July 26, 2016 EnerGized

Volume 6 | Issue 1

Enerpac, with roots in the early auto industry, continues to define itself as a world leader in the manufacture of hydraulic cylinders.

Enerpac of Milwaukee, Wis., is the recognized global market leader in high-pressure hydraulics and is a manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders, pumps, valves, presses, tools, accessories and system components for industry and construction.The company’s success story dates to 1910, a decade in which the country’s industrial base was getting a boost from the emerging automobile industry. At this time the company’s founder began producing water pumps for the legendary Model T Ford as well as other vehicles. Enerpac’s reputation in hydraulics started in the early 1920s when the first hydraulic jacks were introduced.

Since then the company has built a reputation across the globe for its innovative hydraulic systems. Last year, Enerpac was awarded a contract to supply the hydraulic system for lifting and pushing the bridge spans and piers for the Viaduct of Millau in France. The multi-span, cabled-stayed viaduct, with a total height of 343 meters, is expected to be the highest viaduct in the world, and will form the final link in the A75 AutoRoute from Paris, France to Barcelona, Spain. Eiffel, a worldwide steel construction company and part of the Eiffage group, is responsible for the steel part of the project (the deck and the temporary piers), and awarded the contract to Enerpac. The project began last summer, and will continue for the next several years.

“This project with Eiffel is a significant achievement for Enerpac and represents one of the largest projects Enerpac has ever been awarded,” says company President Todd Hicks. “Similar to other large infrastructure projects that are the hallmark of Enerpac, we utilized our Construction Center of Excellence with its extensive field experience and knowledge in hydraulic systems for bridges to design a system for the complex Millau Viaduct. This program utilizes hundreds of high pressure hydraulic cylinders and pumps.”

As its hydraulic systems and related products span the globe, Enerpac keeps to the same levels of integrity that propelled it forward more than 90 years ago. Today, the company’s products are designed to raise productivity while offering top quality, safety and total customer satisfaction. To achieve this, Enerpac employs dedicated teams of individuals working on each continent to focus on the range of needs for hydraulic systems and components. Enerpac’s dedicated OEM group also has earned a reputation for offering solutions within specific markets.

Companies around the world utilizing Enerpac technology comprise industries such as collision repair, material handling, hose and electric lug crimping, rescue, specialty tool and lifting equipment. OEM applications range from standard Enerpac catalog products to slightly modified products such as systems designed with different color or pressure settings. Enerpac also specializes in customized design and development of highly engineered hydraulic systems to meet precise customer specifications.

Industrial tools supplied by the company include cylinders, pumps, system valves, presses, pullers, and bolting tools. Workholding solutions are comprised of swing cylinders and work supports, linear cylinders, power sources and valves, system components and mechanical clamping. To further help its customers, Enerpac offers a program designed to inform

manufacturers on the benefits of hydraulic workholding and to provide valuable application assistance and training. The E-212 Workholding Catalog is a 180-page, full-color book designed as a reference manual for workholding. Unlike any other catalog, the E-212 combines a wealth of information on products with selection guidelines, operational strategies, safety tips and support materials.

Compact hydraulic Torque wrenches
The choice of torque wrench style is extremely important in certain applications, especially in view of the fact that one of the most important causes of bolted joint failure is incorrect prestress. Although much attention is paid to the torque value when tightening the nut, prestress is crucial. The choice of torque wrench type is highly dependent on the application. Apart from capacity data, questions have to be answered such as: Is there enough height for using the wrench? Is there enough space around the nut?

Through application of light, high-tech materials and a one-piece wrench housing, Enerpac has developed hydraulic torque wrenches that are extremely compact. The ratchet system has fine toothing, enabling high precision and preventing drive jamming. The double acting cylinders give precise torque at high operating speeds. The 800-bar operating pressure enables a high torque/weight ratio and offers more power reserve during operation. The revolving coupling can be turned 360 degrees at high pressure, so that the hoses can be placed in any position. This is very important when working in tight spaces. Thanks to the light, compact construction, Enerpac wrenches are easy to handle and usable almost anywhere. Another advantage: The hexagon cartridges and adapters can be quickly replaced. No extra tools are necessary to do this.

As an example: The difference between pneumatic and hydraulic torque wrenches is a factor of 1:100. For the pneumatic method, a pressure of 6-bar is used, while 700- to 800-bar is applied for the hydraulic torque wrench. To achieve the same torque, a hydraulic torque wrench can be designed much lighter.

Enerpac’s torque wrenches have been central in providing engineering solutions across the globe, such as the tightening of different flanges in the gas receiving and distribution system in one of the biggest gas line projects to supply gas to Dubai market. Enerpac’s solution: Tighten the bolts using Enerpac torque wrenches SQD-50, HXD-60 with CC-cassettes, all powered by PTE-3404W electric torque wrench pumps. The result was a successfully completed tightening of 288 bolts to 5490nm and 336 bolts of 65nm to 3210nm.

Hydraulic catalogue Packed with information
Enerpac Industrial Tools has introduced its E324 hydraulic power catalogue, a comprehensive resource for hydraulic tool specifications, applications and related information.

The illustrated 211-page color catalogue is an essential tool for planning and implementing the use of quality high force tools in all industrial applications involving tasks such as lifting, punching, bending, cutting, pressing and bolting. It includes a “Yellow Pages” section comprised of useful tutorial information about industrial hydraulics including safety and operational tips, component selection guidelines, cylinder speed charts, typical hydraulic circuit schematics and conversion tables.

The catalogue complements Enerpac hydraulic technology, available worldwide and backed by trained applications sales engineers in 15 countries around the world, making Enerpac the product of choice in industries such as manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, shipbuilding, railroads, mining, and metals transformation.

New products
New in Enerpac’s line of products is the DGR series digital gauge. The DGR-1 offers precise pressure measurement up to 15000 psi (1000 bar) with 0.2 percent accuracy of full scale. The gauge enhances easy monitoring and is available in two modes: shut off and continuous display.

Also new is the company’s line of high tonnage cylinders. Designed for a wide variety of construction and heavy load moving applications, the line includes the CLSG Series single acting, and the CLRG Series double acting cylinders. Both series feature a design which offers a new standard in safety and reliability, including an integral stop ring providing piston blow-out protection for safe operation, and top- or side-mounted lifting eye positions for added safety and ease of handling. Large diameter hardened saddles reduce localized stresses on the lifting surfaces, and are interchangeable with optional tilt saddles, which have a maximum tilt angle of five degrees, allowing for misalignment.

Base mounting holes are standard on both new series of cylinders, allowing versatility and security in positioning. Plunger wipers on all models help reduce contamination and extend cylinder life. The special bearing design can withstand sideload forces up to 10 percent of the cylinders’ rated capacity, and all CLRG double acting series are fitted with a safety valve in the retract side to prevent product damage or personal injury in case of accidental over-pressurization.

These are just a few of the ways in which Enerpac continues to push the bar across the globe to offer new products that not only enhance efficiency and ease of use but enable cost-effective and highly engineered solutions for the most specialized hydraulics applications.

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