As Case New Holland (CNH) prepared to send its 2006 Wheel Loader into production, an unwelcome level of noise in its steering unit was cited by potential end-users just a month before production was scheduled to begin.

Having built a solid reputation for providing construction equipment operators with the highest levels of cab comfort, CNH decided to postpone the launch and contact the experts at Eaton Hydraulics to take a closer look at the Char-Lynn Series 20 steering unit.

Responding quickly to CNH’s concerns, Eaton deployed a team consisting of engineers, sales and marketing personnel and product managers to CNH’s Fargo, North Dakota facility to access and resolve the issue.

Eaton’s Steering Design Engineer Aaron Krahn conducted a thorough analysis at Eaton’s state-of-the-art Noise Test Laboratory, located at Eaton’s Hydraulics headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. There, Krahn was able to determine that at high frequencies, high levels of noise could be detected.

Krahn went back to the laboratory, designed a new steering unit with acceptable noise outputs, had the new prototype manufactured and tested at the Eden Prairie facility, and hand-carried the new unit to CNH’s facility the very next day.

For more information about Eaton's Hydraulics business group, visit: www.hydraulics.eaton.com.