Parker Hannifin has supplied a complete set of hydraulic products and components to Ljungby Maskin

By offering an integrated solution from a single supplier, Parker is helping the Swedish wheel loader manufacturer to obtain optimum performance from its machines while reducing costs, and proving one point of contact for around the clock local support. Ljungby Maskin manufactures approximately 130 machines a year, with its high performance wheel loaders ranging from nine to 30 tonnes in weight, and capable of moving earth, logs, building debris, and a diverse variety of other heavy materials. When the company wanted to redesign this range, it was decided that it would attempt to identify a single supplier capable of providing a total hydraulic solution including gear pumps, piston pumps, valves and accumulators.

This was due to the company's preference for one point of contact for support, as opposed to several suppliers which would make access to advice and technical knowledge overly complex and increase the costs associated with ordering and replacing components and equipment.

When Ljungy Maskin explained the requirement to a small number of carefully selected potential suppliers, Parker formed a project group involving its Swedish sales and technical service, the Boras hydraulic application centre, and the European mobile hydraulic team to focus specifically on Ljungby Maskin's needs.

Six Parker experts visited the company and after listening to the specifics of what was required, offered them a solution which involved complete integration, making support issues as simple as possible and also keeping costs at a minimum.

Prototype systems were designed, built and implemented for the Swedish manufacturer before a solution was chosen based around Parker's dedicated set of hydraulic products and components, ideally suited to wheel loading equipment.

The product set to be used with the machines included the high performance, self priming, P3 piston pump and M-series directional control valve, together offering consistent levels of high power to the machines' load arms, steering and brakes offering the wheel loaders the ideal combination of power and speed.

A system for good control, leak proof operation in a harsh working environment in which the machines would be operating.

A variety of ergonomic controls such linear levers and multi function joystick were also chosen for easy operation and manoeuvring.

This extensive product range gave Ljungby Maskin the opportunity to rethink the hydraulic architecture of its machines, improving the performance and efficiency of products such as the L30 wheel loader even further.

Ljungby Maskin Technician, Bengt Johansson, is certain that they made the right choice, 'As well as offering us the most robust and high performance products available, Parker's worldwide support network offered added benefits'.

'It is so much easier to have one company to work with, there is only one person to call when you need support, and with Parker's support centre just 150km away, under two hours drive, the infrastructure was there to provide us with the help we needed to continue to develop the high performance machines that we're known for, and lower costs in the process'.