As customers strive for increasingly efficient, environmentally sustainable vehicles and machinery to meet the demands of a crowded planet, GKN Land Systems continues to innovate in the off-highway sector. With a wide portfolio of integrated electro-mechanical powerTrain components, products and systems that transfer energy from power source to power applied, GKN Land Systems has the capability to deliver complex solutions to mining customers. At the heart of its business are product and technical innovations to meet new and emerging market applications, with a rapidly expanding capability for electric and hybrid drives.
The product family now includes solutions for couplings, clutches, gearboxes, driveshafts, brakes, controls, wheels, hubs and spindles to transmit and control power with optimized efficiency. The range is further supported by the addition of the Stromag industrial market product portfolio.
As the business strives to be the best at what it does, positioning itself close to customers, partnering with leading OEMs remains crucial. This combination enables GKN Land Systems to maintain its offering of comprehensive engineered solutions from Power Source to Power Applied in a concentrated manner.
GKN Land Systems showcased its new product development in the electric and hybrid vehicles arena at Bauma 2014. A range of electric motors has been developed, ideally suited to in-hub off-highway electric applications which hold the promise of greater efficiency and improved functionality. Focusing on efficiency and performance, GKN’s electric drive technology delivers high torque and high power density through the development of axial flux, AF-130 phase, permanent magnet, synchronous motors.
The motors are currently available in four sizes delivering power from 68 to 188 kW continuous (with peak power up to 400 kW) and torques from 145 to 520 Nm (with a peak torque of 1,200 Nm). In addition to power-related advantages, such as the improved process efficiency of machines and implements, electric drive systems provide significant environmental benefits. Outstanding use can be made of alternative and more sustainable energy sources and the CO2 emissions of mobile machines are significantly reduced.
The GKN Rockfords portfolio of Mechanics Series® drivelines and universal joints, which incorporate patented Mechanics® technology, offer a complete range of sizes for off-highway equipment or applications.
Service Reduction GKN Rockford® products offer superior value through extensive design and application engineering expertise, advanced logistics and high levels of customer service to withstand the requirements of today’s more powerful engines and transmissions. Each Universal Joint for example is specially designed to facilitate field or shop servicing, making u-joint removal and replacement simpler, faster and cleaner.
The new inverted slip design range of 3C-10C driveshafts launched here at the show is no exception with features and benefits to offer significant advantages to customers in the off-highway market. These improvements will reduce the need for servicing and maintenance, and maximize uptime and productivity.
Progressive innovation, for example the patented Mechanics® Seal technology, has already proven its worth on some of the most difficult terrain, including mining. Increases in torque capacity and service life result in longer operating times, shorter downtimes and ultimately, higher profit margins for the operator.
GKN Land Systems can now supply fully integrated wheel, hub and spindle designs that have been manufactured and performance-verified using both engineering modelling and live product testing. The ability to offer complete systems to the highest standards, from a single source, and in a comprehensive range of load from 1,000 to 60,000 lb, provides the business with the flexibility required to produce fully tested, reliable designs quickly and to the highest possible standards.
In the field of driveline systems, the continuously variable, hydrostatic ICVD drive with additional, automatic axle disconnection was presented for the first time. This new transmission technology makes it possible to increase the system efficiency of wheel loaders and telehandlers, for example, while at the same time reducing tyre wear and energy consumption.
A Swift Change Changing or rotating a tyre assembly on a machine can be challenging and time consuming. With the Swift Change Rim, tyre removal is significantly faster than with standard rims ensuring machine downtime is minimized. Designed at GKN’s Technology Centre in North America, the Swift Change design enables tires from 51” to 63” rim to be changed without removing the outer or inner wheel assembly arrangement meaning a time saving and safer operation.