AN ELECTRIC ANSWER FOR CRANES

NAF Neunkirchener Achsenfabrik AG (NAF), a specialist in high-performance, heavy-duty drivelines, has developed a new range of directly driven electric axles for crane applications.
The basic design is based on NAF’s modular system with high flexibility in installation and the possibility to have cost-efficient, custom-made solutions, the company said. So far, the load range covered by the new axle family is from 20 to 70 tonnes with flange widths varying from 80 to 130 cm.

The axles are available with direct drive or with attached reduction gear, with an overall ratio between 16:1 and 100:1.

The company said the axles and drives are fully encapsulated to guarantee a long service lifetime and low maintenance in comparison to legacy systems with an outside chain drive. They can also be equipped with service and parking brakes, differential locks and top and bottom pivoting points to attach the axle to the frame.
Single or dual tyre use is feasible depending on the environmental conditions and the area of application, the company said.

NAF added that the axles can be modified to be used in a conventional hydrostatic driveline. These axles are used in various harbour crane applications as well as in rubber tyre gantry cranes for container handling or in industrial yards.

NAF offers a range of driveline components including bogie axles, steering and rigid axles and gearboxes. They are used in a variety of applications, including forestry, agriculture, mining, material handling, construction machines, ground support equipment and heavy-duty, off-road transport.

The company, founded in 1960, is headquartered in Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany, and employs 500 people worldwide, 80 % of whom are in manufacturing, NAF said. The company has facilities in Germany, the USA and Russia and sales representatives in France and China. NAF posted sales of € 127 million in 2016 and said that 80 % of this figure is for sales in export markets.

Quelle: Diesel Progress International, July-August 2017