Efficiency that borders on the impossible electrohydraulic drives

Abstract

Hydraulic displacement systems are a technology that has been known for many years. Nevertheless, the impression is created that the large fields of application are not only being developed very tentatively, but in many cases are being completely denied. What might be the reason for this? Are the electromechanical solutions better? What is the missing element to build the bridge from the available hydraulic-mechatronic technology to broad customer application? This paper provides an overview of how the targeted use of the latest technologies in the product and in the entire value-added chain has resulted in a complete mechatronic hydraulic system that pushes the limits of feasibility in terms of power, accuracy and efficiency and delivers a clearly calculable benefit for both the plant manufacturer and the end customer. In addition to the great accuracy and high reliability, there are also considerable savings in the total cost of ownership (TCO) due to a previously unattained level of efficiency. The thoughts of health and environmental protection are just as much a part of the considerations as product safety and personal protection. Finally, an outlook on possible expansions is given, and which areas of application are possible for the technologies developed within the project. The aim is not to show how the traditional fields of application of hydraulics are to be defended, but rather to use the strengths of a hydraulic-mechatronic approach in a conscious and clearly structured way to make new applications possible.