This Week in Power & Motion: ZF Electric PTO System to be Equipped in Mercedes-Benz Electric Trucks
There is much going on in the world of fluid power and motion control from technology introductions and industry advancements to new trends and industry leaders. To keep our readers as informed as possible, the Power & Motion team has collected some of the latest industry news.
Keep an eye out for a new edition each week to ensure you stay up to date on what's happening in the world of fluid power and motion control.
AGCO Acquiring Autonomous Software Developer JCA Industries
Agricultural equipment manufacturer AGCO Corp. is acquiring JCA Industries, a developer of autonomous software for agricultural machinery, implements and electronic components. The company has developed path planning, sensor fusion and remote-control software solutions which are utilized by a variety of OEMs.
“The purchase of JCA is another important addition to our precision agriculture capabilities,” stated Eric Hansotia, AGCO’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, in the company's press release announcing the acquisition. “JCA is one of the most advanced developers of autonomous machine technologies for off-road OEMs, and this acquisition will accelerate AGCO’s delivery of machine automation and autonomous systems that improve farmer productivity.”
Agriculture OEMs, like others in various industries, are increasing their partnerships with developers of autonomous systems as the industry looks to improve operations for farmers and overcome labor challenges. CNH Industrial and John Deere are among the OEMs who have announced such partnerships in the past year.
READ MORE: John Deere and GUSS Automation Form Joint Venture
RISE Robotics Awarded Technology Development Contract from U.S. Air Force
RISE Robotics, a developer of electromechanical actuators for heavy-duty equipment, has received a $1.25 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Award from the United States Air Force AFVentures. AFVentures uses military scenarios to help accelerate commercial technologies.
The company will design an Ultra-Light 10K Loader using its RISE Technology—an electromechanical actuator which combines the force of hydraulics with the precision of electronics to aid electrification initiatives. Implementation of the RISE solution will help the concept machine quickly and safely maneuver materials on aircraft landing fields. The machine's weight is also expected to be lower than that of the legacy diesel-over-hydraulic 10K AT Forklift.
With this new machine design, the Air Force will be better able to meet its goals of being more agile. It will be able to quickly deploy and maneuver its equipment and materials while also utilizing a lower maintenance solution.
“Unloading and loading heavy cargo pallets from austere landing fields will be done with RISE's lighter weight equipment that reduces transportation fuel usage. Today, commercial articulated wheel loaders with large off-road tires do the job well, but reducing fuel consumption is a new challenge best solved by RISE," says RISE Robotics CEO Arron Acosta in the company's press release announcing the award.
This award comes just weeks after announcing it also received a development award to help modernize the Air Force's Ground Support Equipment with its RISE Cylinder. The company also recently announced a partnership with Danfoss Power Solutions to advance its technology to aid electrification of off-highway equipment.
ZF Electrified PTO System to be Used in Mercedes-Benz Electric Trucks
ZF has announced its it eWorX electrified power take-off (PTO) system will be equipped in electric trucks developed by commercial vehicle OEM Mercedes-Benz Trucks. eWorX is an all-in-one solution which combines the necessary components to electrify on-board equipment. The company unveiled its eWorX portfolio of electronic solutions at ACT Expo 2022.
ZF explains in its press release announcing the partnership that its fully integrated system is modular, standardized and intelligent which makes it an easy and reliable solution for OEMs to utilize. The system installed on the Mercedes-Benz eActros includes:
- electric motor with nominal power of 50 kW
- inverter and control unit with application-specific software
- cooling system
- hydraulic pump
The company says the system is able to communicate via the vehicle's CANbus and that it operates independently from the driving system, enabling it to be used with electric axle drives and central drives. A traction battery in the eActros provides electrical energy to the eWorX system which allows the electric motor to drive the hydraulic pump for the truck's tipper and eliminate the need for a mechanical connection to the traction motor.
Meritor Acquiring Siemens Commercial Vehicles Business
Drivetrain manufacturer Meritor Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire Siemens' Commercial Vehicles business. This includes many of its electric solutions which will help further expand Meritor's own electrification proficiencies.
The Siemens Commercial Vehicles business designs and develops various products including direct drive and transmission-based remote mount electric motors, inverters, software and related services. Meritor says in its press release announcing the acquisition that it expects these technologies to be critical elements in the next generation of electric powertrains it develops and that it will now be able to offer global customers a wider array of electrified products.
Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. announced in February its plans to acquire Meritor, bringing together two of the largest powertrain suppliers in the heavy-duty truck and off-highway equipment markets. Per the terms of that agreement, Meritor states in its press release the consent and support of Cummins to acquire Siemens Commercial Vehicles.
"The Siemens Commercial Vehicles business offers capabilities and technology that will enhance our ability to offer superior electric solutions to the global commercial vehicle market," said Chris Villavarayan, Meritor's CEO and president in the company's press release. "As the urgency grows for zero carbon solutions, this highly talented and skilled team, and leading electric product portfolio, strengthens Meritor's business as we move toward the anticipated acquisition by Cummins."
Elevāt Extends Jump-Start Program, Provides IoT Solution to Agricultural OEM
Internet of Things (IoT) connected machine solution developer Elevāt recently announced the launch of its Activāt Mobile Machine IoT (MM-IoT) Jump-Start program. This solution is designed to help heavy equipment OEMs and fleet operators achieve the results they need once they've deployed the company's IoT technology.
The Jump-Start program provides a four-step process that enables users to customize Activāt MM-IoT to their specific use cases and vehicle types.
“Having been in the industrial and off-highway machine market for decades, we witnessed the biggest pitfalls that often came up when implementing innovative solutions. With the Activāt MM-IoT Jump-Start, we head off issues before deployment even begins. This eliminates false starts and eliminates wasting time and money. Plus, it leads to a more streamlined deployment process and delivers immediate results that align with desired outcomes,” says Adam Livesay, co-founder and chief revenue officer, Elevāt, in the company's press release announcing the release of the Jump-Start program.
“One-size-fits-all solutions do not work when it comes to complex IoT telematics implementations. That is why it is crucial to begin with a discovery process that helps our team understand how the client plans to utilize Elevāt’s solutions, everyone that will use the applications, and any client-specific requirements. The Activāt MM-IoT Jump-Start program also includes a pilot phase that allows for feedback and an action plan prior to going into full production,” explains Livesay.
The company has also announced that agricultural equipment manufacturer Versatile, a division of Buhler Industries Inc., has deployed the Elevāt Machine Connect platform across its entire Model Year 2022 tractor line.
“When we decided to integrate IoT telematics software, sensors, and gateways into our tractors, we wanted to ensure the solution we implemented provided a seamless experience for our entire dealer network and our customers. We chose to work with Elevāt because of their willingness and ability to tailor their solution and the portal to our unique requirements. We have just begun to deploy the CBX system by Elevāt in our tractors; our dealers and end users are already excited about the benefits,” says Erron Leafloor of Versatile in the press release announcing its use of Elevāt's technology.
“The team at Versatile came to Elevāt looking for a solution that would support remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance and deliver capabilities like over-the-air (OTA) updates, geofencing and geotracking, and proactive telematics reports. Also, advanced features like virtual technician support and command and control supported Versatile’s dedication to advanced innovation. They also wanted a fully white-labeled portal experience that aligned with the Versatile brand and delivered a customer experience that supported Versatile’s long-held commitment to customer service,” says Livesay.
