Hydraulics: new ways to manage pressure
Safim and Fluid Press, two established names in the hydraulic market, form the core of the Hydraulics business segment at AL-KO VT. How are innovations helping to strengthen market presence and business? Valeriomarco Montanari, R&D Manager for the hydraulics business at Safim, provides insights.
At a glance
- Comprehensive Hydraulic Solutions: With the development strength of Safim and Fluid-Press – supported by CERMA – AL-KO VT provides hydraulic solutions for all braking requirements of mobile working machines.
- Custom development and platform strategy: With an intelligent combination of modular standard products and individually optimised components tailored to each vehicle function, our experts deliver the necessary efficiency and reliability.
- Digital hydraulics: The digitalisation of hydraulic systems forms the foundation for an entirely new level of precision and functionality—a major development boost for the automation of this vehicle class.
One principle, many applications
Moving cranes and tractors with ease
Safim manufactures hydraulic braking systems for off-highway vehicles. Fluid-Press produces hydraulic valves and manifold blocks. The basic principle is always the same: a pump pushes hydraulic fluid from a reservoir into the hydraulic circuit; valves control the pressure distribution and flow in the line system; in the cylinder, the force of the fluid is converted into the movement of the piston or the rotation of a hydraulic motor. “What makes the difference in the case of Fluid-Press and Safim are above all the applications of this technical process,” says Valeriomarco Montanari, R&D Manager at Safim.
“While Fluid-Press, with its hydraulic valves and integrated hydraulic circuits, can control many functions of tractors, combine harvesters, standard and special cranes, lifting platforms, aircraft tugs, crawlers, excavators etc., Safim is the specialist for hydraulic braking systems for these vehicles and mobile machines.” Not only are the loads these work machines effortlessly move usually measured in tonnes—the unladen weight can sometimes rival that of a heavy goods vehicle as well. Accordingly, control and braking must be especially reliable and precise to avoid accidents or errors.
Tailored optimisation
Developed in close alignment
Equipped with a complete modular kit of valves in various performance classes, the engineers at Fluid-Press tailor vehicle movements to specification. New functions can also be confidently designed using the set of components. “Close cooperation with the customer is essential here,” says Montanari. “After all, the final solution must be efficient and uncompromisingly reliable.” This is even more true for braking solutions from Safim. The development and approval of new hydraulic brake controls require many rounds of coordination with the respective customers, often through weekly meetings with the relevant specialists.
Reliability is paramount
Develop, manufacture and test specifically
Development is characterised by extensive testing. Millions of test cycles are standard for such systems. Montanari says, "We practically develop together with our customers. We need to understand exactly which challenges the vehicle should be able to withstand." Only then can the brake system also deliver optimal performance. To balance performance and efficiency as optimally as possible, for example, Safim’s master valves are developed entirely according to the application. The design of the hydraulic-integrated systems from Fluid-Press also follows the specific customer requirements in every detail. These compact valve packages optimise installation and maintenance times. They also help to reduce the number of connections to a minimum.
Proactively meeting legal requirements
Leveraging regulations as innovation drivers
Sometimes, the European Union also plays a decisive role in driving innovation. As part of efforts to minimise road accidents and increase overall safety, the EU decided in 2013/2015 that agricultural trailers must be equipped with a dual-line brake system. Montanari: “There were country-specific regulations and technical solutions across Europe.” However, from 2025 onwards, the use of single-line systems on tractors must be avoided across the EU. “Accordingly, we offer dual-line systems in our product range that meet the EU requirements for every vehicle type. For countries where single-line systems are still permitted, we also provide these solutions.”
Shaping the Future
Digitalising hydraulics
Safety and efficiency are the key drivers of innovation for the entire AL-KO VT hydraulic segment. “At the same time, we’re seeing a clear trend towards more comprehensive automatic functions in agricultural vehicles and construction machinery—even up to fully automated machines,” says Montanari. That’s why Safim already presented intelligent functional systems for autonomous braking under the motto “Shaping the future of Braking” at Bauma 2022.
Full brake-by-wire braking systems offer features such as downhill assist, anti-slip regulation, and, not least, solutions for collision prevention. "From our point of view, the future is here," Montanari says with a sense of pride. "Typically, development cycles in the hydraulic sector are very long. But, with the transition from pure hydraulics to hybrid electro-hydraulic systems, we’re experiencing a dramatic acceleration in pace, and we’re right at the forefront."
The next level of automation
Introducing new functions, more easily
Digitalisation not only enables new functions that make work increasingly safe—it also takes operating precision and ease of use to a new level. Montanari: “Digital hydraulics create opportunities for an ever greater degree of automation. This accelerates work processes with increasingly simple workflows and results in ever more efficient systems.” Last but not least, the new possibilities also help to alleviate the skilled labour shortage. These are the ingredients for a genuine development boost in the hydraulic market.
