Freudenberg Transfers Automotive Accumulators to Agriculture

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has successfully transferred automotive hydraulic accumulator technology into agricultural machinery, demonstrating how proven solutions can deliver significant performance gains in new applications.

Originally developed for passenger car transmissions, the company’s piston accumulator is now being used in agricultural equipment operating under extreme conditions, marking a notable example of cross-industry technology transfer.

Addressing challenges in harsh agricultural environments
The initiative was driven by a major agricultural machinery manufacturer facing performance and service life limitations with diaphragm accumulators used in its equipment.

Machines such as sugar cane harvesters operate under particularly demanding conditions, including:

Additionally, the accumulators are deeply integrated into the transmission system, making maintenance difficult and costly, and increasing the need for long-lasting, reliable components.

Adapting proven automotive technology
Recognizing similarities with automotive transmission systems, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies proposed replacing diaphragm accumulators with piston accumulators, a technology widely proven in passenger vehicles.

Key advantages of the piston accumulator include:

The units, manufactured at the company’s Remagen, Germany facility, feature a compact design with a 0.75-liter volume, allowing direct integration into transmission systems.

Rapid development and seamless integration
During initial deployment, an adapter developed by the customer enabled integration into existing systems. Subsequent design refinements by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies eliminated the need for adapters, simplifying installation.

By leveraging existing automotive designs, the company was able to deliver test samples quickly, significantly reducing development time compared to designing a new solution from scratch.

Proven performance improvements
Extensive comparative testing confirmed clear advantages over the previous diaphragm-based solution:

Following successful validation, the piston accumulator has now moved into series production.

Expanding cross-industry innovation
This project highlights the growing importance of technology transfer between industries, where mature automotive solutions can address challenges in sectors such as agriculture and mobile machinery.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is now exploring opportunities to extend this concept to:

The initiative demonstrates how leveraging proven technologies can improve efficiency, durability, and sustainability across demanding applications.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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