FLUID POWER
Bring in the
reinforcements
LIEBHERR COMPONENTS’ CARBON FIBER-REINFORCED PLASTICS
ARE ALLOWING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE NEW
COMPONENTS IN HYDRAULICS AND BEYOND
When thinking of the construction
machinery industry, weight reduction and
the demand for lightweight materials is not yet
common practice. In the case of conventional
materials reaching their limits, new paths need to
be taken. One of these paths can be the intelligent
application of fiber-reinforced materials. In this,
Liebherr is shaping the technological progress.
Components are usually characterized by
a solid and heavy design due to the forces and
loads they need to withstand. Equipping statically
unfavorable positions with such heavy parts, for
example in a wide cantilever girder, may lead to
an inability to utilize the full potential of
a machine. This is particularly true of cranes,
excavators and material handling devices. When
components are substituted with lighter or more
66 iVT International Off-Highway 2020
powerful parts, the extension of range, increase
in dynamic movements, higher loads and
reduction in energy consumption become
a competitive advantage.
As shown in the past, the substitution of
metals solely by fiber-reinforced plastics will not
compellingly lead to the desired result. Hybrid
structures or local reinforcements are a further
option. The main challenge is to select the right
material at the right place, as there is an ideal
material or material combination for every purpose.
Expanding the portfolio
Liebherr is currently working on the development
and application of lightweight components in
various research and development projects. Close
cooperation with the customer is the key. The
projects come from the hydraulic cylinders site in
Kirchdorf an der Iller, Germany. In future, the
range of final products made of composite
materials will extend far beyond the mere supply
of hydraulic cylinders. The goal is to apply
weight-optimized solutions, especially where they
make economic sense and offer high added value.
This is intended to achieve new dimensions for
products with specially customized properties.
The market and technology offer a variety of
fiber materials, matrix systems and
manufacturing processes. The composite can be
designed freely with a wide variety of starting
materials and by determining the orientation of
the reinforcing fibers. By tailoring its rigidity,
strength and density, the materials can be
individually adjusted to different requirements.
LIEBHERR COMPONENTS