Besides its constantly growing product range, the long-established company has years of expertise in providing customised electrification solutions for machines that were previously running on diesel. This also includes the eco-friendly power supply of material handling equipment and mobile excavators. Dr. Jörg Eidam, CEO at Hartmann & König Stromzuführungs AG, is convinced that "the electrification of construction machines and heavy machines by means of motorised cable reels is currently the best alternative to fuel-intensive construction machines running on diesel". Nowadays it is considered a key technology, especially with regard to the efficient use of renewable energy. "We’re very satisfied with the visitor’s response and the positive feedback on our electrification solutions", the CEO says.

In close coordination with the Bad Schönborn company Terex® Fuchs, H&K was able to develop motorised cable reels for use on several mobile scrap-loading machines that have been operating reliably at the Port of Istanbul in Turkey for quite some time. The power of the loading excavator is supplied via two thick cables which are simultaneously reeled up and down on a spiral reel body. Since the installation area for cable reels on mobile vehicles is usually quite limited and the functionality of the excavator (with regard to its pivoting range, load ratios, access to/from the emergency exit of the steering cabin and engine performance) should not be impaired, the specifications of the double reel had to be optimised and adapted to the prevailing installation conditions. Tracked vehicles usually have a restricted turning radius, which poses a constant risk to the cable on the reel body. For this reason, it was fitted with a specifically designed and constructed deflection link chain to be able to guide the cables safely when driving along curves and in swivel operation.

The reel drive was fitted with a precisely adjustable, frequency-controlled three-phase motor, which Hartmann & König uses systematically in the development of new products. Motorised cable reels with an adjustable drive torque are particularly suitable for industrial plants with long travel ranges (such as gantry cranes, loading machines and agricultural devices) because the elimination of peak forces on the cable prolongs their life and achieves increased reliability of the entire cable reel system – especially in highly dynamic processes.

This electrification is particularly profitable on machines that have a predictably limited scope of movement. Motorised cable reels are an eco-friendly solution for travel ranges of up to 1,000 metres and they also help reduce costs in the long run. Thanks to significant savings in terms of fuel consumption, maintenance and downtimes, the investment costs for such a high-quality power supply with motorised cable reels usually pay back very quickly for the customer.

Please visit http://www.hukag.com/en/welcome.html to find out more about H&K’s Eco-friendly electrification solutions.