Couplings specified for reliability in forklift industry

Due to the speed and tight cornering requirements of many forklifts, the steering column coupling is often exposed to high loads and sudden changes of directional force. In lower quality components this can quickly lead to a failure, which in turn leads to a steering failure in the forklift. In a busy environment the cost of downtime for a forklift can be extremely high, to say nothing of the maintenance costs. In a competitive market this type of failure can be very damaging so the manufacturer approached the market to find an alternative component.

The manufacturer approached European Transmission Co. (ETC), a distributor of power transmission components based in the Netherlands. Extensive testing was carried out on the suggested components which confirmed that they met the performance requirements of the application.

The Oldham Style design transmits torque through a central disc that slides over the tenons on the hubs under controlled preload conditions. This eliminates backlash and protects against shock loading – which is perfect for steering applications. Manufactured using materials and with strict in-house testing and monitoring, the Huco range described by the company as ‘one of the most reliable on the market’.

A secondary requirement to quality was availability; because of the production volumes, the manufacturer requires a fast turnaround on orders. Huco operates an efficient, Lean manufacturing system which allows it to work with ETC to ensure that a suitable stock is always available from the ETC warehouse in Apeldoorn.

Rob Hendriks, Managing Director of ETC, explained: “We pride ourselves on our track record of never delivering late. In 2015, the customer moved some of its forklift production to another country, but they are still ordering the Huco couplings directly from us.”

The torque discs and hubs supplied with the coupling are available in different materials, making it easy to configure the performance of the coupling for different applications. A ‘through-bored’ variant is also available, and has been specified by the manufacturer, which allows disc replacement without disturbing shaft alignment – making ongoing maintenance a simpler task.