle portfolio.
Each of the vehicle's displayed at Work Truck Week demonstrate the options available to those in the vocational space and the potential configurations possible with each to meet varyied application needs. At the show the MD Electric was shown in a Class 6 dump truck configuration, the MD7 in a dump and snow plow setup and the Granite in a day cab option.
All three trucks make use of various fluid power and electric motion control technologies including an ePTO on the MD Electric air-suspended seats in both the MD Electric and MD7.
Vanair Launches All-in-One Underdeck Power System
Vanair, a developer of various mobile power solutions, introduced its PTO Shaft-Driven Underdeck ALL-IN-ONE Power System. It provides six forms of power in a single unit to replace multiple pieces of equipment that would otherwise be added to a vehicle, saving space and weight.
The six forms of power possible with the new system include:
- A 125-185 CFM rotary screw air compressor
- A powerful 10 kW generator
- A 330A welder
- 12V, 24V and optional 36V and 48V battery boosting capabilities
- 12V-24V and optional 36V and 48V battery charging capacity
- Up to 30 gpm at 2,000 psi of hydraulic-driven power
With all of these power capabilities, workers are equipped with the tools they need fro welding, powering essential equipment, jump-starting other vehicles and more.
A key feature of the system is the new Sansgear belt drive for the hydraulic system which is half the weight of previous geared versions and provides quieter yet more powerful performance for the system. It can provide up to 112 ft.-lb. of torque, allowing the system to provide up to 30 gpm at 2,000 psi of working hydraulic power said John Dunn, Strategic Manager, Underdeck and Utility at Vanair, during the company's press conference announcing the power system's launch.
Dunn noted the importance of an underdeck system and power it off of the chassis PTO (power take-off) to the medium-duty truck market as well. He said mounting the system under the bed of a vehicle saves a tremendous amount of weight and allows space on top of the body to be reclaimed for other tools or materials. Hitch space is also freed up for towing other equipment if necessary.
He also said that with this type of system, a vehicle is always ready to go to the next site and get to work right away because all necessary equipment is already on the truck.
REE Showcases Vehicle Platform with X-by-Wire Technology
REE Automotive, a developer of full by-wire electric trucks and platforms, exhibited its electric commercial demo vehicle which utilizes the company's x-by-wire technology — a combination of steer-, brake- and drive-by-wire technologies in a single unit.
The vehicle displayed at Work Truck Week is built on REE’s P7-C chassis cab and upfitted with a KUV body from Knapheide. REE's chassis platform is completely flat due to inclusion of its x-by-wire technology which enables a low step-in height and enhanced maneuverability.
Known as REE Corner, the x-by-wire system enables independent wheel control from an improved turn radius as well as All Wheel Drive and All Wheel Steer for better maneuverability in various weather conditions.
With this new electric demo vehicle, REE showcased how its technology can be applied in real vehicle applications. The company has designed its P7-C chassis to be easy to install and maintain, making the transition to an electric vehicle platform easier for fleets.
