The agricultural loader market has become far more sophisticated over the last 10 years. The main developments are the use of load-sensing pumps on larger tractors, the introduction of more advanced valves that offer very low spool leakage for load-holding operations, and the integration of electrical proportional valves that can offer a number of control options that were not previously possible with earlier hydraulic systems.
Nimco Controls has been at the forefront of this evolution. The company has introduced a number of solutions and has been instrumental in bringing the market to its present technical level.
Most tractors with engines below 80hp are equipped with fixed displacement pumps, while tractors over 80hp usually feature a load-sensing pump which requires either an open-centre valve or a load-sensing valve. Load-sensing pumps have traditionally had a standby pressure of around 24 bar, but new models are being introduced with standby pressures as low as 5 bar.
