Katherine is from a Greek hydraulic equipment manufacturing company. There were several inquiries for hydraulic cartridge flow control valves with AAK before, but there was no cooperation. In the second half of last year, their customer wanted to customize a set of hydraulic power unit used in aviation equipment. The requirements for hydraulic cartridge flow control valve parameters were: performance of 2 million times, valve hole accuracy with 1μm, high pressure resistance 450bar. Seeing these strict parameter requirements, Katherine ware not sure if there is any hydraulic valve manufacturer who can meet it. More than 10 manufacturers of hydraulic cartridge flow control valves have been contacted, none of them was able to achieve it. Their engineer suggested Katherine contact German HAWE, because HAWE is the No 1 in the subdivision of high-pressure hydraulic valves. But HAWE had no time to sample. 2 weeks later, there was no progress. Katherine was worried.
Her customer introduced a local manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge flow control valves in Greece, and Katherine also contacted me. According to above information, I told her directly that we are not sure for success, but our engineers are confident in the sample. 50 days later, Katherine's team tested the hydraulic cartridge flow control valves of Greek hydraulic valve manufacturer and AAK, both the results failed. The Greek manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge flow control valve gave up making samples for the second time. Katherine hoped that AAK can make samples for the second time. Although some parameters of AAK hydraulic cartridge flow control valve did not meet the standard, the overall quality was stronger than that of the Greek hydraulic valve manufacturer, and was close to the parameter requirements. I told him that such a demanding sample, like an exam, is not difficult to improve from 80 points to 99 points, but it is a great challenge to improve from 99 points to 100 points. Katherine understood the situation. I suggest that she postpone the development with the customer first, and I will update any information about AAK samples in a timely manner.
After 6 months, AAK sent 10 hydraulic cartridge flow control valves. During this period, AAK technical team experienced 3 material changes, 6 samples, 12 inspections, and 180 days of challenges, and achieved the success. 2 months after the hydraulic cartridge flow control valves were sent, Katherine emailed us to express her surprise and thanks. It turned out that Katherine thought AAK had given up the sample long ago. Unexpectedly, she received the samples of hydraulic cartridge flow control valves 180 days later, and the parameters were all qualified.
This test sample challenged the soft power of AAK and the ingenious strength of the technical team, and failed repeatedly until success.
1. In terms of material selection, Japan SCM415 alloy steel was finally tested to be the most suitable one. After we have improved the heat treatment process for a long time, the hardness reaches HRC65, the wear resistance and strength are more than 3-5 times that of other steels, and there is no wear for more than 2 million times.
2. In processing, the honing rod is customized on the American precision honing machine, and is equipped with diamond oilstone to replace the diamond reamer, then it is easy for the valve hole accuracy with 0.8μm. It is hard for peers to think of such operation in the processing technology link.
3. In terms of testing, the high pressure test bench and durability testing equipment independently developed by AAK is used, the pressure, flow and fatigue resistance of the valve, are 100% fully inspected.
Katherine told us privately that their engineers, his boss and their customer were all impressed by AAK.
AAK hydraulic cartridge flow control valve, never give up after failure, you can also have a try!
AAK HYDRAULIC CARTRIDGE VALVES (379) 2022-10-14