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Barko's two newest forestry machines have sole sourced hydraulics from Parker Hannifin ... is it a system? ... the customer thinks so

The off-highway equipment industry in general, and the world of mobile hydraulics specifically, have each long been talking about the supply of complete systems as being part of the collective future. Certainly with Tier 1 thinking starting to drift down from automotive and heavy-duty on-highway, along with the ongoing reduction of suppliers, it seems only a matter of time before complete systems become part of at least some of the business.

In the meantime, the debate over exactly what is a system will continue. The jury is still out on the actual definition and thinking varies from manufacturer to manufacturer as to whether sourcing the major cost components of a machine, from one supplier, is a good idea or not.

However, while the debate continues, the newly introduced Barko 375 crawler, and the Barko 225 trailer/track mount loader, both have sourced their entire hydraulic system from a single supplier, Parker Hannifin's Mobile Sales Division, Mr. Prospect, Ill.

In this case, the customer certainly thinks of it as a system.

"We made the decision that with the 225 and 375, we would source the hydraulics as a system," said Dennis Healy, vice president sales & marketing, Barko Hydraulics, Duluth, Minn. "We've worked with everyone out there and we've always had a mix of components in our products. This time we went with a full system."

Barko President Bill Hanson echoed the sentiment, "We decided that we need to focus our efforts on developing specifications for our new machines. We will no longer try to be experts on all the different motion and control technologies, as in the past. Parker worked with us on a total system basis. It's their core business. Forestry equipment is ours."

Barko's 375 crawler and 225 trailer/truck mount loader were officially introduced in mid-1997, with production beginning later this year. Healy said both machines are "gap fillers," fitting into Barko's line where the company previously did not have a specific model.

The self-propelled model 375 crawler, Healy said, was developed for tially scrap handling, but will also find forestry use in mill wood yards. At 26,500 lb. maximum lift capacity at 15 ft. radius, the new crawler fits between the company's model 275, which has a maximum lift capacity of 20,000 lb. at 15 ft. radius, and the larger model 475 with 33,000 lb. max. lift capacity at 15 ft. radius. Engine power is a Cummins 6BTA5.9 diesel rated 166 hp.

Barko's new model 225 is a trailer/truck mount loader specifically for forestry use. "The 225 fills a range we've needed for a few years," Healy said. "It fits between our model 160 with a 20,000 lb. maximum lift capacity, and the model 275."

The model 225 has a maximum lift capacity of 28,000 lb. at 10 ft. radius, with a 32 ft. straight boom. Power is a 140 hp Cummins 6BT5.9 diesel. "The 225 also fits with an application change we've seen in the market, in that it needs a lot more swing torque than previous models, to operate pull-through delimbers. The new on-demand hydraulic system allows us to do that."

The process that resulted in Barko using a complete Parker Hannifin hydraulic system began largely because of electronics. According to Ian Keyworth, regional manager, Parker Hannifin, Mobile Sales Division, they had been talking with Barko about Parker's new IQAN electronic control system.

"The starting point was electronics," Keyworth said. "The upgraded, 'plug and play' electronic capabilities of our new system is what got all of us thinking about a complete system for the 375. And while the 225 is not electronically controlled, the discussion of a system was expanded to include that machine, as Barko was working on both models in parallel."

The IQAN, said Peter Stambro, Parker Hannifin mobile account manager, is an electronic control, can-bus system, developed by Parker. It controls all the hydraulic functions of the machine and includes a display, that also serves as the dashboard.

The display module allows the user to set all the parameters, as well as being able to monitor virtually every function of the machine including engine speed and hours, along with a variety of oil levels, pressures and temperatures. The system also has a number of alarms, both audible and on the display screen.

The operator can troubleshoot the machine via the display, as well as changing parameters to fit a specific application. Software updates can be done with a laptop computer and new software can be downloaded via the Internet. The electronics also work in reverse, allowing vehicle operating data to be collected, stored and analyzed. A separate electronic control module (ECM), the brains of the system, is generally located in or near the cab.

The hydraulic system for the 375 machine, Stambro said, is a 4500 psi load sensing system with power management. The system starts with a pair of Parker's model V30Z-95 variable displacement pumps, packaged in tandem back-to-back, and driven directly off the engine. These are two 95 cc pumps, giving the system 105 gpm total at 2000 rpm. Stambro said this is the first application of these new pumps in a forestry/material handling application.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:03 AM