The electrification of agricultural machinery and auxiliary components is becoming increasingly important, according to officials at HARTING AG, Espelkamp, Germany. As a result, in recent years the company has focused its efforts on developing a standardized interface between tractor and attachment. The resulting newly developed AEF high-voltage connections are slated to be presented in various applications at this year’s Agritechnica trade fair in Hannover, Germany.

The connector transmits data and power, and was developed within the AEF (Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation) in cooperation with many major agricultural machinery manufacturers. “The AEF high-voltage connections are a new technology,” explained Guido Selhorst, head of corporate market communication at HARTING. To date, the agricultural industry has relied on hydraulic or mechanical solutions for power transmission, said Selhorst. But the electrification of agricultural machinery and attachments is becoming increasingly important to farmers because it can significantly increase productivity. Among others, the use of electric motors is the basic prerequisite for the implementation of complex movement tasks and speed changes in attached equipment.

The AEF high-voltage connections are designed to meet the future power requirements of ancillary equipment and attachments. “The HARTING high-voltage connection supports the development of fully electric and hybrid drive systems on the tractor and the increasing demand for electric drives on attachments,” added Selhorst.

The AEF High Voltage Connector will be on display at Agritechnica at exhibition stands for AGCO/Fendt (Hall 20), Sensor-Technik-Wiedemann (Hall 15), ZF Friedrichshafen (Hall 15) and AEF (Hall 15).

HARTING
www.HARTING.com