Del Equipment (UK) Ltd has utilised HBK’s data acquisition and analysis equipment to ensure its range of tail lifts meets the forthcoming UNECE Whole Vehicle Type Approval regulations in advance of implementation giving it an edge over its competitors
Del is the designer and manufacturer of the widest range of tail and bin lifts made in the UK with some 30 main variants covering various capacities all of which needed to gain component approval.
To achieve this, Del had to statically test the complete range of rear under-run protective devices that forms part of the tail lift configuration.
Amir Tabatabai, Mechanical Design Engineer at Del, says, “We had to ensure that our under-run bars met the strength requirements of the regulations, and so we needed accurate force measurement equipment”.
Tests were conducted at Del’s factory at Witney in Oxfordshire using an in-house developed rig fitted with a hydraulic ram that could easily slide to different positions for testing alternative points on the tail lift construction if necessary.
Forces were measured using an HBK U10M transducer with TEDS (Transducer Electronic Data Sheet) connected to a QuantumX MX840 for data capture while the analysis was carried out using HBK’s catman®Easy software.
HBK’s engineers visited Del to see at first-hand what the company was trying to achieve and to get a better idea of its requirements. As a result of co-ordinating with Del, HBK was able to recommend the best equipment for the job including the U10M force transducer because it substantially reduces cross-talk between bending moments and lateral forces through its integrated, patented compensating circuit.
Comments Tabatabai, “HBK was very keen to come down and spend time with us right from the start. This helped them to deliver a solution that was cost effective, reliable and applicable to what we were trying to measure”.
He adds, “Calling the software ‘catman®Easy’ is a technical understatement, as it is very user-friendly”.
Tabatabai remarks, “HBK put us first and didn’t try to push the wrong equipment. We felt their equipment was superior to the competition and helped us to achieve our objectives within a tight framework”.
Established in 1985 Del Equipment is a family owned and operated business located in St John’s servicing Newfoundland and Labrador. Our success has come from our great customers, committed staff and strong partnerships with our suppliers. In 2008 we partnered with Mahindra Tractors to offer Newfoundland and Labrador strong value packed tractors and equipment and the world’s #1 selling tractor. Since 2008 Del Equipment has won numerous awards for customer service, sales and customer focus. We continue to lead the Canadian provinces with top market share numbers. On a recent survey, our customers ranked us with a 98% overall experience – Thank You.
In 2018 Del Equipment signed on as an authorized dealer for Mahindra Automotive North America to support the incredible ROXOR product line. The Mahindra ROXOR is a strong, well-built off-road utility vehicle. We are excited to share this with the community and invite you to come and experience this one of a kind vehicle.
Today, we represent some of the Top Brands of Equipment in the Agricultural Industry and we continue to service and grow with the Industry.
We had to ensure that our under-run bars met the strength requirements of the regulations, and so we needed accurate force measurement equipment.