Dana Incorporated has announced updates for its new series of Spicer axles for rough-terrain cranes. The new planetary rigid steering axles cover vehicles with lift capacities from 30-110 metric tons (33-120 tons) and are part of Dana’s complete drivetrain system for rough-terrain cranes.
Production on the first of these models, the Spicer 246, will begin in the first quarter of 2017, with models 245 and 247 to soon follow. In addition to rough-terrain cranes, these axles can also accommodate aircraft ground-support pushback tractors.
These axles were developed at the Dana China Technical Center with engineering support from Dana’s other global technology centers. They will be manufactured by Dana in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China, and are designed to accommodate Dana’s optional Spicer Smart Suite technology, a platform of fully integrated, connected-vehicle features that convert operating data from the drivetrain into actionable insights.
This vehicle intelligence package features machine-learning algorithms built into the software to optimize productivity by measuring performance, forecasting maintenance issues, and enabling capabilities such as load monitoring.
“With decades of experience serving off-highway heavy axle applications, Dana has the technical expertise to deliver reliable, full-system solutions that keep machines running in demanding environments,” said Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Drivetrain Technologies. “This series of axles was designed based on Dana’s proven technologies specifically tailored for the crane market, and covers the most sought-after vehicle sizes to meet current demand.”
Using a monolithic axle construction to enable the highest integrity design for demanding tractive load and carry conditions, this lightweight series of axles can enhance vehicle performance and maneuverability on any terrain. These axles have been designed on a customizable platform with the flexibility to meet specific original-equipment manufacturer needs.
An optimized length and wheel bearing system fits the most popular tire track width applications, and a proven sealing system handles extreme duty environments to ensure a long lifespan. In addition, a robust straight tie-rod design minimizes the likelihood of obstacle impact during operation.
December 2, 2016
