EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced that Advanced Farm Equipment (AFE) of Vestaburg, Michigan, has upgraded its airhead-type potato harvester with an all-hydraulic design featuring Eaton® products, which have helped improve performance and reduce fuel consumption and operating costs.

The AFE diesel-powered, self-propelled potato harvester is equipped with Eaton EFX electrohydraulic controllers that communicate with device-mounted electronics via a single CANBus cable, enabling the machine to be preprogrammed and changed on the fly to match field conditions.  The harvester also features tandem Eaton DuraForce® hydrostatic transmissions that provide efficiency and reliability in a compact package with enhanced controllability.

The switch to an all-hydraulic design controlled via CAN and CANBus wiring has reduced the number of man-hours required to assemble the potato harvester, while the electronics have greatly enhanced the machine’s capabilities.

“Eaton’s CANBus system eliminates a lot of wiring, about three or four thousand feet per machine,” said Greg Merrihew, AFE manager. “The electronically controlled pumps only deliver the amount of power that’s needed, so less heat is generated without wasted flow.  As a result, fuel consumption and operating costs are greatly reduced.”

The Eaton electrohydraulic technology also enables AFE to monitor and troubleshoot its potato harvesters in real-time via cell phone connection and via the Internet.

Eaton’s Hydraulics business is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a comprehensive line of reliable, high-efficiency hydraulic systems and components for use in mobile and stationary applications. Mobile and stationary markets include agriculture, alternative energy, construction, forestry, manufacturing, material handling, mining, oil and gas, processing, transportation and utility equipment. Eaton’s Hydraulics Group provides customer-driven solutions under product names such as Aeroquip®, Boston®, Char-Lynn®, Eaton®, Hydrokraft®, Hydrowa®, Hydro-Line®, Integrated Hydraulics®, Synflex®, Vickers®, Walterscheid™, and Weatherhead®. For more information, visit www.eaton.com/hydraulics.

Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with more than 100 years of experience providing energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. With 2011 sales of $16.0 billion, Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 73,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.