Tag Archives: electric drivetrains

Voith strengthens electric drive expertise with ELIN Motoren acquisition

Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , ,

Voith says it is planning to acquire 70% of the shares of ELIN Motoren GmbH as it looks to strengthen its position in the market for electrical drive systems.

A corresponding purchase contract was signed on December 20, with closing of the transaction anticipated to occur at the beginning of the June quarter.

ELIN is a global high-tech company in the area of electric motors and generators and provides customised solutions for markets such as wind energy, plastic, tunnel construction and mining, oil and gas, plant engineering as well as power plants.

Dr Uwe Knotzer, President & CEO of Voith Turbo, said: “Voith is the technology leader in drive technology in many industries. The portfolio of ELIN Motoren is an excellent addition to our industrial drive solutions and supports our position as a technology-independent supplier of drive systems. With the 125 years of experience of ELIN Motoren, we will achieve a significant advantage for our customers in drivetrain electrification.”

ELIN manufactures electric motors and generators on large and small scale, as well as customised solutions for industrial applications, focusing on electric machinery, low- and medium-voltage motors and generators especially for wind energy as well as decentralised energy generation.

Wolfgang Landler, CEO of ELIN Motoren GmbH, said: “Like ELIN Motoren, Voith, as a long-standing and globally positioned expert in the drive technology sector, follows a digitalisation strategy for industrial applications.

“With the future collaboration between the companies, we will be able to offer our customers, especially in this sector, optimised, integrated concepts ranging from consulting, prototype development to production and service.”

ELIN employs around 900 people and generates a turnover of approximately €120 million ($133 million).

John Deere Power Systems electrification and engine solutions to take centre stage at Bauma

Environmental, Equipment maintenance, Mining equipment, Mining maintenance, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

John Deere Power Systems says it will showcase its proven electrification solutions in addition to a range of new engines at the upcoming Bauma fair in Munich, Germany, on April 8-14.

The company’s 644K (pictured) and 944K hybrid wheel loaders have collectively logged more than 1 million operating hours in the field, it said. “This level of real-world experience is key as more OEMs look to John Deere Power Systems for technologies to reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, and enhance machine performance and reliability.”

This milestone follows the announcement that the John Deere family of Stage V engines recently received official certification, the company said.

John Deere said it was among the first to introduce electric drive technology in off-highway equipment, producing the 644K hybrid loader in 2013 and the 944K hybrid loader in 2015. This saw John Deere Power Systems join forces with John Deere Electronic Solutions to “successfully design and implement fully integrated electric drivetrain systems”, it said. This concept was first introduced at Bauma 2016.

While off-highway equipment manufacturers continue to explore and evaluate hybrid and electrification solutions for their respective markets, the demands of the end customer for reliability and productivity continue to increase, according to the company.

“In response to this, John Deere is developing technology to meet manufacturers at various phases of implementation and development,” it said.

Darren Almond, Drivetrain Product Planning Manager for John Deere Power Systems, said the company is working closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to understand their application needs in the field of electrification. 

“Exceeding 1 million operating hours shows that John Deere has an in-depth understanding of how to make hybrid drivetrain systems work in the field,” he said. “We can use our expertise to discover innovative ways to develop reliable, efficient, cost-effective alternatives to traditional drivetrain systems.”

The OEM electrification approach of John Deere seeks to offer integrated solutions that address the interfaces between the electrical generator and/or motors, power electronics, and mechanical interfaces, according to the company. 

To accompany its hybrid solutions, John Deere Power Systems will showcase new engine options at the upcoming Bauma fair. 

The new 13.6 litre engine from John Deere will be part of the Stage V line-up for industrial and generator set markets. In addition to the 13.6 litre engine, John Deere will display its 4.5 litre EWS engine for the first time. 

“The 4.5 litre EWS engine serves both the 80 kVA and the 100 kVA markets and expands the non-EGR engine generator drive lineup for Stage V from John Deere,” the company said. 

Dana Off-Highway expands electrification offering with launch of new drivetrains

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , , , , ,

Dana has introduced two new electric drivetrain solutions for off-highway vehicles, including the Spicer® Electrified™ e-Axle and e-Gearbox.

These technologies enable electrified propulsion within established vehicle architectures by leveraging the company’s portfolio of motors, inverters, and controls, Dana said.

“Dana, through numerous organic and inorganic initiatives, has filled out its product portfolio to support the needs of its customers,” the company said. “The company will debut its electrified drivetrain solutions in April at Bauma alongside e-Propulsion technologies from the SME Group, which the company acquired earlier this month. These electrodynamic solutions support customers’ needs for efficiency, manoeuvrability, safety, and overall performance.”

Aziz Aghili, President of Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Technologies, said: “Vehicle manufacturers in mining, construction, and other off-highway markets are efficiently transitioning toward electrification, while retaining a large portion of their products in traditional technologies.

“Dana has positioned the company to be energy-source agnostic to support our customers across drivetrain configurations, including electrodynamic components that accelerate the adoption of electrification through the introduction of technologies specifically selected to meet the needs of current vehicle architectures.”

The Spicer Electrified e-Axle combines Dana’s heavy-axle design with a high-efficiency TM4 SUMO™ HP motor/generator and inverter combination for medium-sized mining trucks, medium-sized load haul dumpers, and large lift trucks.

Supplying 139 kW of continuous power and 193 kW at peak power, the TM4 motor/generator and inverter are joined at the centre housing of the axle to provide needed torque and efficiency within the space typically allotted for an internal-combustion engine and transmission.

The Spicer Electrified e-Gearbox features a compact design that manages high input speeds and accommodates the installation of an electric motor. “It offers a highly engineered interface for connecting cost-effective motors used in electrification with conventional Spicer hydrostatic transmissions,” Dana said.

Its plug-and-play design combines Dana-supplied TM4 and SME electric motors with Spicer hydrostatic transmissions for small- and medium-sized wheel loaders up to 10 ts and telehandlers with lift capacities up to 6.8 t.

The e-Gearbox will be available for customer testing in the second half of 2019.

Dana said: “The electrified propulsion technologies shown by Dana at Bauma (stand A3 325) will reflect the series of strategic moves made by the company to support electrification and hybridisation in the off-highway market over the past two years, including:

  • “The acquisition of the power-transmission and fluid power businesses of Brevini;
  • “The acquisition of a majority stake in TM4, a manufacturer of high-voltage electric motors, power inverters, and control systems;
  • “An agreement to purchase the Drive Systems segment of the Oerlikon Group, and;
  • “The acquisition of the SME Group, a designer and manufacturer of low-voltage motors and inverters.”

Combined with the company’s expertise in driveline technologies, sealing systems, and thermal management, these initiatives position Dana as the leading supplier of electrification solutions for the off-highway segment, the company said.