Today’s mobile machine manufacturers are facing a number of new demands from customers and legislators to supply the market with more energy-efficient machines that preserve the environment and minimize fuel consumption. At the same time, the expectations of what a mobile machine should deliver in terms of productivity, controllability and flexibility have increased over the years as labour rates and other costs keep increasing.

Today’s design of mobile machinery does not only call for the optimization of machine functions via optimal hydraulic systems – it also requires the achievement of optimal visibility and ergonomics for the machine operator, as well as smart design to keep component costs down.

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.