This month, we are highlighting team member Andreas Krieger, who is an application engineer based out of our CCTY Europe facility in Schwebheim, Germany. Since joining CCTY near two years ago, he has been heavily focused on motion control solutions for our agriculture market.
What does your role as an application engineer involve?
I am responsible for providing technical support to our customers across Europe. This involves understanding the specific applications and requirements of our customers and effectively communicating these needs to our Product Design Department in China. By doing so, I help develop tailored solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs.
What are some of the most exciting challenges you’ve faced when developing motion control solutions for agricultural machinery?
Balancing conflicting requirements is key. For instance, customers often expect to achieve maximum speed while also ensuring a long lifespan, or minimal clearance without compromising on torque. Additionally, we must frequently work within limited space while still meeting high load ratings. Finding a feasible balance among these competing requirements is both challenging and rewarding. It pushes us to innovate and come up with creative solutions that satisfy our customers’ diverse needs.
What are some trends and/or technological advancements you’re seeing in the agricultural industry as it relates to motion control?
There is a strong focus on extending service life and increasing maintenance intervals. Coupled with the rising demand for enhanced corrosion resistance and tight clearance/backlash, this requires the development of advanced coating solutions and more wear-resistant sliding materials. Additionally, environmental requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, prompting the adoption of greener technologies. Last but not least, there is a continuous drive for competitiveness, which pushes us to innovate and find more efficient ways to deliver high-quality solutions at lower costs.
Can you share a recent project where CCTY’s products significantly improved the performance and/or efficiency of agricultural equipment?
One recent project was for a leading axle manufacturer. We developed a steering tie rod that had the most stringent clearance requirements I have seen so far. Due to the limited available space, we had to innovate by reducing the initially intended ball stud size while still ensuring it could accommodate the required loads. This steering axle is set to be used on a new generation of tractors from one of the leading tractor OEMs in the future.
The initial tests have shown positive results, indicating that the clearance remains within the required limits even after simulated service life. This project not only has the potential to improve the performance of the equipment, but also to provide cost savings for the customer by minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.
To learn more, visit: www.cctygroup.com/farm-equipment-bearings
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